Year: 1868




About forty years ago, in the western
part of New York, lived lonely widowed
mother. Her husband had been dead
many years and her only daughter was
grown up and married, living at the dis
tance of mile or so from the family man
sion.


And thus the cid lady lived alone day
and night. Yet in her conscious iuno-
cepce and trust in providence, she felt safe
and cheerful, did her work quietly during
the daylight, and at evening slept sweetly.


One morning, however, she awoke with
an extraordinary and unwonted gloom up
on her mind, which was impressed with
the apprehension that something was about
to happen to her or hers. So full was shs
of this thought that she could rot stay at
home that day. but must go abroad to give
vent to it, unbosoming herself to her
friends, especially her daughter. With
her she spent the greater part of the day,
and to her she several times repeated the
recital of her apprehensiuns. The daugh-
ter as often repeated the assurances that
her good mother had never done injury to
any person, and "I cannot think any one
would hurt you, for you have not an ene-
my la the world"


On her way home she called on her
neigh5or who lived in the last house be-
fore she reached her own: Here she
again made known her continued appre-
tensions, which had nearly ripened into
fear, and from the lady of the mansion she
received answers similar to those of the
daughter: +" You have harmed no one in
your lifetime, surely no one will molest
you. Here. Rover" she said to stout
Watchdog that lay on the floor, "hcrc,
Rover. go home with Mrs. Mozher, and
take care Of her" Rover did as he was
TOLD. The widow went home, MIXED her
cows, took care Of everything outof doors,
and vent to bed as Usual. Rover had not
left her for an instant. Wien she was
fairly in bed, he laid himself down upon
the outside, aud as the widow relied upon
his fidelity and perhaps chic herself with
needless fear, she fell asleep. Sometime
in the light she awoke. being startled
probably, 10y slight noise outside the
house. 1t was so slight however, that
she was not aware of being started a: ali,
but heard as soon as she awoke, sound
ike the raising Of q window near her bed,
which was in a room OF the ground foor.


The dog neither barked nor moved.
Next there was another sound as if some
one was in the room aud stepped cautious
ly on the floor. The woman saw nothing.
but now, Tor the first time. felt the doy
move, as he made violent spring from the
bed, and at the same moment something
fell on the floor, sounding like a heavy
log. Then followed other noises, like the
paving of dogs feet; but soon all was
still again, and the dog resumed lis place,
without having barSed or growled at all.


This time the widow did not 20 to sleep
immediately, but lay awke, suffering, yet
not deeming it best to get up. But at
last she dropped asleep. and when she
awoke the sun was shining. She hastily
out Of bed, and there lay the body
Of a man extended on the floor, dead, with
4 large knife in his hand, which was even
uuw extended.


The dog had seized him by the throat
with a grasp OF death, aud neither man
nor dog could utter a sound till all was over.
The han was the widows son-in-law, the
husband of her only daughter. He covct-
ed her little store of wealth, her house.
her land and, instigated by sordid impa-
tience, he ceuld not wait for the decay Of
nature to give her property up to him and
his, as the only heirs apparent, but made
this stealthy visit to do deed of darkness
in the gloom Of night A fearful retribu-
tion awaited him. The widow sappreheu-
sions, communicated to her mind and i'm
pressed upon her nerves, by what unseen
power we know not the sympathy of the
woman who loaned the dog, and the silent
but certain watch OF the dog himself, form
ed q chain Of events which brought the
blood upon his own head, and
which are difficult to be explained without
reference to that providence which num-
bers the hairs of our head, watches the
sparrow's fall, and shapes our ends, rough
hew them as we will