Year: 1869

failed to observe the scrupulOus fidelity


Of the inhabitants to the old family Bi
BILE. A more honorable trait of charac-


ter than this cannot be fonna for all


men, whether christians or infidels, are


prone to put reliance in those who make


the Bible their confidant. and whose we'll


thumbed pages show the confidence


which their owners possess in it,


A few years ago there dwelt in Aver


shire an ancient couple. possessing of


this worlds gear sufficient to keep them
Independent from want or woe, and a
cannie daughter to bless their gray
hairs and tottering steps A gallant Of
farmer became enamored of the daugh
tier. and she, nothing 10th, consented to
be his. AS the match was every way
worthy of her, the old folks consented,
and as they were desirous of seeing their
BARN comfortable. the two were made
one. In few short years the scythe of
Time cut down the old people. and they
gave their bodies to the dust and their
souls to the Creator.


The young farmer having heard much
of the promised land beyond the sea,
gathered together his duds, and selling
such as were useless, packed up those
calculated to be Of service to him in his
new home Some neighbors, having the
same itching for adventure. sold off their
homes and homesteads, and set sail for
Am erica.


Possessed of considerable property in
the shape Of 'siller,' this company were
.not like the generality Of emigrants.
poor and friendless. but happy and full
Of hope of the future. The first thing
done after landing was the taking out of
the old family heir loom, and returning
thanks and praise to Him who had
guided their bark to safe haven.


As the farmers object in coming to
this country was to purchase farm and
follow his occupation. but little time was
spent in the city he had arrived in. and
and as his fellow passengers had pre-
viouslv determined on their destination.
he bid them farewell, and with light
heart tnrred his face toward the setting
sun. Indiana at this time was rapidly
settling, and having heard of its cheap
and fertile lands, he determined on set
Ting within it's borders


On the banks of the Wabash he fixed
on q farm. and having paid cash for one
half. gave a mortgage for the balance,
payable in one year. Having stocked
his farm, and put seed in the ground.
he rested from his labor, aud patiently
waited the time when he might go forth
and reap the harvest; but alas no
grain gladdened his heart or rewarded
his toll. The fever of the country at
tackled him, and at the time when the
fields were white with the fullness of the
lahorers skill, death called him home.
and left his disconsolate wife widow,
and his only child an orphan.


We leave the first sorrow, and pass on
to witness the struggles of the afflicted
widow year afterwards. The time
having arrived when the mortgage was
to he paid, she ho' rowed the money OF
neighbor who had been very attentive
to her husb4nd and herself, who knelt
at the same table with her to renew their
professed obligations to the Giver of all
good Hard and patiently did she toll
to repay the sum against the promised
time; but all would not do; fortune
frowned, and she gave way to her accu
mulated troubles. Disheartened and
distracted, she relinquished the farm
and the stock for a less sum than she
owed her christian neghbor, who, not
satisfied with that, put an execution on
her furniture.


On the Sabbath previous to the sale,
she took courage, and strengthening
herself with the knc wledge of having
wronoed no one, went to the temple Of
her Father. and with heart filed with
humanity and love, poured out her soul
to Him who turneth not away and
having communed side by side with her
christian neighbor, returned to her des
olate home.


Here her fortitude had like to have
forsaken her, but seeking the old fam
ily bible,' she reverently put it mp TO her
lips and sought consolation from its
pages Slowly she perused its holy and
inspiring verses, and gathered hope from
its never falling promises


The day of sale having arrived, her
few goods and chattels. were, in due
course knocked off to the highest bid
der Unmovei she passed from her
possession article after article, without
u murmnr, until the constable held up
the old family Bible. This was too
much. Tears flowed. and gave silent
utterance to broken heart She beg
ged the constable to spare her this me-
mento by her revered and departed pa !
rents; and the humane man of the law |
would willingly have given it to her, but I
her lneXOrable creditor declared every |
thing should he sold as he was deter
mined 10 have all taat was owing him I
The book was therefore put up, and !
about being disposed of for a few shi !
lings. when she suddenly snatched it, !
and declaring that she would have some |
re ic of those she loved, cut the slender /
thread that held the brown linen cover |
with the intention of retaining it. The
cover fell into her hands, and with it,
two fat pieces of thin dirty paper. Sur
prised at the circumstance she examin-
ed them, and what WAS her joy and de-
light to find that eacE called for five
hundred pounds on the Bank of England
On the back Of one, in her mothers
nand~ rting, were the following ~ords


When sorrow overtake ye, seek yer
Bible"


And on the other in her fathers hand