Year: 1879

About forty years ago, in the western
part of New York, lived lonely widow
mother. Her husband had been dead
many years, and her only daughter was
grown and married, living at a distance


And thus the old lady lived alone day
and night. Yet in her conscious inno-
cence and trust in Providence she fell
safe and cheerful, did her work quietly
during the daylight, and at eventide slept
su eetly.


One morning, however, she awoke with
an extraordinary and unwor ted gloom
upon her mind, which was impressed
with the apprehension that something
strange was about to happen TO her OF
hers. SO full was she OF this thought
that she could not stay at home that day,
but must 60 abroad to give vent TO it,
unbosomlng herself to her friends, espe-
cially to her daughter. With her she
spent the greater part of the day, and to
her several times repeated the recital Of
her pprehensions. The daughter as
often repeated the assurance that her
good mother bad never done injury to
any person, and added, 1 cannot think
any one would hurt you, for you have
not an enemy in the world


On her way home she called or q
neighbor 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
her daughter. You have harmed no
one in your life time, surely no one will
molest you. Here, Rover, said she, to a
stout watchdog that lay on the floor,
here, Rover, go home with Mrs. Mozber,
and take care Of her, Rover did as he
was told. The widow went home, milk
ed her cows. took care Of everything out
of doors, and went to bed as usual. Rover
had not left her for an instant. When
she was fairly in bed he laid himself
down upon the outside, and as the wild
ow relied upon his fidelity, and perhaps
chiding herself for needless fear, she fell
asleep. Some time in the night she
awoke. being startled, probably, by a
slight noise outside the house. 1t was so
slight, however, that she was not aware
OF being startled at all, but heard, as
soon rs she awoke, sound like the rails
ing Of window near her bed, which was
in a room on the ground floor.


The dog neither barked, nor moved.
Next, there was another sound, as If
some one was in the room and stepped
cautiously on the floor. The woman saw
nothing, bGt now, for the first time felt
the dog move, as he made a violent
spring from the bed, and the same mo-
ment something fell on the floor sound
ing like a heavy log. Then followed
other noises, like the paving OF dogs
feet, but soon all was still again, and the
dog resumed his place on tho bed with,
out having barked or growled at all


This time the widow did not go to sleep
Immediately, but lay awake, 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
stepped out of bed, and there lay the
body of a man, extended on the floor,
dead, with large knife in his hand,
which was even now extended.


The dog had seized him by the throat
with grasp Of death, and neither man
nor dog could utter sound till all was
over. This man WAS the widows SON
in-law, tbs husband of her only daughter.
He coveted her little store of wealth, h er
house, her cattle and her land and, in
stiga:ed by his sordid impotence, he
could not wait for the decay of nature to
give her property up to him and his, as
the only heirs apparent, but made his
stealthy visit to do decd Of darkness in
the gloom Of the night. A fearful retri-
button awaited him. The widows ap.
prehensions, communicated to her mind,
and impressed upon her nerves, by what
unseen power we know not the sympa.
thy OF the woman who loaned the dog,
and the silent but certain watch of the
dog himself, formed chain of events
which brought the murderers blood upon
his own head, and which are difficult to
be explained without reference to that
Providence which numbers the hairs of
our head, watches the sparrow's fall, and
shapes our ends, rough,hew them as we
will.'