425 



1856.] A Sketch from Life. 



was a hectic flush upon her cheek like the red upon the maple leaf ia 

 autumn. When the January snows lay deep on the hills and in the 

 hollows, we carried her to her last home— but God's will be done " 



" You forget that we have another child alive." 



" No, I do not forget it," said the old man bitterly. " There is one 

 I.v.ng somewhere, who has brought disgrace upon our name, who has 

 forgoUen b,s parents and his God ; who has drunk deep of the cup 



fam'il"^""'^' '"'' '''''' '''' '"■""°''* ™''' ""^ ^"^ "P°" '''" "^'"^ ^"^^ 

 ''Do not speak harshly of poor William," pleaded the mother, 

 ^.hy should I not? Was he not insensible to kindness-steeled 



ngainst affection . Did he not scatter my hard earnines to the wind ' 



Is It not to him that I owe the prcspect of b,gga,y ami destitution? 



Eemember the first of Feb.uary. That is the last dav of o-.-ace If 



the money comes not then, and God knows whence i't is to come we 



are houseless beggars. Who will care for us then ?" 



" God will care for us," said the aged woman, raising her eyes 



reverently to heaven. ^ 



The old man made no reply, for hi.s utterance was choked. At that 

 moment the old clock that stood ticking in the corner, struck the hour 

 oi nme. The deacon rose. 



"It is time to harness old Dobbin," said he, '^for we have a lono; 

 way to ride to meeting, and the roads are in a bad condition '^ 



Their preparations were soon made, and the old couple, poorly but 

 decently attired, sallied forth to their public devotions. The services 

 ended, the deacon and his wife, as they issued from the porch, were 

 kindly greeted by many old friends and neighbors, more than one of 

 whom pressed them to come and partake of their thanks nvino- cheer 

 iiut the deacon shook his head. ° ^ 



'^ Many thanks, my friends," he said, - but ever since I have been 

 a householder, I have kept my thanksgiving at home, and I shall con- 

 tinue to do so as long as I have a hou.«e remaining over my head '' 



So they rode home together. While the deacon drove up to the 

 barn to put up his horse, the old lady opened the back door, which 

 was always on the latch, and entered the kitchen. As she did .0 

 she started back. A stranger was seated by the kitchen fire, who rose 

 on her entrance. He was a tall, stalwart man, dressed in a rough suit, 

 w.th a broad-leafed hat, his countenance embrowned by exposure to 

 he sun and wmd, and his upper lip almost concealed by a heavy and 

 luxuriant mustache. 



^^Good morning, ma'am," he said with some embarrassment. 



