222 SINGULAR CHARACTER. 



It is useless to describe the early sufierings of 

 this family in a new country, in a new theatre of 

 action — without neighbors to assist — without phy- 

 sicians to heal — without ministers of the gospel to 

 console. The cultivation of a garden, a corn- 

 field, a potatoe patch, and the rearing of poultry, 

 hogs, and cows, em[Aoyed all their attention. In 

 a few years, settlements were formed round them, 

 and as the blessings of comfort, societ}^, and plen- 

 ty, were brightening about them, the wife of the 

 old seaman died. His children were married, 

 and had removed to a distance — and his only 

 consolation was an orphan grand-daughter, which 

 his deceased wife had brought up. She acted as 

 his nurse — his house-keeper — and superintended 

 all his domestic economy. 



When death separates in old age those who 

 have been united in marriage, and who have lived 

 in the reciprocations of affection, the survivor 

 rarely lives any length of time. Haeret lateri le- 

 thalis arundo. The gangrene of the heart is in- 

 curable. A morbid melancholy, which continu- 

 ally increases by nursing its sorrows, and brood- 

 ing over its afflictions, gradually, if not quickly^ 

 imdermines the vital principle. 



The old sailor was in this situation for a year, 

 going to his fmal resting place, with slow, but un- 

 ceasijig steps ; and all the consolations of friend- 



