Williams. She married a very worthless man, many miles around, and to an uninterested obwho, after having run through every cent of server, it would have been curious to mark the property they possessed, died suddenly in a fit of intoxication. His wife survived him but a few months, and at her death, left her only child to her brother, to whom she had always been most strongly attached. various expressions of countenance assumed as befitting the occasion. Scarcely any one but Reginald and his father appeared with their natural faces; Mr. Selden's indeed was sufficiently sad, for he felt grieved at heart; and little Will who had seated himself as close as he could to him, became totally unable to control the sobs that convulsed his whole frame. Mr. Selden led him gently to the door, and whispering some words of kindness, advised him to go into another room. Mr. Williams had naturally warm affections and a generous disposition, and this child became an especial pet with him; his heart yearned towards the desolate orphan of a sister of whom he had been very fond, and this natural impulse became a strong affection from the force of little Will's own attractions. He was a bright-minded, There are, perhaps, no occasions in life, in warm-hearted boy, full of generous impulses and which the solemn and the ludicrous are so painanimal spirits, ready to love those who loved him fully mingled, as in funeral solemnities; there is with all his heart, and to requite those who did not something so dread, so immense in the idea, that with a full measure of evil for evil. His great and one moment is sufficient to hurry us through the marked preference for his uncle, on all occasions portals of Time, to an awful and boundless eterdid not endear him to the rest of the family, and uity, and that the day is rapidly and inevitably Mrs. Williams, who was a silly, selfish woman, approaching, when we too must lie down in the full of petty resentments and jealousies, and who dust, like him whose obsequies we are celebraunderstood no more of a child's heart than of ting, and surrender our spirits to the "God who Greek or Hebrew, took up a feeling of dislike to little Will. But his uncle, to shield him from the consequences of his aunt's wrath, which was ready to break out on every little opportunity of manifesting spite, reserved to himself exclusively the right of punishing his transgressions, so that he was never punished at all, except by scolds and frowns from his aunt and cousins, which he generally repaid by a fit of the sullens. gave them," that we shrink back appalled from its contemplation, and seek to banish it by all the outward signs and tokens of mourning for the dead and honor to the departed. To endeavor to sustain a soul trembling on the threshold of eternity for the awful transition, by the hopes and consolations of the Gospel, is considered in the highest degree injudicious and cruel by many, who would regard the least failure in the ceremonial of a funeral, as a violation of the most sacred duty to the deceased. Were we not beings possessing the same common nature, such Will had grieved with all the violence of childish grief at the death of his uncle, and though, happily at his age, such intensity of sorrow cannot continue very long, bursts of grief, and feel- inconsistencies would be ludicrous in the extreme, ings of extreme desolation and sadness came and to the thoughtless they often are so, while over him every now and then, and he told old to the serious they appear a bitter mockery of Thomas he wished he was dead too, for he knew humanity. nobody in the world loved him now! As they rose from the supper table, Mr. Selden, attracted and touched by the appearance of the child, patted him kindly on the head, saying, "This is my little friend, Will Howard, I am sure." "Yes, sir," said the child, looking up earnestly and wistfully in his face, with a look which said plainly, "I will love you, if you will love me." "We must get acquainted; I know we shall take very much to each other," said Mr. Selden smiling so kindly upon him, that Will hung down his head to hide the tears that rushed to his eyes, he thought this himself a strange affection, of which he felt somewhat ashamed. After the funeral service had been performed, and a short, trite, and unimpressive sermon delivered, a decent pause ensued, with a little whispering amongst some of the ladies, as to how poor Mrs. Williams stood her troubles, the scarcity of black goods, the difficulty of getting mourning made up, the great changes that would probably soon take place in the family, &c. Large trays of cake and wine were then carried around the room by the servants with the same air of solemn bustle which had characterized all the proceedings of the day,-one would have supposed from the countenances of the guests, as they partook of these refreshments, that they were engaged in the performance of a grave duty. Then an immense cold dinner, large enough for three times the number of the guests that could possibly have attended, was set out, every dish larded over with a cold and villainous com Very heavily the hours wore away. On the next day, the whole house was in a sort of solemn commotion for the approaching funeral sermon and dinner which was to succeed it. There was a general gathering of all the families within pound called thick butter; and a murmur of conversatiou, carried on in a subdued tone, was ing in Dr. Irving's unmeasured condemnation of his conduct, it would have been evident to one of less obtuse perceptious, that the theme was distasteful to him, and that he greatly preferred dwelling on the bright side of the character of heard from various parts of the table, accompanied When dinner was fairly over, and the guests had departed, Mr. Selden drew a long breath of inexpressible relief;-this scene at least was past to return no more, and he was heartily thankful for it, though he knew it was to be succeeded by others scarcely less trying. Dr. Irving went on to say, that Mrs. Williams was entirely unacquainted with the real state of her late husband's affairs, though she knew he had incurred some large debts, that she was totally ignorant of business transactions, and had probably never thought of money in her life, but when she wished to spend it. Indeed. he said, he could not imagine what would become of the family, and though he had never shrunk from any task that duty imposed upon him, and never would, yet he should consider it as a very particular favor, if Mr. Selden would converse with Mrs. Williams on the necessity of conforming to her circumstances, and prepare her mind in some Mr. Williams died without a will, and Dr. Ir-measure for the reverses she must experience. ving made disclosures to Mr. Selden respecting Were such advice, he continued, to come from his affairs, which showed a wider ruin than his worst fears had anticipated. Mr. Williams had been induced by Mr. Grimes, an associate and friend, who was much addicted to extensive speculations, by which he had made a large fortune, to join him in some very hazardous schemes. which had issued disastrously. Mr. Grimes had been engaged for the few last years in the West India trade, and the returns from it had been so considerable as to dazzle the excitable imagination of Mr. Williams with the prospect not only of extricating himself from his embarrassments, but of realizing a splendid fortune. him, his sister might suppose it proceeded from interested motives, as she would probably look to him for many extravagant indulgences to which she had been accustomed, without duly reflecting that it always had been his rule, and always would be, never to permit his expenses to exceed his income for any mortal breathing. Moreover, he had a large family of his own, and he had always considered the text of Scripture, "He that provideth not for his own house is worse than an infidel," ought to be heeded, and he always should think so. Mr. Selden declined the task with ill concealed disgust, saying that he did not think his intimacy with Mrs. Williams warranted such a liberty, but offered his assistance in examining and arranging Mr. Williams's letters and papers, that they might ascertain what resources there were for the settlement of the debts. Mrs. Williams, he remarked, would have her dower right in the Oak Hill estate, which under judicious management might preserve her family at least from want. Influenced by these hopes, Mr. Williams not only borrowed money, but disposed likewise of a valuable estate, that he might vest the money in this new enterprise, joiued Mr. Grimes in the purchase of vessels, and cargoes of grain to load them with. and entered so completely in imagination upon the possession of immense wealth, that he made several expensive purchases of fine horses, furniture, plate, &c., &c. He died before these sanguine anticipations were crushed, though the stroke was just ready to fall-for it was only two days after his death, that a letter came from Mr. Grimes announcing an extent of disaster amounting almost to ruin. A storm had overtaken the vessels-one had been lost, and the others so much injured that the cargoes were destroyed, and the vessels would require very ex-sistance, his readiness at calculation, clearness of pensive repairs before they could be made seaworthy again. Dr. Irving gladly availed himself of this offer of assistance, for he had been appointed administrator of the estate of the deceased, and soon a chaos of letters and papers presenting an almost Herculean labor, were spread out before the dismayed eyes of Mr. Selden and Reginald. And now, he felt the full value of Reginald's as thought, and systematic habits were invaluable in a task such as this. Edward Williams was a It is true, that Mr. Selden thought of his own mere cypher, and he exhibited such a picture of losses with regret and self-reproach, when he hopeless imbecility in attempting to render asdiscovered the state of Mr. Williams's affairs, sistance, that Reginald, moved with compassion, but he was also very deeply concerned at the begged to spare him any share in a task, which ruin of his friend's family; and so far from join-must necessarily be so distressing to him, and said that he would communicate to him, from This fortune to which Mrs. Williams alluded, time to time, the result of their investigations. had been the bane of poor Williams's life, for if he Edward very gratefully accepted the offer, saying that his thoughts were in such a state of confusion and disturbance, he was really incapable of attending to business, and that his uncle, Dr. Irving, had prepared him to expect the worst. As Edward withdrew from the room, Dr. Irving, taking him aside, requested that he would inform his mother and sisters of the real situation of their affairs, as he wished their minds to be prepared for some conversation which he should find it necessary to hold with them, perhaps during the course of the day, if he could find leisure for it, for he never had procrastinated in a matter where duty was concerned, and never would, unless compelled by necessity. After a few hours had elapsed, Mrs. Williams sent Edward to request that Mr. Selden would walk up into her apartment, as she did not feel able to leave her room, and was anxious to see him. Dr. Irving accompanied him, and Mr. Selden felt that the worst of all his painful tasks had overtaken him. Mrs. Williams was seated in an easy chair, enveloped in bombasine and crape, but there was nothing of the abundon of grief in her air and manner; her dress was carefully arranged, and she held a smelling bottle and handkerchief in her hand, with a grace that did not seem wholly unstudied. In her youth, Mrs. Williams had been considered a great beauty, and her fortune and personal attractions had made her a celebrated belle, and there was no situation in life, even now, in which she quite forgot to be handsome and interesting. Yet Edward's announcement of the state of their affairs, had really shocked and overcome her extremely. She advanced a few paces from her seat at the entrance of Mr. Selden, returned the cordial pressure of his hand, and murmuring a few words, sank back into her seat, and applied her handkerchief from time to time to her eyes. had ever hesitated to incur any expense for the gratification of his wife's whims, or silliest wishes, he was always taunted with it; and as the fortune had been left her by an uncle, it had always been a source of heart burning amongst her brothers and sisters, as their parents were unable to leave them any thing more than a bare competence, while their sister Lucy was an heiress. "Oh, mama," remonstrated Mrs. Simms, who looked at once distressed and ashamed, "pray do not talk so." "Ah, it is very easy, Henrietta, for you to beg me not to talk so; you are well provided for.” Sister," said Dr. Irving, clearing his throat, and throwing back his head, "you amaze, you shock, you distress me. I have always submitted to the decrees of Providence myself, and always will, and should hope that my example might not be wholly lost. But since it appears to have been so, at least remember the maxims of common sense, if not the principles of religion, namely, that there is no use in complaining, and that we should always make the best of our condition. No one can expect to enjoy uninterrupted prosperity, for as Solomon says, there is a time for all things.' It is true, it will henceforth be necessary that you should use very strict ecouomy, and endeavor to make your income cover your expenses, as soon as we ascertain what that income will be. Had this rule been observed hitherto in your family, this unfortunate situation of affairs would never have arisen. But we will say no more on this head at present. You will retain possession of a third of the Oak Hill estate certainly, and this alone, under discreet management, ought to yield sufficient income to supply all your reasonable wants. I will myself direct you how to proceed so as to live within your income; and you have a son-in-law very able to give you pecuniary aid should it be necessary." "And very willing too," said Mrs. Simms, coloring deeply at this coarse remark of her uncle's. Lucy Williams hung her head, Edward looked "Ah, Mr. Selden," she said, "sad changes have taken place since I saw you last. God only knows what is to become of me and of my chil-out of the window, Mr. Selden wished himself a dren." "Sad changes indeed," said Mr. Selden, who was thinking at that moment more of the loss of her husband, than of the loss of her fortune, "but I hope, my dear madam, you will find comfort in the blessings that still remain to you. Your children are left to console and sustain you." thousand miles off, while Mrs Williams, overcome with mortification, vexation and pity for herself and her darling Edward, for Lucy occupied comparatively but a small portion of her thoughts, burst into an hysterical fit of weeping. As the sobs became more frequent and violent, Mr. Selden, after some soothing words and ex"My children," said Mrs. Williams, with an pressions of sympathy, withdrew, not only sickimpatient gesture, "are left to starve with me, ened at such an exhibition of selfishness and imafter having been accustomed to every indul- becility, but grieved to witness distress which it gence, and having a right to it too, for I brought was impossible for him to remove. Dr. Irving, a large fortune in the family to come to down-after delivering a long admonition on the neright poverty." cessity of self-control, which aggravated Mrs. Williams's symptoms alarmingly, and desiring the kindest course to pursue towards destitute Lucy Williams, when her mother was sufficiently children to teach them as soon as possible to make composed to listen to her, to read aloud a sermon their own way in the world, and to impress upon of Blair's, "On the Uses of Adversity," which he their minds the truth of that excellent saying, had marked for the purpose, and left on the table in that if we help ourselves, our friends will like us his room, withdrew with his usual deliberation and the better,' I have determined to place him with without moving a muscle of his countenance. Mr. Jenkins, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Irving's, The evidences of Mr. Williams's ruin were who resides in Norfolk. He is engaged in trade, continually multiplying as the investigation of and will give this child his board for such servihis accounts was continued, and no shadow of ces as he can render; as it respects clothing, he doubt remained, that Mr. Selden would suffer has doubtless a sufficiency for a year to come, for heavy loss as his security. Yet, though so many poor Williams, you know, never spared expense proofs were exhibited in the course of these ex-in any thing, indeed, he always appeared to me aminations of the rashness and culpable extrav- to enjoy an opportunity of spending money, and agance of Mr. Williams, no word of censure, of he was foolishly fond of this boy. It is really complaint concerning him escaped the lips of fortunate for the child, though in other respects Mr. Selden, but Dr. Irving condemned him with a truly melancholy occurrence, that the death of great bitterness, always however calling him poor his uncle took place before he was completely Williams, or that unfortunate man. Reginald spoiled." admired the magnanimity with which his father Mr. Selden thought he would not waste his bore his own losses, and also the generous com-words, nor lose his temper by attempting any passion which he evinced towards all the family thing like reply or remonstrance, but immediately of his friend, though the vanity and selfishness resolved upon his own course of conduct towards of Mrs. Williams, the imbecility and foolish pride the child. After a few minutes had elapsed, he of Edward, were calculated to excite disgust and left the room in quest of Will Howard. He was condemnation rather than pity, and though their directed in this search by little Sam, who told reverses were great, still with Mrs. Williams's him "Mas Will had gone to the stable to look dower in the Oak Hill estate, and the assistance for uncle Thomas," and watching the counteof her son-in-law, Mr. Simms, who was both rich and liberal, with some prudence and management, they might get out without any other suffering, than the loss of some accustomed indulgences, and the mortifications which a great change in fortune necessarily involves, to those whose minds are not fortified by Christian philosophy. nance of Mr. Selden, he added, "he reckoned he wanted somebody to talk to, he seemed to feel mighty lonesome and dissolate." Will was a general favorite amongst the servants from his gaiety and good humor, and this feeling of kindness towards him was increased by compassion for his fallen fortunes, and a keen sense of the neglect with which their late master's favorite was treated. Mr. Selden found Will seated on a large stone near the stable door, his eyes were red with weeping, and he was leaning his head in his hand, apparently so absorbed in his own feelings, that he did not perceive Mr. Selden's approach until he stood beside him. It was not, however, for the Williams's that Mr. Selden felt the greatest pity, he had observed that in talking over arrangements for the future, not a word was said as to the fate of poor little Will Howard, and moved, not only by compassion, but by a strong interest, which the child's artless manifestations of distress for the death of his uncle, and evident partiality for himself, had awakened in his heart, determined not to abandon him to the tender mercies of Dr. Irving. He took an early opportunity of inquiring of that gentleman what was to be done with little Will Howard. The Doctor looked somewhat sur-plied, "Nothing worth telling, sir." prised at the inquiry, and secretly marvelled what it was to Mr. Selden how the boy was disposed of. but replied fully, as was his wont, to any question soever that was propounded to him. What are you thinking of so busily, my little friend?" said Mr. Selden, "come cheer up, and tell me what is the matter." The tears rushed afresh to Will's eyes, but he quickly averted his head to conceal them, and re "But I want you to treat me as a friend, and talk to me as you used to do to your uncle." The tears flowed now, in spite of Will's efforts to restrain them, but he wiped them away quickMy sister, of course, will give up the man-ly, and said, "I will if you want me to do it. agement of this matter entirely to me, and as Well, one thing that makes me sorry now, is she is no longer able to support the boy, and that Dr. Irving says he is going to send me to he has no particular claim on her, and as I wait in a store, and learn me to work. And then have always thought, and always shall think, he said," and Will's color mounted to the roots of it is really not only the wisest, but eventually his hair, and he made an almost convulsive effort to suppress his tears, as he said it. "nobody was determination with regard to Will Howard with going to spoil me now like Uncle Wil" Here Will stopped, for he felt it to be utterly impossible to say a word more. "How would you like to go home with me, and be my boy? Every body at my house will be kind to you, and love you, I can answer for that." surprise; Mrs. Simms and Lucy were rather pleased to hear the child was to be so well provided for, Edward and Mrs. Williams manifested complete indifference on the subject. Mrs. Williams remarked after Mr. Selden had left the room, that she thought if Mr. Selden wished to show his friendship to the family, it would have been much more natural to render some assist Words could convey but a feeble idea of the mixed emotions of surprise, gratitude and de-ance to the widow and children of his friend, light, which were depicted in Will's face, as he looked up at Mr. Selden. "Indeed, I would like to go with you of all things, for no one loves me here now, but the black people-but"— Here the child paused again, for the painful thought which Dr. Irving had just instilled in his mind that he was living upon charity came over him, and he scarcely kuew how to express the thoughts and feelings that were struggling at his heart, and his dislike to the idea of being a burthen to Mr. Selden. Mr. Selden marked the sudden cloud that overcast his face and said, "But what, my dear, speak out." But I had rather learn to work than to be idle and troublesome, though I won't work for Dr. Irving nor any of his kin, and I could not be of any use to you." than to the child of a worthless profligate, whom he had never laid his eyes upon, that the money which would support Will in idleness, would enable her to keep her carriage and horses, which Heaven only knew how she could do without. "You forget, mama," said Mrs. Simms, "that my uncle told us Mr. Selden would sustain heavy loss by securityship for my poor father." That won't do us any good though, Henrietta: you talk so strangely, I wonder if all gentlemen don't go security for one another. "But my uncle never did," persisted Mrs. Simms. "Your uncle, child," said Mrs. Williams, looking carefully around her to be sure that no one was in hearing, "was born stingy, and then he was brought up with Uncle Hopkins to the North, which made him ten times worse, and his wife's mother was a Yankee, so what can we expect." relief. "Yes, you can be of use and pleasure both All arrangements having been concluded for to me. I like merry, young faces around me, the present, Mr. Selden and Reginald bade adieu so you must be happy, and I will put you in a to Oak Hill with inexpressible sensations of way of learning to make your own living like a gentleman when you grow up to be a man, and you may work for me too then, if there is any occasion for it, as one of my own sons would do. Don't trouble your head with thoughts of this sort, but just let me take your uncle's place." Poor little Will paid a visit to his uncle's grave before his departure, and distributed almost all the little worldly treasures of which he was possessed amongst his colored friends; indeed, but for the interference of Old Nancy, he would Will seized Mr. Selden's outstretched hand and scarcely have left himself a suit of clothes. The carried it to his lips, as if from an uncontrollable last quarter of a dollar, was bestowed with some impulse of gratitude and affection, and Mr. Sel-parting tears upon Uncle Thomas, who could den was answered by the warm tears that fell hardly be prevailed on to accept it, he wrung fast on his hand. The compact was now considered as sealed by both parties. Mr. Selden laid the circumstances of the case before Reginald, aud was gratified by his sympathy and approbation. He then notified his intention to Dr. Irving, who listened to him with undisguised amazement, but expressed his ready acquiescence, saying, "he had, of course, no personal interest in the fate of Will Howard, but the interest of benevolence, to which he had always been alive, and always should be." It was well for the doctor's self complacency that he was no physiognomist, or he would have read in the countenances of Reginald and his father, a reply to this observation, that would have destroyed his equanamity. Will's hand, saying, "God bless him, he's free handed just like poor master, he's more like him, than any child he ever had to his back.” 'Ah, that he is," responded a chorus of voices. Will had got over all his leave takings, and at this hour, all slights and former quarrels were forgotten, he was grateful for Aunt Williams's kiss, which was coldly enough given, and his cousins' expressions of good will, his heart was softened towards every one but Dr. Irving, but he still cherished in his heart of hearts, a determination to tell him what he thought of him, if he lived to grow up to be a man, which in some measure consoled him for repressing the words that burned within him now, as he passively suffered the shake of Dr. Irving's hand, which always re The Williams's heard Mr. Selden's generous' sembled the touch of a frog. |