“My debt of gratitude I hoped might still in part be paid. My friend had an only daughter--Did that daughter survive? “The most diligent inquiries, continued for many years, proved unsuccessful. On the evening of an ill-spent and wearisome day, Heaven, dear sir, (addressing the good pastor) led me to your presence while performing the sacred duty of comforting the mourner. What then took place I need not repeat. You will, however, remember that on a subsequent occasion, while looking over the papers of the widow's son, we discovered a sealed packet, in which, accompanying a mourning ring, presented to his mother, were these lines:-- Pledge of love for constant care Let a widow'd mother wear; Filial love, whose early bloom Proves a garland for the tomb. Ever watchful, ever nigh, It breaks my heart, it fills my eye To see thee hide the falling tear, And hush the sigh I may not hear! Heaven thy precious life to spare Is my morning, evening prayer, When I rise, and sink to rest, 'Tis my first and last request. If, when deep distress of mind Press'd me sorely, aught unkind I have said or done, forgive! Error falls on all that live. Beneath the sod, where wave the trees, And softly sighs the whispering breeze, Fain I would the grassy shrine, Mother! guard my dust and thine. What are grief and suffering here? Are they worth a sigh or tear? What is parting?--transient pain, Parting soon to meet again! The second enclosure was the miniature of his grandfather. But that miniature! Gracious God! what were my sensations when I beheld the benignant, expressive lineaments of my early benefactor. The object of my long and anxious inquiries was thus miraculously discovered! 'Till that moment I had never felt true happiness. This cottage, dear Madam, with a moderate independence, the deed I now present secures to you; in return, I entreat that the miniature may be mine: and I hope some kind friend (glancing at his nephew) will, in death, place it upon my bosom.” “What darkness so profound,” exclaimed the good pastor, “that the All-seeing Eye shall not penetrate? What maze so intricate and perplexed that our Merciful Father shall not safely guide us through? 'Throw thy bread upon the waters, and it shall return to thee after many days.'”