till ■I! NEW YORK: KIGGIES & KELLOGG, 123 & 125 William St. n i THE w? m^i £^ ^ i^i ^J 1^ i^ '^■r OR TRUST IN PROYIDENCE, Una fty^--^ NEW YORK: KIGGINS & KELLOGQ, 123 &, 125 William St, THE WAGON-BOY. ^:^ Richard Edward;^ wns a studious boy ; and while at school, he attended closely tx his books, never suffering hij attention to be diverted for \ moment. The desk lie occu pied was shared with Thoma Johnson, an idle indolent youth who hated his books, and if th teacher's eye was not on hirr , he would often be in a state Oi complete slumber. The coix- sequence was, that while Rich- 4 THE WAGON-BOY; OR circl, as often as the end of the week came round, carried home to his parents the teacher's testimonial of the continued and rapid progress which he made in his studies, Thomas received a weekly reprimand for his in- attention to his books, and often punishment for bad behavior. One clear wintry Saturday, Richard received the reward of attentive study and amiable deportment, by being permit- ted to accompany his father on a visit to Mr. Delano's, an in- timate friend of his, who re- sided in an adjoining town. Jtichard was up betimes, and after breakfast two horses were saddled, and Richard and his father started off. On their route, they passed a wagoner TRUST IN PROVIDENCE. 6 6 THE wagon-boy; or accompanied by a youth about eighteen years of age, whom they learned by a few words exchanged in passing, was his son. The boy drove the team, while the father, who had a gun, occupied his time in hunt- ing. The incident made but little impression on their minds at the time, and were it not for what afterward occurred would have soon been forgotten. They arrived in good time at Mr. Delano's, and Richard passed rhe day most agreeably. tie .was fond of ranging the woods ; and meeting the wag- oner in the morning, suggest- ing to him the idea of amusing himself by hunting, Mr. Dela- no furnished him with a gun and ammunition for that pur- TRUST IN PROVIDENCE. miwimh 8 THE wagon-boy; or 30se. And when, attired in lis hunting-gear and accom- panied by Mr. Delano's dog, he started for the woods, he looked like a western-hunter. However, although he enjoyed his jaunt through the woods and pastures, he returned empty- handed. With the exception of a fox that crossed his path, and which he did not succeed in capturing, he did not meet with anything worth shooting TRUST IN PROVIDENCE. 9 at. Richard had to bear the good-natured jokes of his father and friend, on his want of suc- cess ; }3ut he did not care; he had enjoyed himself, and that satisfied him. They were on their return home in the evening, and were about two miles from their res- idence. They had urged their horses forward through the ad- joining woods, and w^ere just fording a shallow tributary of the river they had to cross be- fore reaching home, in order to shorten their route, for fear the ferry-boat should have made its last trip before they reach- ed there, when Richard called, ** Stop, father, I hear the sound of distress !'^ Mr. Edwards reined in his horse, and lis- 10 THE wagon-boy; or TRUST IN' PROVIDENCE. 11 tened. '^ I perceive notliing,'^ said be, ^^but these w^ild forest birds, that grather at nicjht-fall. But hark ! Whoa ! Pete, be quiet,^' continued he to his horse, which was impatient to go on. A wild, childUke sob of agony burst distinctly on their ears. '^We must look into this, Richard,'' said his father; and reaching the oppo- site shore, they started in the direction of the sound. As they rode over the un- . cleared space, they heard, at intervals, the same cry, and they were soon near enough to perceive the object of their search. In one of the turn- outs, as they are sometimes called, made through the woods by wagoners, when the main 12 THE wagon-boy; OR road is cut up by heavy wheels, they perceived the team of the wagoner they passed in the morning ; but by it a sad scene met their view. Extended on the ground, with the cold stern countenance of death, lay the wagoner. His son was kneel- ing on one side of him, vi^ith his head resting on his silent breast sobbing as if his heart would break, while his dog stood looking wistfully at both^ as if he knew the sufferings of one and the helplessness of the other. At the sound of footsteps the youth sprang up. The sad tale was soon told. In leaping a fence in chase of a fox, his gun accidentally went off and lodged the contents in his bodv. TRUST IN PROVIDENCE. 13 *^ Sir/' he cried, '^ can you save my father ? Can anything save himl" Mr. Eclv^ards alighted from his horse, and approach- ed the body. It had all the marks of death ; the cold and shrunk countenance, the ap- palling repose of mortality, be- reft of soul. The eves of the youth brightened with intense hope as Mr. Edwards felt the breast and pulse of the de- ceased. There was no an- swering sympathy in his look. He shook his head mournfully, and said, ^'My poor fellow." The wagon-boy threw him- self again on the body of his father, and gave that cry of deep and wailing sorrow, that God allows to the crowded heart to keep it from breaking. 14 THE wagon-boy; or Tlie cold wind swept by with a wintry gust, and seemed faint- ly to echo his subsiding moan. Richard took his hand. '' We will try to comfort you, my poor lad," said he. ^* Father, shall he go home with us?" ^^What! leave JiimV^ said the wagon-boy, clinging to his father, while a deep shudder- ino: shook his frame. '' No," said Mr. Edwards gently, '^ you shall not leave him, but would it not relieve your mind to see him laid in a decent grave ?" Mr. Edwards had touched the strincr that finds an answer- ing chord in every heart. The wagon-boy silently rose, passed his arm across his eyes^ from which the large tears still rolled, ^ ?»• TRUST IN PROVIDENCE. 15 and assisted by Mr. Edwards, placed the body on the wagon. The sad procession moved along, and reached the ferry- boat, in time to pass to town. Mr. Edwards was affluent and generous. He clothed the wagon-boy in appropriate gar- ments the following day, and walked with Richard, to see the sad youth deposite his only relation in the tomb. His faith- ful dog mutely followed, and when the wagon- boy returned from that mournful scene, he laid himself down by the side of the poor brute, and throw- ing his arms around the animal hid his swollen eyes upon him, as if he only could understand his feelings. For many days they tried to wiii IG THE WAGON-BOY. comfort him in vain, for re- ligious emotions were new to him. But when Mr. Edwards explained to him '^the resur- rection and the Hfe/' and Rich- ard read to him those subhme and touching portions of Scrip- ture which tell us that '^ afflic- tions are not of the dust," and that '' the Lord loveth whom he chasteneth,'' the wagon-boy was comforted. He returned to his native scenes, sad but peaceful, and Richard was taught a reliance on Provi- dence, that was often renewed vhen he rode by the spot, where the cry of the wagon- boy first pierced his ears. ^1 I 1^ ^ KIGGINS & KELLOGG, Publisliers, Booksellers, & Stationers, 123 & 125 Wiliiam St. Also Manufacturers of every description of ACCOUNT BOOKS, MEMOItANDITMS and PABS BOOKS, a large stock of wliich is constimtly kept "on hand. Their assortment of SCHOOL iSCELtMNEOUS BOOKS, of Foreign and Domestic XAT80NERY, Is very complete, to the inspection of which they woiitd invite Couistry Mkrcijants before yurchasine: elsewhere. .1 . - ■■*••«' ALSO PUBLISH, EEDFIELiD'S TOY BOOKS, Four Series of Twelve Books each BEAUTrFlCLLY ILLUSTRATED, Price^ OnA Two, Fmtr^ and Six Cents. 1*' I il ■ ' ! ' . \mi