The widow looked upon her boy's face, which was sweetly marked with the graces of innocence, even in the throes of death.

The light of life was nearly withdrawn from his dim blue eye; but he felt from time to time for the mother's, hands, and the mother's bosom.

He was striving, too, to utter his little complaint; attempting probably to describe his sufferings, and to beg relief from his unhappy parent; but the dissolving power of death was on all his faculties; his words lapsed into each, other indistinctly, and were consequently unintelligible.

Mrs.Vincent, for such was the widow's name, heard the words addressed to her by Mr.Clement; she raised her eyes, to heaven for a moment, and then turned them, heavy with misery, upon her dying boy.

Her heart--her hopes:--almost her whole being were peculiarly centered in the object before her; and though she had imagined that sympathy might support her, she now felt that no human power could give her consolation.