This tree
was my delight in the sunny days of childhood and early youth, and in
summer most of my school-tasks were committed to memory beneath its
friendly shade; and I loved it, in the dreary season of winter, for the
deep green which it retained, amid the general desolation by which it
was surrounded. When left a widow my mother was poor, so far as worldly
riches is considered. My father had once been in moderately easy
circumstances, but the illness which terminated in his death was long,
and the means he had accumulated gradually slipped away, till, at the
period of his death, all my mother could call her own was the little
brown house which sheltered us, and very thankful was she to find, (when
every debt was paid even to the last fraction) that she still possessed
a home for herself and children. My mother possessed much energy of
mind, as well as a cheerful, hopeful disposition, and, although she
sorrowed deeply for her sad loss, she did not yield to despondency; but
endeavored to discharge faithfully her duty to her children, and to this
end she sought employment, and toiled early and late that she might
provide for our wants, and so far did Providence smile upon her efforts
that we were enabled to live in comfort and respectability.
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