The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-04-20
FOR THE GAZETTE.
THE OLD TRUNK,
No. /

n
fer's evening by the side of my cheerful
hearth, busily engaged in the arrangement
of some mercantile concerns, in which l
felt very deep interest. My wife, with
industrious care, was sitting at her work
table, on the other side of the fireplace,
my little Reset was sportively playing OF
the carpet between US, and the cheerful
innocence of the scene, combined with
the fond feelings of husband, and ia
ther, were such as to inspire sentiment
which makes the human breast an earthly
elysium.
The night was extremely cold, the wind
ragged with tempestuous violence, and the
chilling aspect of nature, contrasted with
the enjoyments of home FIRE side, was
such as to give thrilling acuteness to the
feeling. have before attempted to des-
cribe; as was about to retire, a low, ire
mulous knocking at the door, announced
the arrival of some one whom either age,
fear, or bodily in6rmity, had deprived of
the power of violent exertion, indeed
there was a supplicating softness in the
gentle rap, low piteous entreating in its
feeble sound, that.spoke sorrow without;
felt there was comfort within, and de-
gree OF selfish pride at the idea Of being
able to administer it, mingled itself with
that more heavenly feeling, which teach
es man to befriend bis fellow man.
Upon opening the door, bsheld an a.
ged figure, whose hoary locks, seemed by
the bright moOn-beam, as fair as the SHOWS
which lay around him, STAFF which look
ed as ancient as its venerable master, sup
ported the feeble steps Of the tottering
stranger, be stood mute, and saw a white
tear glisten on bis aged cheek, l sympa-
thized with him, knew the feelings that
agitated his breast, as we'll as if they had
been written upon his ample forehead; he
was aware that he had no tie upon me, he
felt himself stranger, he knew himself
unfortunate, the world had not treated
him kindly, the claims OF the distressed
he knew were but seldom allowed by
b eartless man; saw those mingled emo
tions in the glist'ning tear. | felt them in
his deep wrung sigh, and barbarty itself
cannot resist the appeals, the omnipotent
appeals of nature; | motioned with my
hand, for NV heart was too big with pity,
to give vent to feelings in the cold Ian
suage of words. He seemed. instrinc-
lively to understand me, all powerful syn
pathy spoke louder than the tbanders OF
eloquence, he entered my dwelling with
an assured heart, and grateful eye, his
wants were supplied, and in few hours,
the old man was seen to smile; say We who
have hearts, Was not that smile brighter
to the feeling bosom, than all the lustre of
the polished diamond. Till then, | had
not observed little old trunk which the
stranger had placed upon a table near the
door; | ordered servant to convey it to
the apartment allotted him, but with an
imperious voice strangely mingled with hu-
mility, and respect, he babe him leave it
untouched; and turning to me with a coun-
tenance replete with expression, and in
tellectual energy, though faded by years,
and softeDed down by sorrow, he observ-
ed ''that little old trunk contains what to
me is Of more value than wealth, or hon
ors." The trunk remained as be had pla-
csd it, until retiring for the night; the old
gentleman took it in bis arms with as much
care as mother would her sleeping babe,
and conveyed it to his apartment him.
self.
He became an inmate in my family, and
was soon an object of the deepest venera-
ton to every member in it. My little Ro-
set became his idol. and soon under his
instructions, for he proved 10 be man of
deep reading, and much experience, she
advanced apaoe. He loved he said, "to
watch over youth in it's ineipient growth.
tstake tin is tender age, to pluck the