Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-09-29
the impression that her parents wer

that refined love whit b warmed The DO
som OF the rejected Henry, he induced
her to accompany him TO the house oil
the minister, where they were united 10
the bands of maIrImony.
On their return home, Harriet, with
lively air, introduced William TO her
parents, saying, Papa, my husband.
M ma, this is my dear, dear husband,
Mr.. " The old couple looked aghast
--blamed their precipitation, and then
(lor what else could they do {! iorgave
them
But" cried the old man, "snce
you have marred my daughter, Mr.. j..
/ wish to know (excuse me) Sir, how
you are TO support her"
Sir Sir" stammered the new hus-
band, &" | married your daughter Tor love
that pure, that haiowed fame, that
consumes ali sordid considerations"
Well, sir, all that may be very good,
but can you live on love u
:" By no means, sir"
Then am afraid your hallowed
fame will soon be burnt out" said the
old man. +" However, | will not chlde
you, but let me ask, how and where you
are going to live I"
The young man cast his eyes on the
ground.
i see" cried the old man, "you get
married to-reflect afterwards. So not
to mar your present happiness by sordld
considerations, we will talk about them
when your consuming love begins TO a.
bate"
The young man took up his residence
for some time with his wite's father, and
for few months appeared fond and
attentive husband. In vain his wife trl-
ed 10 find out his occupaIlon-he seem
ingly had none He became less steady
In his condu c,---irequently came home
in'oxicated--and appeared gloomy and
detected. He returned home one night
later than usual, and departed next NOR
nIng early, leaving on the table the tol.
lowing letter, explanatory OF his conduct
and character:
Dear Harriet-To hide my imper-
fec ions from you any longer, weulo be
criminal in the extreme. For long
time my only resource has been the
gaming table, and now run OF Ill luck,
(and some things cannot explain even
/, NY wlfe) forces me 10 quit this place
abruptly. Cor marriage was an act oil
folly, which, | dare say, we have both
repen,ed. Seek me no further, and tor.
get, il possible, your unfortunate hus.
band WILLIAM j."
Let US now follow the fortunes oil
Henry, the first lover Of Harriet. Stung
with disappointment, he left his NAIVE
city, and went TO settle in New York,
where in the course o, five years he es-
tabished himself in business, and was
fast rising to opulence and distinction.
He remained single, tor the first impress.
sions OF the heart, with characters of his
hrmness and int1eXibiity, are not easily
eradicated.
Returning home one dark and tenn
pes.uous night, in the month OF October,
while the hail and the rain driven by the
wind, and rafting upon his umbrella,
rendered he night cherries and gloomy
turning the corner oil street he saw
a li;'le girl, with scarcely sufficient cloth
ing TO cover her delicate limbs. He
cast his eyes on the child, she returned
all lmpioring look and besought him to
come and see her mother. Henry took
her little hand, and compasslonalely
questioned her, and feeling interested in
the torlorn appearance OF the child, and
her artless tale Of woe, he desired to be
conducted to her mothers habitalion
the child led hin through some intrica.
cies, 10 miserable shed, into which
they entered here, in corner, on some
straw, lay The wretched occupant, and
over her was thrown piece OF carpet,
By the side of her bed stood chair, on
which was an earthen pitcher--tbls made
up all the furniture of the rooni Hor-
ror-slruck a, the sight of such wretch.
edness, as he had no idea existed IN our
country, he stood moment motionIess
then rushed from the house. Return.
ing almost instantly With wine and other
refreshments, he approached the bed,
and helped the emaciated creature to a
portion. But what was his astopish-
ment when he recognized in the SILVER
ing object before him, the once gay and
beautiful Harriet She knew his voice,
gszed on him for q moment, then burst
into food OF tears. 80 Henry, Hen
ry!' said she, " in what situation do
you find me l little thought once, when
surrounded with the vain and the gay,
should ever come to this-can you for.
give inc have but short time 10