American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-11-27

From the Independent Public Ledmer.

fNs'~s''s
INSTRUCTIVE TALE-We have seldom heard Of
a tale Of human life more instructive than that we
are about to relate. We heard the substance of II
related by friend, and have taken the liberty tt
throw 1T into the present shape, and lay it before
our readers. 1t is fine illustration OF what Frank.
I'm said SO much and insisted on, that industry and
temperance are almost certain to lead to ndepen.
dence and comfort.
Thomas P, at the age of IS, was, BY the
death OF his master, turned loose upon the world,
to gain livelihood as shoemaker. He shout.
aered ms KIT and went from house to house, ma
king the farmers leather, or mending his chill
dren's shoes. At length good old man, pleased
with Toms industry and steady habits, offered
MN small building as shop. Here Tom appi.
Ell himself to work with persevering industr, and
untlting ardor. Earlier than the sun he was whis-
ting over his work. and his hammer song was Of
ten heard until the g noon Of night.o He thus
gained good reputation, and some Of this world
goods. lie soon married virtaous female one
whose kind disposition added new Joys to his ex-
istence, aud whose busy neatness rendered pleas.
ant and comfortable their little tenement. The
time passed smoothly IN /; thcv were blessed. with
the smiling pledges Of their affection. and in few
years Tom was the possessor of neat little cot.
ttage and piece Of land. This they handsomely
Improved; and it was evidently the abode of pien-
ty and felicity. But now 'fom began to relax from
ms strict habits, and would occasionally walk down
to tavern in the neghborhood. This soon became
habit; and the habit mperceptibly grew upon
him, unit! to the grief of all who knew him, he be-
came constant !ounger about the tavern, and ex
tremely disspated. The inevitable consequences
soon followed he got into debt, and his creditors
soon stripped him of all he had. His poor wife used
all the arts of persuasion to reclaim him and she
could not think of using him harshly, for size loved
him even in his degradation, and he had alwa, 5
been kind TO her. Many an earnest petition did
she proter to heaven for his reformation, and often
did she endeavor to work upon his parental feeling
He often promised to reform, and was at last in
luced to stay from the tavern three days together;
and his soicitous companion began to chez ish
hope Of returning happiness. But lie could endure
It no longer" Betsey," said he, as he rose from
his work, "gye me the decanter.* These words
pierced her heart-and seemed to sound the knell
Of all her cherished hopes but che could not dis
obey him. He went to the tavern, and after some
persuasion he induced the landlord to fill the de-
canter: he returned and placed it in the window
immediately before him. 6 for' said he, " can face
my enemy.' With resolution fixed upon over
coming his pernicious habits, he went earnestly to
never touched it. Again he began to thrive and
in few years he was once more the owner Of his
former delightful residence. His children grew
up and are now respectable members Of society
Old age came upon Tom, but he always kept the
decanter in the window where he first put it; and
often when his head was sllvered over with age he
would refer to his decanter and laugh heartily at
its singular effect and he never permitted it to be
removed from that window whilst he lived, nor
was 1T until he had been consigned to his narrow
home.