Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-06

VouVeu to sopP'Css u's Smot'ou "iiic
he added, 81 am now on my road to
p; where meeting with my dear
old friend may restore some degree OF
tranquility to my mind and, as am
one of the many who find an allevia-
tion of their suilerings in a recital OF
their misfortunes, | would willingly
make trial Of your patience, were j,
not already so late that fear you
NAV suffer from a want Of rest"
Having assured him Of the contra
nv, by disclosure of my intention to
set up all night, he commenced the
following simple and unaffected tale,
which, could ] give it in the beautiful
and unaffected language in which
received it, would not fail to interest
nv readers as it did me. The fine
and mournl,.; tone of his voice, often
broken by sobs of anguish, still trem-
bles in my ear, even now, when the
lips from which it flowed are closed
forever, and mouldering in the dust.
81 was born in the city of P,
where my father, merchant ofwealth
and respectability, had long resided.
My mother was the only child Of a
lawyer of some eminence, who settled
on her some back lands, Of little value
at that time, Independent of her hus-
band. At the College Of P-l be-
came acquainted with your father,
whose friendship | have always esti-
mated as it deserved, and although
we were young when we separated, we
maintained regular correspondence,
until alliction rendered me incapable
ofimparting tc my friend the pleasure
| had always received from him.
Whilst | remained at College my
mother died suddenly, and my father,
absorbed in grief for her loss, neglect
ed his affairs ; in consequence, long
threatened bankruptcy fell upon him
at time when he was least able to
bear it. | was taken from my studies
and sent to Boston, where entered
into the compiling house Of Mr.. Gil
man, with whose assistance was ena-
bled after a few years to engage in
business for myself. was prosper
ous. and married, at the age Of five
and-twenty, n beautiful and amiab!e
woman. My father, whose health had
been undermined by his misfortunes,
did not long survive this event; and
this interruption to my happiness was
followed by another more severe -
My sweet wife, after giving to my
arms lovely babe, sunk under her
agonizing trial, and was left almost
alone in the world. 1t was long
time before | was able to give any Or
der concerning my infant, or atlcud
to any thing relating to myself: but
gradually awaking from the stupor
that oppressed me, found the little
being, lovely as a cherub, capable Of
afiording the highest qualification to
fond fathers heart.
"1'o her | turned for consolation
I educated her elegantly and usefully;
| lavished on her all my affections
all my weal,l-and was amply re-
warded by her grateful smiles when
she reached the age of nineteen, with
a form slender and delicate, and face
which might have served for Hebe,
she appeared in the bloom of beauty,
to promise long life of happiness.
About this time Henry Morton,
the son of a respectable neighbour,
became attached to her; and l soon
perceived my Emma returned his pas
sion with equal ardour. He was
we'll educated youth, and intended for
the bar; but small fortune and nu-
merous family rendered his father un-
able to support him during his studies,
and he was then a clerk in one Of the
Banks. To his poverty ! could not
object, supposing as then did, that
my fortune vas immense, admitted
his visits, and silently observed that
every day appeared to increase the
attachment on both sides.
Harry made one of our little fam
lily party almost every evening and
when any accident detained him, En-
mas uneasiness evinced the strength
of her attachment.
"About this time, one to whom |
Rad confded much, nearly effected my
ruin; and | was forced to seek, on
the small property my mother left me,
for home to shelter nv darling