American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-04-17
From the Nashville Banner.

! From boy was given to wandering spirit
Before was twelve years old abandoned m,
parents and went in pursuit of adventures. No
thing afforded me pleasure but novelty, so coult
not confine myself long in one place.
, had heard Of the freedom and happines a
America; had been told that the poor might there
get rich, and the humble be distin " shed, the low
born powerful, and the foolish wisely the pow
ers, said |, as stood gazing on the faint image OF
a departing vessel, which bore some of nv rela
tives to this land of blessedness the first chance
will try my fortune in this earthly paradise,
And well might, for had neither land, chatteIs
goods, nor character in Ireland, and none but
those who have tried it know what poor Irish.
man suffers in his native land. Luckily, had a
strong constitution, firm feeling. and merry
heart.
stranger is put to it when he wishes a passage
across the Atlantic.-I mean POOR stranger, for
it ne but jingle money enough, whole ships are at
his service. But since | was determined to 90
at all hazards, hired myself to captain for six
months, to perform any duty he might require |;
and full we'll | suffered for my honesty; he en-
gag~l me in cleansing the ship. washing for the
sailors. and cooking. Now you see how It is, said
to myself, they make dog of me. BY the pow
ers, in truth they did; for slept on straw, and
fed on bones and crusts-but had patience, and
the moment we landed, having served only six
weeks. eoped from the ship, first providing my
self beautifully with clothing and loose cash
from the Golfers ofmy messmates. My conscience
Justified me, for was in want and they had to
spare; but an lrshman, on land, going without
friends or means is not very punctilious. We
dropped anchor at Boston-oh, how my poor heart
Ieaped. Now, by the ashes of my ancestors, said
], but will eat and be happy will revel. Co.
| ing up from the wharf into the town, was at
tracted BY the sign of mug and glasses painted
H,f htar h, c,.t
and will taste of the honey and wine of this land
Of contentment, so entering with great easerness,
who should see but my old friend Mel O'Flegan !;
a better soul and st0uter heart never lived; but
Mel had absconded from old Ireland on suspicion
of potatoe stealing, and did not wish to know an
old acquaintance. "Oh blood and zouns," cried
|. leapinS over the square box, behind which he
was sitting. "lat, give me your hand and heart,
a better heart never beat" But Mel was silent.
any one living, but myself, that you stole pota-
toes" VIII you be true my honest darling :"
said Mel. "Or die and be d-d,'' replied t.
g Then am your honey" returned my friend.
Two lrshmen, when they meet in good fellow
ship in strange land, are the happiest, most gen.
| prOus, candid communicative creatures magma
| BILE. They talk over old times, old friends future
prospects. and present fortunes. Nothing helps
thei! intercourse. however. SO much as good ale
But was somewhat thunderstruck at the appear
,nce of my friend. From a spare, we'll made
| youth, he had grown to the size of still tub
His face, which was once fair and smooth, seemed
as round and as fiery as the new moon when seen
through the mists Of autumn, his eyes might have
been taken for the windows of furnace, and his
| nose, which seemed almost in blaze, was hea-
w, dead weight.
"You must not call me Mel O'Flegan," said
he. Faith, and what must | call you ?' re-
turned l. "Patrick O'Megan.' Now, by my
soul, do you wish to play trick on me was not
your name Mel O'Flegan when you left ireland,
and WHY need you be ashamed of it ?" "'Twas
SO - replied my friend, but have dwelt in sun
dry towns and villages in this land of freedom,
and never failed to make debts and be imposed
upon in every one so when was obliged to go
away to get justice, always changed my name,
and then the, could not find to trouble me, for
Irishm,n are so thick in this country, and all SO
much alike, that only wanted the start of a night
to escape from any thing'' Oh, as for that, my
darling, had as live call you O'Megan as O'Fle-
gan, or O'pevil as either, the odds of name is
nothing when body can do an act of justice by
| it."
"O'Corcle," said my friend. first tempting the
tankard of small beer, this is not the abode of
peace plenty and ease as we were taught to be-!
lieve. No, it is the dwelling place of fighting,
craftiness and difficulty. You must work and be
cheated, and find that it is hard enough in all faith
to live. Now most foreigners are deluded with
the opinion that they are to be borne on the wings
of the wind, to listen to unbroken music, rest on
down and dwell in smiles. How dissatisfied,
therefore are they when they witness the fact, and
are compelled To- labor and steal, or be honest and
sutter! iiut Irshmen want very little, cup of
small beer a suit of thunder and lightning a staff,
and good health is all.' But O'Corcle. continued
he "if you are not careful, you will be always
getting into mistakes and difficulties These
Americans taave thousand opinions that you ne
yer heard Of and for that very reason they will
80 to war with YOU. Hold your tongue, laugh