The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-11-29
From the Independent Public Leger.

Instructive IGLe.-We have seldom heard
Of a tale of human life more instructive than
that we are about to relate. We heard the
substance of it related by friend, and have
taken the liberty to throw it into the present
shape and lay it before our readers. 1t is a
fine Illustration of what Franklin so much in-
sisted on, that industry and Temperance are
almost certain to lead to Independence and
comfort.
Thomas p, at the age of 10, was by
the death of his master turned loose upon the
world to gam a livelihood as shoemaker He
shouderrd his kit, and went from house to
house. making the farmers leather, or mendng
his children's shoes. At length good old
man, pleased with Toms industry and steady
habits, offered him small building as shop.
Here Tom applied himseIfto work with per-
severing industry and untiring ardor. Earli-
er than the sun he was whistling over his work,
and his hammer song was often heard till the
"noon of night" He thus gained a good
reputation, and some of this worlds goods
He soon married virtuous female, one whose
kind disposition added new Joys to his exist
ence, and whose busy neatness rendered plea
SAINT and comfortable their little tenement.--
The time passed smoothly on; they were bles-
sed with the smiling pledges of their Affection
and in few years Tom was the possessor of
neat little cottage and piece ofland. This
they handsomely improved and it was evil
IDENTIFY the abode of plenty and felicity. But
now Tom began to relax from his strict hab-
its, and would occasionally walk down to
tavern in the neighborhood. This soon be-
came maitland the habit imperceptibIy
grew upon him: until to the grief of all who
knew him, he became a constant lounger a
bout the tavern, and extremely dssipated.-
The inevitable consequence soon followed: he
got into debt, and his creditors 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 she loved
him even in his degradation, and he had al
ways been kind to her. Many an earnest pc
tition did she prefer to Heaven for his refOr-
nation, and often did she endeavor to work
upon his parental feelings. He often promi-
sed to reform, and was at last induced to stay
from the tavern for three days together; and
his sOlicitOus companion began to cherish
hope of returning happiness. But he could
endure it no longer" Betsey," said he. as he
rose from his work, "give me that decantur."
These words pierced her heart, and seemed
to sound the knell of all her cherished hopes :;
but she could not disobey him. He went to
the tavern, and after some persuasion, he in
duced the landlord to fill the decantur; he re-
turned, and placed it in the window immedi-
etely before him. ''for," said he, can face my
enemy" With resolution fixed upon over
coming his pernicious habits, he went earnest
ly to work-always having the decantur be.
fore him, but never touchingit. Again he be-
gan to thrive, and in few yers he was once
more the owner of his former delightful resi-
dence. His children grew up, and are now
respectable members of society. Old age
came upon Tom. but he always kept the de-
cantur in the window where he first put it {;
and often when his head was silvered over
with age, he would refer to his decantur, and
laugh heartily at its singular effect; and he
never permitted it to be removed from that
window while he lived. nor was it until he
had been consigned to his narrow house.