The Litchfield County post., 1828-03-20

"Bpatswain, unloose his arms-fOr this once let him go free! but know young man, ,that a like offence will receive its mer- ited punishment. l do indeed feel sorry to discover the son of my companion, private marine, ,and what is more, a drunk ard. You have by this time tasted the bite terness of dissipated life, and my parting word to you is-ret0rm.
 There was deep and unutterable feel ing of gratitude played around Charles Bloomsly heart Intoxicated and miSera-
 ble though he was, yet he regarded with ] the highest degree of horror, the disgrace of public punishment. A sense of such a degradation was perhaps the only one he inherited from his first high elevated spirit. He had bourne the accumulated weight of neglect, derision, insult, and poverty, with the desp peration of man who feels that he has nothing to live or hope for. It was therefore pleasing discovery to find that he had one spark left of his early feelings. The seed that had long been buried, had sprung up,and that too, in moment, when it was nearly too late. Charles BlOomsly was sensible that his commander had made a dangerous rescue, by relieving him.-- ] Another moneut,-and the stamp of infa- my would have been pressed upon his 1 form. And who then could wonder that he felt grateful? The parting word address sed to him, still rung, in his ears-''reforn /" Yes, I will reform, he resolved, and show my commander that his gener- ous interference has not been bestowed in vain.
 A sense of our failings generally produ- ces desire to improve. So it was with Charles Bloomsley. For several days af- ter this affair he found his resolutions almost faIl-and when his companions in their u- sual rough way pressed him to drink, he found that although it was hard to say"no," yet his duty demanded it. Ills passions were by one mighty effort kept under d complete control. A few weeks practice and it became easier. His faculties gradu- ally awakened from the dull torpid state in which his late career of dissipation had settled them, and when his mind, perfect ly freed from the paralyzing effects of ar- dent spirits, took survey of his situation, he found it indeed painful and distressing. His father, his sisters, and Mary were far off, and perhaps ignorant of his fate.-- Those around him were nothing more than a mere herd of mercenaries, and he often l wondered how he ever could have enjoyed himself among them. There was no fel- lowship in their profane and ignoran, ribal- dry 10 an intelligent mind. Yet how could he be relieved from hls situation? Com plaint was unavailng and Charles resol- we'd to do his duty with faithfnlness, and forget for tho presen his low situation, and inc degrading occupation, which he filled. The term for his enlistment had been for eighteen months, and the vessel was destined up the Mediterranean. Six yet during this period his passions and de- sires were altered. He. now at times stood under the sunny skies of Italy. Frequently his duty called him on sbore, and then bright eyes, and smiling counte- nances, in all the rich loveliness of beauty, flashed before him, as he passed ,-but his heart was not there. Home, and his lov- ed one was in his thoughts. How often would her dear image, as he last beheld 1 Ity PuiV duu 'uSCHSiOIC Ih HiS utusSy atSV uP before him. He blamed himself in all the bitterness of disappointment for sacri- fsing his happiness to his brutalizing pass sion for ardent spirits. He panted ardent ly for the time when he should be loosed from his con6nment, and tears frequently dimmed his eyes, as at right when he was on guard, his thoughts reverted to home, and dark fears of the fate of his friends, often stole across his mind.
 Was Mary alive ?-He hardly dared to question himself respecting its probability. } The last report which had ever reached his ears, was. that she was weeping in sol- itude. over the ruin and prostration of her hopes There was desperation in the idea of her death. He could not dwell up- on it.
 The particulars of his absence it will be useless to detail. How often his heart sickened within itself, when the witherings of his fancy came up before him: but time at length brought the day when his term of enlistment expired, and with it his discharge. v
 It was on beautiful afternoon of sum- mer that a stranger dressed in the naval uniform of the United States, was seen entering the town of P@. He stopped several times, and passed his hand over his forehead with the appearance of man bewildered with some painful recollections.