The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-10-17
THE COTTAGER's DAUGHTER.


ger, who earned his daily bread by the labor Of his
own hands and the sweat of his brow. She was his
only child the light of his age and the comforter that
in health, the delight of his heart, and In SICK
ness, the minister of every restoring gift All the
village knew her for dutiful daughter, and wonder
ad not at the extreme fondness of the old for his
child. Now that her mother was dead, and her broth
er far away from the land of his birth and the home
of his infancy, having enlisted as soldier In early
life, where could fathers preference be bestowed
more Justly than who sacrificed every thing to
make him happy, and who seemed alone to draw de-
light from the silent smile that sat his homey
countenance But, alas the spoer came and rob-
bed this nest of domestic felicity.
Albert Jones was young man, the son of neigh
boring farmer. He youth of happy, light,
and careless turn of mind and possessed warm,
friendly heart at least such every ones opinions
and every one could not be wrong. But, alas every
one was wrong in that instance, and the fatal termlna
ton of the whole told a fearful tale of human fai
bility.
Albert Jones wooed Mary Irving, and pressed his
suit with all the warmth and assduity of young en-
thusiastic lover. Having gained her heart, he soon
won the scruples of the old man, who wished to
see his daughter settled in life he departed hence
and his wrnkled brow warned that the period was not
far distant.
Mary Irving became the wife of Albert Jones, and
every said they were couple made Tor each otf-
er ; but the honey moon scarcely over and gone,
ere Mary saw that her husband far from what she
mad ever dreamt him to be.
Every village boasts its ale-house, every village has
its due quanum of choice Spirits as they are called
and every village has its little club that meets OF
nights to discuss politics, and something stronger than
small beer. Here then, did Albert Jones flourish
and here did his happy spirits kindle beneath the In
Auence of spirits of exaing, and sometimes
100 of more humiliating nature. He had heart
formed to make homely hearth happy, but early es.
arrangement from such, it would seem, had poisoned
the sweeter current of his mind and turned the wa
ters that might have flowed in camness, to enlght
en- and endear his domestic moments, to gall and tc
bitterness.
Many an evening had Mary sat up till midnight
waiting the return of her husband, and when he die
appear Keeling with drink, and dissatisfied with every
thing she would wipe the tears from her eyes, but he
heart forbade her rail and be angry she gave he
gentle rebuke hoped he might reform, and pitied him
Months passed on, but no change for the better OF
Albert Jones and Mary became the mother OF
daughters but instead of rejoicing at the circumstance
with the fulness of mothers Joy she sad ant
downcast for she saw naught but want staring her il
the face and trouble and distress around her.
The babe was four days old, and the mother ha
not recovered from her weakly state when one even
ins as usual she waiting the return of her hus
band, and was propped up in blankets in a chair b
the side of the fire, for she could barely move about
The night was cold and tempesuous. The rain wa
pouring down in torrents as the wind, which had bee
high in the afternoon and kept the clouds apart, ma
now gradually fallen and Gained. Mary Irving trim
,oo5 tho Ionor, that stood on a small cake