Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-01-05


changes. | could see in the multitude
( but few forms familiar to my recollections,
and by those few Twas scarcely recognize
ed. In answer to my inquiries for my
old friends, / was told that one had, in his
ambition for wealth, fallen victim to the
yellow fever, that merciless destroyer, at
| New-Orleans, and thus had found his
lgrave in the waters of the Atlantick an
other, forgetting his own America, was
living in almost princely splendour in Lon
don; but to my inquiries for Warburton
and Harley, | learnt they were living, the
one in his native town, the other in the next
adjoining. | eagerly inquired the direc-
ton to the dwelling of Harley. As l
entered the lane leading to the house
was surprised 10 see, instead Of hand
some mansion, as I expected, small,
low, ruinous looking building, the win
dows, doors, and fences looking like mere
apologies for what such things should be,
all around it resembling a barn, rather
THAN Westinghouse. But | cannot de-
scribe the feelings Of my heart when |
heard high and angry voice uttering the
Smost terrible oaths and curses. and saw
through the half-open door the once dis
tinguished and respected Augustus Har-
Ily, with countenance bloated, eyes red
and inAamed, darling fury and fire, with
his arm raised, ready to hurl stick of
wood, which he had taken from the hearth
in his rage, at his youngest child, who
had crept under the table: another was
clinging to girl about twelve years of
age, who had sunk upon chair-she look
ed like death itself. Her form was ema-
ciated to almost the thinness of shadow !;
her bright eyes were sunken; lips and
cheeks entirely colonrless. I entered the
house without ceremony. The moment
Harley saw, he recognized, me, and rush
ed into another room, holding the door
with all his strength. | entreated him to
let me enter; told him I came as an old
friend, and not toreproach him. lie said
he was not fit to see human being or
the light Of day: that by intemperance he
had degraded his talents, beggared his
family, and ruined his body and soul for
ever; caused the death of his wife, and
yet his blind infatuation would not suffer
him to break the spell which seemed to
bind him to such Incorporate habits, such
brutal drunkenness he was led away i'm
perceptibly at first, in the social circle,
where his talents once shone so high and
pre-eminent. He thought he was very
temperate-he only only took one glass.
Mistaken man How many like him,
who think they are very temperate if
they take but one glass, find at the end of
few years that instead of being satisfi-
ed with one glass per week, or one glass
per day, they are not satisfied with one
quart in day, but their intoxicating
draught must be increased until reason
is driven from her throne and man be-
comes as brute.
But let US turn to the other picture. |
sought the dwelling of Warburton was
directed to large and elegant mansion J;
every thing around it bespeaking neatness
and taste. entered-was welcomed with
cordially: the evening was spent in con-
Verslng upon our younger days." old
friends and friendships, and would have
been happiness unallayed had not the one
dark thought of our former mutual COM
panlon, Harley, obtruded itself upon us.
When the time of separation for the night
arrived, my friend assembled all his happy
family, consisting of his aged parents, a
widowed sister and her child, and his own
beautiful wife with her two children. She
was not beautiful in external appearance ::
but her beauty consisted in highly culti-
waited mind, richly furnished with the or
naments of Christian virtues. Every one
LII
in the prayer which was then offered to
the throne of grace. l have heard many
more elegant prayers, but never one that
seemed more like the out-pourings of sim
cere and devout heart to the Giver of all
good gifts.
Now, reader, which will you be, the pi-
Gus, happy. and respected Warburton, or