The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-12-24
From the New-York Mirror.
A TALE OF TRUTH.

TALE OF TRUTH.
On the plains of Saltwater lived revolutionary
veteran and his little family-a wife and an only
son. sprightly lad of sixteen. small plat OF
ground amply served their limited wants; and a
little alp it was-for sheltered by a snug little cot
from wntry storms and summers heat, fed by health
full industry. they passed along the vale of life in
simple, solid, sweet content" Here, with an
honest, grateful pride, did the old man behold his
country rapidly rising in national piety and physi-
cal spendor, to peerless rank among the earth ;
and here he could have spent the few remaining
days left for him, had not the death of his wife, and
the future welfare of his son, opened a new and
wide field for exertion. He knew that his much
loved son was soon to be left in this mcrcenary
felt the imperous call of duty to him settled in
life, if possible ere he should be gathered to his
fathers.
One plan alone seemed probable to succeed, which
was to avail himself of hitherto neglected military
land title. This title covered large tract somewhere
in the eastern part of Kentucky but from the
alteration of Names he unable to tell It's pre-
else situation He however resolved to search for 1t,
at all hazards, and accordingly sold his trihng es
tate, settled his debts, and set forward foot
with all the trmness of Injured tolls and hard
ships from infancy.
For one moment we will paint to ourselves the
lovely landscape with its skirted fores-its gurgng
rill-its lowing COW and bleang sheep-yonder hill,
and at the foot the circumscribed cottage, the home
of the old patriot and near it the grave of his wife
then behold the father, son. and faithful dog, bid
ding the whole SILENT lasting farewell
The father was leaving the field of his glory, and
the remains of his partner; these two there was
associated the recollecons of his dearest subunary
joys-the virtues and affections of his departed wife,
and the first radiatons from the sun American
liberty.
Whatever excitement shook him internally his
features wore the aspect offirm resolve.
Not with the son; in that grave and by that
babling rill, he and his dog had gambolled away
many vernal holiday. In that dear native hut,
oft lie beguiled long winter evening" by listening
to his fathers legends of the old war, or repeated
over and over his prayers from the mouth of his
salnted mother; he was now to leave them forever.
His ingenious soul wthered at the thought. From
this circle all his joys and sprung-beyond
it all was vacuity. The fountain of youthful hope
and buoyancy was closed, and tears flowed in their
native exuberance as he turned and left the cottage
of Saltwater Plains.
They bent their way to the nearest branch of the
Allegany which they embarked in an open boat,
pennyless and with small store of eaables. One
stormy evening, in the month of November, they
tied their canoe to a tree and made their way TO
the nearest dwelling which proved to be unteel-
ing planter. He turned deaf to the claims OF
patriotic age, and shut his door upon our sheteress
wanderers Ingratudc overcame the veteran who
had scorned the rosts of 76 and but for his son, he
would have sunk under the weight of his misfortune.
They passed the night in the planters barns,
hungry wet, and cold, on a bed Of straw! At the
dawn of day, travellers set forward to the next
village, and obtained breakfast They found them
selves in Kentucky, one of those extensive allu-
vial bottoms peculiar to the great western rivers of
North America
On taking his title to a lawyer, the old gentleman
found to his astonishment, that it wealthy
plantation and what must have been his feelings,
on finding it to be occupied by the same british ma
bob who, the night preceding, drove him and his
suffering child from his door
The wretch in his turn forced to beg for he
had not enough left to pay the rent which had been
amassing for twenty years; with more effect, for
he was allowed to spend the remainder of his mis-
cradle days on remote portion of the plantation.
His life had been series of cruelty and knavery,
and his last Growing act was followed by the
temporal beginning of an enternal retribution.