State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-23

surely interpreted into an intentional af.
front. He would often anticipate reproof; ;
and, as it were, repay it beforehand, by the
harshness of his manners.
The habit of drinking, which is invariably
the prolific mother of sin and sloth, wretch
ednese-, and rags, is sure to be maintained
and kept alive, by the beggarly projeny, to
which it has given birth. Whenever my
unhappy mother was dunned for the in crest
on his mortgage, or any other debt, which,
at last, lie had no means to pay, he was i'll
the habit, of almost mechanically, as soon
as the creditor had departed, of turning to
| the jug of rum for relief and oblivion.
The gloom and i'll nature, which had
hitherto been occasionally nterspersed with
exhibitions of kindler feelings to us all,
appeared to have become unvarying and
| fixed. There was less and less, from week
to week, OF an April sky. All was chill and
drear, like November. One evening, my
mother and sister had been busily engaged,
as usual, in such housewifery, as might best
contribute to keep our poor wreck of a
domici together, as long as possible. had
learned to write fair hand and was engage
ed in copying some papers, for our squire,
who paid me by the sheet. 1t had gotten
to be nearly ten o'clock My mother put on
her spectacles, and opening the Bible, began
to read. Rachel and | sat by the fire, lis
tenng to the words of truth and soberness.
My poor mother had fallen upon a portion
OF scripture, which from its applicability to
her own situation and that of her children,
had affected her feelings, and the tears were
in her eyes, when the loud tramp upon the
door step announced the return of my IA
Their. His whole appearance was unusually
ominous of evil. My mother stirred the
fire, and l placed him a chair, which he
kicked over and threw himself down upon
the sbed. and .Ecalled'for supper. Mother
told him, in gentle manner, that there
was nothing in the house but some bread.
He told her she lied, and swore terribly.
She sat silently by the fret looked up in
her face She wept, but said nothing
"Wife," said my father, sitting upon the
crying?h "Whenever you leave off drink
ing, husband" replied my mother in the
kindest manner. My father sprung up, in
a hurricane Of wrath, and. with dreadful
oath, hurled chair, at my mothers head.
l sprang forward, and received its full force
upon my shoulder. Rachel and my mother
fled to a neighbours house, and my father
struck mo several blows with his feet and
lists and, as MADE my escape, !ef him
dashng the furniture to pieces, with the
fury of a mailman. | rushed forth to seek
shelter amid the driving storm-from the
tempest ola drunken fathers wrath. went
as speedily as possible to the squire's house,
and begged him to take compassion on my
poor mother and sister. Having received
thnt hn "
over to our cottage, IStook the resolution
which have already stated.
After had passed comforlcss night in
the farmers barn, pushed forward to the
city. | had trifle Of change in my pocket;
| bought biscuit of a travelling baker, and
had no relish for any other than the bev-
erage ofGod's appointment which was near
at hand. When | reached the city, | di-
rected my course to one of the wharves,
and found no difficulty, as I was unusually
stout for my years, in obtaining voyage,
as green hand in ship bound to China.
Three days passed before the ship sailed.
| wrote to my mother and sister, bidding
them keep up their spirits, and put their
trust as did, in the God of the widow and
the fatherless, for such and event worse,
was orr condition. asked them to say to
father, when he was sober, that, although
| scarcely expected to see him in this world
/ freely iorgave all his ill-treatment to my
self
worked hard and strove to please the
captain. l soon found that ploughing the
sea was very different affair from plough
ing the land. ] had good constitution,
and cheerful temper. had been taught,
at all times, by dear mother, and by my
poor, unhappy father also, till he become
Incorporate, to put the fullest confidence in
the promises of God. When we arrived in
China, though we had shipped out and
home, the voyage was broken up and the
ship sold. The captain settled with the crew
to their entire satisfaction; and shall al
ways be grateful for his kindness to me-
lie got me a voyage to England. ! laid
out my wages by his advice. | could not
have followed shrewder counsellor lie
was horn and bred, so tar as regards his
land learning, in one of the most thrifty
Villages in Connecticut We had most
bosterous voyage from Canton but, when
ever pulled rope, always pulled little
harder for the sake of my old mother and
sister Rachel. l had saved every penny of
my wages, that could lay by, and my little
investment III Canton turned out far be-
You'd my.rexpectations.s | do not think |
was avaracious; but l felt it to be my duty,
under existing circumstances to save my
earnings for my honored mother. Never
theless, | ielt myself authorized TO indulge
in one luxury at least; so upon my arrival
in Liverpool, went into the first bookstore
and bought me pocket Bible.
Five years had now gone by, in which |
had sailed many thousands of miles, and
visited various corners of the world.
During this period, | had gotten
together a larger sum of money than ever
expected to possess ut twenty-onc, besides
having made several remittances to the
squire for my old mothers use, to whom |