Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-07-08


,ively leaning his head on his mothers arm,
while his baby brother was using it as a play !
hing, and twining his tiny fingers in the silken |
;urs which adorned it, the only joyous Of the |
group, for William was still sorrowful when his I
thoughts, turned a. POW, to his lost father.
The mothers eye as it was sadly bent on the |
water, rested on a group Of men who were stand |
ing on its very edge; at this moment ono of them
raised spy-glass to his face. Emma shuddcred,
turned hastily away, and a sick, faint feeling !
came over her, but she almost Immediately com
PEELED herself to look again, ashamed Of the self
ishncss which would not permit her to rejoice in
the happiness Of Others, while herself bcreavcd
and dcsolatc. Some beating hearts, thought she.
are waiting with tremulous Joy the approach Of
the dear objects Of their lovc-Shall not rejoice
with them? "lRun, William, and see what vessel
has arrived, fur those men watching, am sure
tho approach Of one" William obcycd, though
reluctantly, for his little heart was grieved
whenever his eyes rested on the water. His
mother watched his tardy footsteps as he APP
preached the group, who at this moment spying
him, one Of them went forward to meet him.
Scarcely had they come near enough to speak,
when, though words ola magical influence had
been pronounced, William, who before scarcely
moved, now tossed his arms high in the air, and
turning his faco towards his mothers dwelling,
seemed borne along by tho wings of the wind
The man as swiftly followed, and almost breath
less they both entered at the same time the abode
Of Emma. "Oh mother! mother!'' exclaimed
William: ''S:op, my boy" said his companion,
''lct me speak to your mother first;' and turning
to Emma, he said, ssbc calm, madam, for VIC have
glorious news for you-thc ship Anne is close ut
hlnd:' Emma sPokehot, but her heaving bosom
and wildly rolling eye frightened her boy, who
RUNNING to her, and throwing himself her
neck, exclaimed, "why thought you would be SO
glad mother, that father after all is alive and
ing to US; but you don't look at nll what is the
buried her face in the bosom Of her child, and
relieved her bursting heart by weeping aloud.
Locked in each others arms, they mingled their
tears and their thanksgiving to God for his IN
spcakablc mercy, while the man who stood by,
though quite unused to the melting mood, him
self wept like an infant.
"But how is it!'' exclaimed Emma, her recol-
lection returning as her agitation partly subsidized,
''has the ocean given up its dead?'' mo doubt
replied the man, "they were driven out to sea,
and have been detained at some port to repair
damages
Soon, to the waiting eager eyes ofthe wife and
child appeared that stately ship, her white sails
filled by gentle breeze, and bearing her maies-
ticaly along over the soft ripple Of the sparkling
waves. Soon she was perfectly moored in the
quiet harbor, and a familiar, beloved form seemed
to step from her decks and approach the house.
Soon they were folded to that heart which but an
hour or two before they had thought no longer
/
cd, and hundred times kissed by those lips they
had deemed cold in death.
~1on Towyoss sroRY:-Tom Towson wa, tel
ling me a story the other day about the why
was first introduced to his present wife, Colonel
Ridgely's daughter. Now l can't tell it well
as Tom told 1t to me, but will tell it well as
l can.
Tom you sec, was poor, and had but sorry
education; but he very quick to learn, and
I a. l. - Al
country. Tom lived on Poverty Plantation, as
nc called II, with old widow Towson, his mother,
and the farm, which was small, was all they hal
between them The fact is, Tom was hand
some fellow, in hOmesPun or brOadclOth. One
cloudy afternoon Tom went down into Silver
Valley to sec old Ridgciy about division line on
Joe Gibson's plat Of Poverty Plantation.
storm came on just as he drew up opposite
Col. Ridgcly's lane gate. Ridecly was proud
old chap-rich tOo-and report said that his daugh-
ter Lucy was "almighty" handsome. Now Lucy
bad been brought up in the best Of style, and was
a high lady in the ncighbourhood. Some said
that she had refused several capital offers, but
that's neither here nor there, as Tom, you know
could not think Of her.
Well, the storm ragged, and in rides Tom
hooks his horse to an apple tree-goes up the
wide steps, and ends with q loud knock at the
door. Jim Squirrel opened the door, an old ne
gro, who had carried water to Toms father when
/ y A'"'Oi/ ~A"sAACu "s ASSSCiy SICCA
fields.
i "Thc Colonel in?''
eyes, sir, come in,' was the ready response.
Tom was led into a large, Old-fashioned par
lour, where he found the Colonel reading, hi.
wife sewing, and his daughter writing. The ole
man nodded without rising, and told Tom to 81,
down; while the old lady very reservedly drew
her chair closer to the wall. Tom felt little Gu
rious. The daughter too threw two or three
beautiful glanccs at him, which made him fee
still more curious. He made so many blunders
in telling his business, that kind smile began to
show itself upon the faces of all in the room
which encouraged Tom, who instantly recovered
his selfPossession and added to their mirth bv ma
ny intentional errors and oddities
'Colonel," said Tom, '1it's quite out of the
question Tor us to settle this now''
"Why so?' inquired the Colonel
NOn account Of your daughter, SIR replied Tom
"My daughtcr!-' returned the Colonel. aston
ished; spray, what has she TO do with ite''
"WhN," added Tom, "she has knocked me into
a cooked hat with those black eyes Of hers'
The old lady drew up althoug h she could no,
suppress a smile, while the daughter blushed, in
spite OF her efforts to laugh contemptuously As
for the old Colonel, he was SO astonished at Toms
'mPudcnce, that for while he lost the use of his
tongue. They all looked at Tom in silence. and
IN the meantime they remarked his fine figure
high forehead, and intelligent eye; while the ire
SlStlhle fvcuOr4