Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-11-18
NO. 90.
"REMINISCENCES OF A BACHELOR.

.
There has Arrays appeared g nc
equlsitely touching in the old Scottish ballad
OF John Anderson, my 10, john the last
verse particularly. breathes the very spirit
affection:
John Anderson, my 10, John, ~
We clamb tho hill thegither,
And monte cantie day, John,
We've had wiz ane anither;
Now we maua totter down, John,
But hand and hand we'll 20,
ANDY we'll sleep thegisher at the foot,
John Anderson, my Jo.'
have known an instance Of the devoted al.
tachment 50 simply expressed in the foregoing
lines. The couplelto whom allude, resided
in my native place, and were old---very
old, when first knew them. ] was Wild
youngster then, and thought little Of care, and
less Of sorrow; but eveifAn.aly most careless
moments, would reventiy step aside from
their path, impelled by an indefinite feeling ST
respect for that aged pair, who, through all
life's bitter trials, had chung together with un-
changing affection, and were now calmly and
sweetly gliding, hand in hand, to their etsr.
nal ves.ing-place. Their story was simple
one, and we'll known throughout the village.
Some fifty years before was born, there
was not more beautiful maiden for miles a.
round than Martha Reed, and many were the
suitors who sought her---in vain; her heart
was given to one who was, like herself, poor,
but possessed of an active and enterprising
spirit. He was wild youth, and the old PEG.
1ple shook their heads and prophesied that
George Harris would never come to good
end. Martha smiled at their prejudices; and
when George babe her farewell ere he depafta
ed to seek his fortune in distant cline, she
felt confident that his return would be marked
with Joy and happiness. Soon after his de-
parture, her parents died; and Martha, left a.
llone, supported herself by her own industry.
Many good offers of marriage were made her,
but she remained true to him who, she haliev-
I'D, had exiled himself from his home and
friends, and was now toilingin strange land
lfor her sake. After an absence Of nearly eigh-
teen months, Harris returned, but so changed
( that his friends scarce recognised him. What
little he possessed was gone; he had lost his
firmness Of principle; he had drowned the 70.
collection of his frustrated hopes in dissipa-
ton; and now, ruined alike IN fortune and In
character, he presented himself before her who
had so confdingly believed ID his truth, and
whom, amid all his degradation Of feeling, he
still loved with the unsullied purity Of earlier
years. For moment she shrunk from him
with loathng, but the tide cf feeling soon
her earnings, she established him in businesses
and for time all went we'll. But the force
habit prevailed; and as he sank lower and low.
or in the vortex Of vice, she had to endure the
sneers and reproaches Of her companions for
thus lavishing her affections on one so utterly
unworthy. Still she chung to him with indy.
ing fortitude and affection; and when, without
a friend, with nought but despair before him,
and bitterly regretting the happiness he had
cast aside, he came to bid her an eternal fare
we'll, she fell at his feet, and conjured him, 40
he valued her love and his own happiness, to
return to the path Of virtue. Her tears and en-
treaties prevailed, and he vowed to fofsake his
vicious companions. ssDo not swear" said
. Martha, as she placed her hand on his lips,
..but be Arm of heart, and place your trust a.
: boye; believe me, we will both yet be happy.
Martha was right; once more assisted BY
her whose affection nought could change, Haf-
ris's honest endeavors prospered. They were
married; and Martha lived to enjoy all the hap
: piness she SO richly deserved. She saw her
: children grow up around her, and follow in
G the path so strongly marked out for them; and
+ often have / seen her husband, with tears In
n his eyes, relate the story Of her unchanginR If.
\ lection, and heard him exclaim, as he conclu-
Il ded the recital, ga blessing on the heart oil
9 not come forward to aid me when all others
: shrank back with contempt and loathingl She
d alone raised me from a degraded ontcastto b
Q what am---blessed above the many; for j
have found "a virtuons woman and .her prioe
It is far above rubies.'" sas
: Martha died few days before her husband,
t and many were the friends that gathered !.
! round her low!y resting-place. The simpls
) passage Of scripture so often quoted By him
: who had called forth all the best emotions 3
: her heart, was craven on her tomb. as speak
ing far more sincere tribute Of affection shas
! the batteries inscribed on the gilded cenotaphi
of kings.---[New Yorker. 'sss
WONDERFUL DiscoyExy The excavations 10
tho Genesse Canal in this city have unveiled som,
Interesting animal remains; respecting which !
; friend has handed Us the following memorancum
Remains Of the Mastodon have been discovered
in digging the Rochester and Clean Canal, ia this
. city Ut the intersection Of Canal aud Calsdanis
stfees, about feet below the surface Of the ground
-imbAddsd in well defined dsposite Of Oblivion,
impregnated with iron. Tho only remains pre-
served are two Of the short ribs, about four feet
long; bone supposed 10 be ons Of the lower bones
If fore-leg; and fragments Of an immense TUX.
Tho workmen describe the tusk % have besn %
laSge Is I mars body, and some ~ o. y Set
long--it was mistaken BY them for ing, and bro
ken TO pieces-only IL or "a inches OF the point