Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-12-11

a
a., LI...hI Won tell me 70 my face that
T. s..- tbia rare compound.
poToJ - say 4. . be replied, and, instead
- blush, tear Of regret would
l ~. onproDriaie, unless you retire
y III =. Void and live hermit's life.
s,S..' s;s6ld then Be- beyond the influence
- ~ vices Of the world, and, instead q
Savi1r your virtues preyed upon BY the
H;c;olIS. you might enjoy the treasure
s..5;cl, God has endowed you with m peace.
Vice and virtue are antagonist qualities,
and as there Is ten.fold more of the for
mer on the earth, SO when they come in
.-ontscfs ne victory is to numbers there.
fare + & wisdom to keep them asunder,
ar If thew must mingle, il is prudence to
d;snense with the semblance Of the latter,
as q soldier does the badge Of his country,
when surrounded by the enemy"
AThis is most extraordinary ex-
claimed.
81 am perfectly aware of that, " replied
INV companions, and if you will give
me your attention, will BRIEFLY relate
some ofthe incidents of my life" Unhes-
itatingly asserting, and signifying great
curiosity, to know his history, ne threw
aside his crutch, and leaning back against
= keO. on which was desired to sit, he
thus began: 49,,
al was the only child of humble par
.ents who lived by keeping small flower
garden near-the city. was sent to school
when very young, and was distinguished
for my learning and bushfulness. AT the
sre Of thirteen, was left an orphan
both nv parents dying the same day /;
being swept off by an epidemic. ! was
now the Inheritor of few hundred dol
lars. and might have continued my faith
-er's business successfully, had it not been
for nv constitutional inirmity, ROdcSty,
which ever prevented me from buStling
with nv fellow men, and pushing my for
tune. | hired myself to neighbOring gar
dener, and for several years led content
ed life; but the fairest flower, the one with
which / was most delighted, was the gen.
tie Rosa, my employers daughter. Long
| loved her and the passion was mutual.
She delighted to descant in my presence
on The various Specifications of the plants,
and, at parting, she would pin on my
breast the one which was the badge of
love and constancY. Yet the curse of
Einidity hung over me When the time
arrived for me to act, when it became nee.
essary for me to declare my love in words,
and solicit her hand, my tongue refused its
Office, aud construed her silence and coy.
ness INTO rejection and without seeking
another interview, fed 10 the city. Here,
amongst strangers, whom l had not conf.
-dence to ask for employment, nor firm
ness to deny my purse to any, was soon
left destitute. When on the borders Of
despair, and wishing that some friendly
dispensation of Providence, would take
me from amongst the living, war was de-
clared, and gladly shouldered a m1sket
in the defence of my country. Ia the first
conflict, urged more by a reckless desire
,of death, than impelled by a sense of duty,
Ut was my fortune to distinguish myself,
and receive the peculiar commentators
of my officer. But in the next action !
was made a cripple for life, fell into the
hands of the enemy, and when | awoke
from long delirium | found myself ia a
hospital in England. They had evidently
taken me for one Of their own party, Of
the same name, who, / supposed, had per.
ished ia the battle. | told them who, and
what was, and soon found myself aban-
dOned, in strange land, without money,
and unable to work for a living. For
years pursued the occupation Of beg
gar, boarded up my savings to return to
my native land. / now thought Of my
int-heartedness, and felt certain that 70.
ga would gladly have been mine, had ]
only pressed my suit! Aye, the bitterest
stingof mOdesty is the conviction of calm.
er moments, that il has been hOpelessly
ill.timed, and could so easily and prOfla.
bly, have been dispensed with! ! called
several times on our minister, but paused
at the thFeshOuld, aud never had the heart
10 see him, even when he had granted an
audience. At length a humane captain
gave me a passage in the steerage, and
when | again set foot on this wharf, |
lhastened to Rosa's garden, determi ned
ito try my fortune once more, even under
tmore unfavorable circumstances than for.
Imery. saw her from thickel OfshrIb-
lbery, culling flowers as usual, but several
prbttlihg children were around her, calling
TO 'mama ? turned, and fed away.
"Ilearned that the wounded of the late
war were entitled to pensions, and re-
paired to the war Office to assert my claims.
The functiOnary looked Of the list, stared
me in the face, aud thrust me out, saying
4 had been paid only the week before.
In vain were my protestatiOas to the con-
tfary. ] was shown nay name, (it was that
OF the Englishman y on the pension list
and was assured that / had regularly re-
eceived my pay for years. Again fled
back 70 this city, and pursued the mendi.
cant's occupation. Another had usurped
my name, and taken my pay, and was
abashfu odtcast- throw beaten out Of my
.Own identity IA victim Of MoDEsTYl
ro This, young man, is q portion Of any
.hislory. NY profession has made me I
good Judge Of faces, and | advise you L
throw aside your benevolent modesty Al
soon as possible. To-day singled yOl
out from hundreds; and, rely upon it, you
.ewant Of assurance may prove the creates
curse Of your life. What have you done
to-day Your yielding disposition hal
caused you to be guilty Of profanity and
sacrilege: with the most laudable puFpost
you left home but instead Of listening e
The pious admoniiiOns of the pars0n, yoI
you are in the company Of swearing sail
Ors and drllen ruflianS--this Is profanity