The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-03-05
THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING,
BY THE EDITOR OF THE BOSTON JOURNAL.

ton, aller a voyage OF eighteen
months to the East Indies, in the good
ship Tompion, Of which he was sec
ond mate-and as soon us the ship
was discharged, he obtained leave to
be absent a lew weeks, on visit to his
friends, who resided in beautiful vii
lage in the valley of the Connecticut.
When he tade farewell to Captain
Sewall, that worthy, man who regard
ed james as son, and felt, deeply in
terested in his welfare, gave him bit
of advice.
"l'll tell you what it is, James,
said he-s'you are going home, and
will doubtless see many old acquaint-
ances of both sexes in the course Of
your visit-and if you are wise, you
will get spliced before you get back.
Some folks say that a sailor has no
business with wife. This is an err
Iror-a sailor should let slip no OPP
portunity Of getting well married. -
A prudent, virtuous wife, will not on
ly always make his home welcome
and with her smiles, compensate him
for all his dangers and iself-denials
when abroad-but her image, deeply
impressed on his mind, will act as a
E.talisnan to preserve him from the
vortex of dissipation and licentious-
ness, and to guard him from the
temptations which so often beset the
path OF the sailor, It is a hard case
James, if a sailor is to be deprived of
the comforts of matrimony, which are
not denied to the lubherly landsma n.
A home-a Joyous home, frightened
with the smiles of affection, is more
important to a sailor than lands
man. Get married, James-get mar
ried. Look around you when you
get home, for tight little country
craft; with handsome run, and neat
ly rigged-run boldly along side
throw your graphing irons on board;
and then see that she is we'll manned,
yourogue!" ~
1 Get married?' muttered James to
himself as he wendell his way to the
stage-office-swhat does the old man
{. mean? 1t is easier said than done.
| I'll think of it--but there is no hurry;
| am only twenty-five yet = ''s
1t was about ten O'Clock, on clear
and cold evening in the month Of De-
cember, when the stage-slcigh in
which James Campbell had taken
passage, reached the village, in which
the young mariner was born. The
moon shone brightly in the heavens
and her silver beams were reflected
by the surface of the snow, causing
night almost to rival day, SO far as
quantity oflight was concerned--ane
, to surpass it in beauty and splendor
: James longed to be with his parents
and sisters, and after ordering his bag
gage to be deposited in the bar-roou
Of the tavern, he fastened with cage
steps along cross-road toward thu
old family mansion, which was stu
ated on an eminence, about thre
quarters of u mile from the tavern
He had accomplished about half tn
distance, when he was slstonished a
). hearing the loud and piercing shrek
). of female-and the brave and chiv
alrors sailor, always ready to reliev
distress and extend a helping hand t
the weak and oppressed, eagerly rusf
ed forward to learn the cause of tn
: cries which reached his ears. ..,4s
He soon reached the spot fror
d whence the sounds proceeded-an
found a woman struggling with ri
n fan who was endeavoring to proven
her loud and constant cries for SUI,
cor-James seized the fellow by tn
> collar with a giants grasp; and as til
: scoundrel turned with savage fur
upon the defender Of outraged inn,
! cence, without saying a word, tt
It young and ,vigorors sailor gave hi
no very gentle tap on the side
his head, which laid him senseless G
N the ground. Id sb
James found, on inquiry, tn;
r. he had rescued young and gent
maiden from the insults and Outrage
: Of fiend in human form who, ms
gated by the demon Intemperanc
had waylaid her on her return fro
I. a neighbours house, for the purpo
of pressing upon her his odious sui
!, The scorn and contempt with whit
she treated him, had excited his indi
al nation; and she was compelled
nd call for assistance against the attac
Of of the monster. The maiden
whose assistance he had thus gallar
: lily rushed, he soon recognized as Hs
riet Williams, a lovely, lively, laug
ing girl, the daughter Of a near neig
Dor of his fathers, and an intima
!. friend, and an almost constant col
a. panion of his sister Maria.
3. Some persons, attracted by HI;
rlet's cries for assistance, had q
preached the spot; the drunken !.
et fan was secured and escorted to t
ho,eo 90 noonictrato from xuhnn