Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-05-26
E. c. MoRToN's STATEMENT.
vi theacause which led to the rencontre ho
the S7, 5, oe Mas and Col; JOIN Nil TON, on

| t,,,oo,, tF;,r ~ iou 70 tne rencontre be.
tSo 9z, Liu nssa and Col. JOHN Mil TON, on
he Shh OF March, in New Orleans. ~
TO THE PUBLIC.
under circumstances at once, most na;nf,,
ana Illuminating, | deem it my duty to T;va = =
snort sketch oimy past life, and of the r1anno :
IN which the care ola brother and sister AZ
VOWED upon me, before proceeding loa detail =,
the melancholy circumstances which maI,o u;
publication necessary. 1''' 'l''S
| 10 these who have intimately l,no,,,r a.
underwriting attachment have ever o v;ro Ca
LOT my SISTER and brother, to those who bove
honor and integrity and would defend vii,
,helr lives The reputation of sister 70 tho nrh
tic IN general, | now address myself
My father, Joseph Morton was a merchant
Oh good standing, in Boston. He died in
81 Augustine, Florida, whether be had
gone ior the recovery of his health, in 1890.
was eleven years old, when nv father went
70 FLORIDA. Shortly after his departurp INV
mother' with her family, removed from Bosion
10 the neighbouring village of Dorchester
where we lived m comfort and peace Tbe'onlv
alloy to our happiness was our fathers m
ness. Frequently did we hear Fl ON him. At
one time he would be worse, and then our
hearts would be sad. At another time he
would be better, and speak with fond anticiDa.
ton oil his return, and then we would all lean
for Joy at the thought.
My fathers disease was cconsumption.w which
5uoys up the heart, while it secretly pnaws At
the root life. l was returning gailv from
school, when the fatal news of his death reach
| ed me. hastened home. NV poor mother
was insensible, being struck down by the pain.
ful intelligence. Never shall forget the ago
| ny which she endured.
When she recovered, she told me she
should soon follow, her beloved husband to the
grave. did all could to cheer her des-
pendent spirits, but my boyish counsel was in
effectual
One year after this event, my eldest sister
died OF the same malady that had swept nv
father from the bosom CT his family. She
oreathed her last in my arms; arms that would
have supported her through good aud evil re-
pert. through prosperity and adversely. Her
death was the last sad stroke to mp poor wild
owed mother. She fell beneath it, and we
were doomed to see her sink to the grave. a
prey to the same disease which had already
committed such havoc m our family. Yes:
steoI II, and saw die before rae tho k;a1 rs;ars
mother upon whom doated, the mother who
had nursed me in the way should go, up to
the dawn Of early manhood! There is some
thing so holy, so pure in the love of son to a
widowed mother, that IL has been the guide
star ofmy existence. 1t is the protecting de-
ity that has watched over me, through trouble
and through toll.
Reader, pardon ne, if / take you to her Bed
side and tell you how watched, night after
night, at the couch on which she lay, how
longed to be of the riches Of CrGsus to buy
her every luxury that could make her poor
heart glad. Let me ask you to bear with me
for moment while tell you how,sacredly /
have always looked upon the trust confded to
me by my mother.
On one of those calm autumnal evenings, so
peculiar to New England, the news came to
me in Boston where | was learning the mer-
camille business, that my poor mother was dy-
ing. My feet bore me swiftly to her bedside.
The splendor Of the setting sun, as it burst
through the foliage Of the forest, displaying the
melancholy hues of The season, was all lost up
on me. | saw it through the OVERLOOKING
feelings Of breaking heart, and every OBJ
ject in the scene was tingled with the hue of
deep sorrow.
rushed to my mothers chamber and threw
myself before her couch. Her annotated arms
were raised and slowly thrown around my
neck. Oh, that look of resignation! Never
shall forget il She smiled upon me and call
ed me fgood son. That smile, those words,
are green spots upon"memory'S waste, which
no time can blot out
She took my hands in hers-her fingers were
cold in death. ,
must now leave this world, my son, and l
have but one trust to confide to you. Be
father mother, brother, sister, ALL all TO your lit
tie brother and sister there, and to my dear
HelenP' Her voice failed her, and she fell back
upon her pillow exhausted.
Ipromised to be all she requested me, nay,
swore before God would never forsake the
trust SO long as ( breathed The breath OF lie.
I leaned forward, kissed her lips now cold In
death-she was dead! Her angelic spTit mad
taken wing for the abode ofthe blest, and at
that instant my solemn promise was registered
in the court of heaven. =
Such, reader, werethe circumstance under
which the care Of family devoted upon me.
have faithfully done my dlty-have kept my
promise, as the fruitsof six years toll and labor
in the South expended in the support and ed
ucation of my sister and brother, sufficiently
prove. My sister Helen. have loved fondly,
nor shall l ever cease to love her, come what
may. 1lu;
In averaging her wrongs, believe have VI
dated M dntv 10 cd or man. My own con-
science acquIts me / have burled ia.heri
mother. brother ant sister, but / never knew
what agony, deep-Duled and dreadful agony
was, till this heart[endering affilction came
upon me. III.
After The death dfmy mother, the desoia'
ton of my heart bIoke upon me win nor
rible reality. wal boy just fourteen years
old, with the wide world before me ana DOT
friend to whom cold look for counsel OF asslS
/ lance.
NY sister Helen was eight years old, ana y
the careless Joy Of childhood she soon iearhs'
TO consider me as afather. !,
Iremained IN Boston till | was sixteen, ton
ing night and day for the pittance that enables
me to maintain the precious charges bequealh
/ ed TO rie by dying mother.
The responsibility of the burden now le,
in an its weight; and with resolution to meet
as Il should be met, turned my steps. south
ward, when gathered together the fruits
honesi industry, by hard labor, strict economy
and attention to business. and returned 10 u
scene of my childhood, after an absence
three years. -,
Helen was then at ,Woburn school, eIgi