Litchfield enquirer., 1841-04-29
A NIGHT ON BOARD A sTEAMBoAT.


II is a trite, but just remark, thatSevery
man is in some sense the maker Of his own
fortune. 1t cannot be denied that much of
ahe happiness or misery that we may suffer
is the fruit of our own choice. Still think
the remark peculiarly applicable to mothers
and heads of families. Happy indeed would
it be for the juvenile part Of the community,
if the ill effects of wrong choice were wholly
confined TO the one who makes it. i was
led to this reflection, on my return home
from an excursion TO the country in that lit
Tie emporium Of the great world. steamboat.
AS the boat did not leave the wharf till late
m the evening" being an invalid, and finding
myself too weary to read, took my station at
an early hour in the ladies cabin, with little
else to occupy myself bull TO observe the diff
terent passengers as they from time to time
sought their quarters for the night. OF all
other places, know of none where well
bred lady may so readily DO liscerned from
the common throng, as in a crowded steam
boat cabin, at night, not so much by her OK
fernal appearance, or "costly array" as by
her easy, quiet, unobtrusiye, dignitied mien,
and by her cheerful submission othe little in.
.conveniences inseparable from such limited
accommodations, and her refined and polite
atteMlon TO the comfort and convenience of
1er fellow. passengers: While .ne CAV, be-
1890 a.sase nGl vulgar "on..an seems to feel
noo' no prvilee" to Lay aside even the COM
80 =. w. Isles o. life, with her outer gar
ments, and to exhibit without restraint her
volubility, i'll temper, selfishness and ain ut.
ter recRlessness of the comfort and happi-
..s,.s =. every body else. / had scarcely
seated myself, when q neatly dressed lady
with modest cheerful aspect entered the
cabin, leading by the hand a sprightlv rosy
checked little fellow, of some IS or 20 months,
who came laughing and bounding along as
II every change was to him fresh cause Of
happiness. I observed as the little fellow
stopped at the cabin door to take parting
kiss from "papa," that his mother, with a
manner which at once won her place ia
my affections, entreated her husband not 70
lose the enjoyment OF so fine an evening on
deck, should it be necessary for her to re-
main below. Her husband merely observed
that he would read awhile, but his countc-
nance plainly intimated that the full moon,
rejecting her bright and beautiful beams
across the wide eXpanSe Of waters, it beheld
unsccompanied by the alright particular
star" Of his own destiny, would be diyested
Of half her glory. at once drew o fayora-
BILE opinion Of this couple, and from the lime
of this seemingly trivial incident, l was led
to observe more closely the conduct of this
mother and son., The little creature seemed
pleased with the novelty of the place, and
his eyes wandered rapidly from object TO OBJ
ject, but he was particularly attracted by
the gay silk hangings and gilt ornaments
which decorated the room. His next i'm
pulse was 70 handle and ,eXamine every OBJ.
ject. Instead Of chiding or depressing this
curiosity, his mother pleasantly led him to
every part ofthe room where he wished to
60, and permitted him 10 examine and even
touch ,hof hk.A acsrod a. en- Nst,,a
impressing upon his mind, the lesson, that
nothing should be misplaced or injured
The child's curiosity was soon satisfied, and
his mother proceeded to undress and wash
him, without any resistance ON his part boz
yond contmued playtulness, which she
ncilher attempted 70 restrain, nor yet suffer-
ed to prevent her from accomplishing her
object She then laid herself down BY his
side. and commenced singing a favorite
hymn in a low sweet voice, in which the
Child attempted to Join !; and If his perform.
ance was not accofdingto rule, it was evi.
IDENTIFY the out-gushing Of young and hap
Ply spirit, and reminded me Of the Aunset
carol ola summer bird that is hushcd to re-
pose by its own melody. And 50 it was
with the blue-eyed boy, for in few mo-
ments ne was slumbering so placidly by his
mothers side that felt assured that there
were any complaints Of '"noisy children
that night the disturbance would not come
from that quarter. On perceiving that her
husband was still waiting for her, She rose,
and gently drawing the curtains, she stood
for. q moment, as If undetermined whether
to leave her Child; upon observing which,
offered to sit by his side, which offer she
gracefully accepted, Remaining that she
might appear TO be an oyer-anXious mother,
but as her child had evinced a very nervous
and irritable temperament, she felt that
proper care now might sage him from great
took great pleasure in watching the counte-
nance of this lovely infant, and now and
then observed transient smile fit over his
features. thought how sweet was the sleep,
and how pleasant must be the dreams Of
such a guileless spirit, while under the fos-
tering care Of such mother. And as len
deavored to contemplate his future destiny,
1 could not but think, after the lapse Of
wears, how the youth and young man would
probably love and reverence such a moth
or, and lay open his bosom with all its
young aspirations, his fears and hopes to
her, as his best and uuest friend, and most
able counsellor. Time wore away till the
hour hand pointed to ten, and the faithful
mother was again at her post, when sudden
ly my musings were Interrupted by the en-
trance OF noisy company, consisting OF
several women and children. ey.,-.,g ,ntI
Y learnt from the remarks Of the elder
part of the company, that they had been on
y long jaunt the preceding day., and came
there very weary and over-heated; but they
seemed to forget that many besides them
selves were seeking repose and refreshment
IN the same apartment Two Of the little
girls belonging to this party excited my
a hui bH L