Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-04-29
From Graham's Magasne.i
TINE DEEAULTER.
DY JOHN +. MAULL.
Gu trouverez vous un homme sans defauu

| TELrnAguE.
| liz the beautiful season Of youth, when life
IS just budding forth ia all the dewy freshness
| Of ardent hope; when the heart is buoyant, and
the energies alive, and painting after objects a.
round which 10 shed the virtuous infuehces ol
their association, oh then it is that We feel
like the harp chat is deIiciously attuned, the
full force Of every impression :-of what mo.
mcnf, therefore, are those early connections
and restraints which are voluntarily assumed
to tit us for our companionship with the world
or In other words to form the character By
which we are to be known and appreciated a.
mong our fellow men; bot that character BY
which the vestal FIRE Of the ancients, demands
the constant vieilence of our noblest faculties
to keep alive and perpetuate.
George Morris was in his twenty fourth year
when partly BY the intercession of rich rela-
tons and in great measure by the possession
OF personal endowments of no ordinarytkind,
ne was called upon 70 assume an Office of pub
nc trust. | knew him well.-Gay without
ffivOlty-proud in the consciousness of cor
rect principle, and gifted with enviable powers
OF pleasing, his career indeed, seemed to offer
the rich rewards, if not OF honorable fame, at
least of high responsibility. He loved, and
after short courtship was welded. Never
were two hearts more willingly allied. The
whole ardor of his soul was devoted to the
fair being whom he had chosen for his own,
and in the retirement Of his home did he ac-
knowledge his earthly happiness. Did the re-
Election dwell on the noise and hustle of the
world without, it was only to assure him Of
the comforts of his peaceable freside. Thus
did time glide with siIken wing, dispensing
the calm and rational pleasures of domestic
life, which Morris of all others was SO formed
to appreciate. He began his career, which
it was fore told would be honorable TO him. ic
the capacity Of one Of the chief officers Of an
institution of public monetary trust. Here,
with principles of integrity, deep rooted as the
rock, he persevered in industrious habits, and
by continued vigilance deservedly won the es-
TEEN of the community. His probity had been
tested, and the man Of business implicitly con-
fded in him. Society courted him. Living
in populous city, as years progressed, he oc-
men-honorable alike to himself aud 10 grow
ing family no cares had with him an abiding
place, for mis- children, whom he dearly loved
were gladdening the fathers heart, and yield
ing him bright hopes for the future. All VIVA
love ard tranunilify~ Whcs
then would venture to disturb this domestic E.
den! What painful influence could bring
desolation here! Who could wiring the tear
Of anguish from that young and doating moth
er-or the helping cry from that unprotected
child-who convert, as with magic wand, the
happy homestead into the refuge Of want and
affection! The husband the father himself!
Mystery of mysteries yet did Morris work
to himself this very ruin. Lured by the ex-
penslve fashions of the day, the splendid e.
quipage. and the gay coterie Of wealth, and
DESTROYS to equal, if not eclipse the brilliance
which he saw in the circles wherein he was
called to move, he had given the rein to his
appetite and ambition, until he was forced to
do an act-an act from which he once would
have skunk aghast. with horror aud dismay.
He defrauded. and was detected-he lied but
could he avoid himself! Gould he escape the
guilty conscience-the bitter remorse! 1t was
in vain. Go where he would, fancy would re-.
vert to that blighted, ruined home; and the
thought of that one whitening act-it was in.a
was madness. His regulations
was irrecoverably gone, and he roamed abroad
far from his native land--a wandering outcast.
Of what avail were now to him the common
blessings of nature? the light to him was as
the darkness-the very air was heavy, and la
dened as with the vapors Of dungeon--the
world itself was one vast prison house. Did
he sleep-frightful phantoms would haunt his
couch, and drive away repose-supplicating
hands Of beggard orphans and stricken wild
ows would rise in airy forms, while strange
unearthly voices would cry around, and pierce
the air in wall and lamentations, then die a.
way as if in mock and derision.
Afar from country, relatives, and friends,
lived the Defaulter. Bitter was the cup which
that man drained to the very dregs. Provi-
dence had set its sure seal Of condemnation on
his destiny, and although the laws of man
were impotent, the great law of the Omnis-
cient failed not. There was no retreat from
that presence, which solemnly declared, +" thou
shalt not steal"
AT length news was brought to him from a.
far; it told him the wife Of his bosom was
dead; his children dependent upon the charity
of strangers. 1t was upon the receipt of this
intelligence that met Morris, who was dwell
ling in retired part of one of the chief cities
upon the continent. ! dared not think upon
what might be the probable result Of my in
terview. Conflicting emotions were agitating
my breast, but had fully resolved on the
meeting, and on my arrival accordingly sough.
ought his residence. It was about eight o.
clock of summers night, that, in an abstract
cd mood. sanntered leisurely towards the
house. Having presented myself, was adj
mitted TO small chamber, neatly furnished,
where found him alone. knew not how 10
6egio-how to address myself to my early
friend, SO altered. He was lying on a couch,
evidently in the last stage Of a fever. You
felt at once he was dying man. His pres
ence bewidered me. The hollow and classy
eye rivetted my gaze, until, reccollecting my
self, in sutdued tone, / spoke Of the coan-
try had left-my object in travelling-my
disires 70 obtain tidings Of himself; and shee
velfufed to recall his memory to the many
happy days we had spent in each others SOCK
ETY..