Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-01-14
From the Rochester Daily Advertiser.
A JOYFUL SURPRISE.

A JOYFUL SURPRISE.
On the morning of the first day Of the late
election, an interesting scene might have been
witnessed in low dilapidated dwelling some
where in this goodly city. AT the place and
time mentioned there might have been seen,
sitting at scantily furnished breakfast table,
a man with good chronological Developments,
proposing physical structure. but with a
countenance moody and irritable. On his
right sat woman, his wife little if any past
the meridian Of life, but exhibiting traces Of a
premature fading of a face and figure still
mildly beautiful. At his left sat daughter,
"a yet unblighted copy Of her patient but sor-
row stricken mother--in all the healthfulness
of incipient womanhood. 10 this young wo-
mans eye tears were gathering and as she tur-
ned her timid face towards her moody father,
they might have been seen glistening like the
pearly drops of a summer morning, as the first
beams Of the sun chances Of their CRYSTAL sur
face. Her heart was full, and her voice tremn-
lous as she at length gained courage sufficient
ly to calculate, I" Fatherw The moody man
started as though the sounds Of long forgotten
melody echoed in his ears. He bent his gaze
inquiringly on his trembling child and in ac-
Bell, what would you!" "Bell'' felt em5ol-
dened, and dressing her face in sweet, plead
ing suile. replied, s. l would, father, that YOU
would not go to the election to-day" The
frown reappeared-it was stern and bitter, as
he asked sharply, $ Why no,!' Bell could
not answer. She seemed anxious to escape
from the angry gaze Of a father whom but a
moment before she hope to conciliate. She
was about to withdraw, when voice Of start
ling ferceness said to her, : Girl, look on your
father! You but child, presume to counsel
him as to what he should do, anc in this you
doubtless act as agent of your mother. | could
have borne to have been called a drunkard-
aye drunkayd!"-and a shivering passed over
him." butt continued he Ito have it insinu.
ted by a child. is too much. | shall go to the
election. So, bring me my hat" No word
of remonstrance was heard and the miserable
man rushed from his dwelling. That day Bit
ter tears were shed around the hearth stone of
Powell P. Noon came, but so did not
the father Of the grief stricken Isabel. Night
too, with its darksome loneliness, drew its
curtains around, but no signs of the return Of
the infatuated-,he fallen father and husband.
Tedious were the hours of night away. Of
ten did the mother and daughter instinctively
cling TO each other as some casual noise indu-
ced the belief that the object of their soicltude
had indeed come, but how did they dread 10
encounter the frowns-mayhap the lnebrlated
curses, of him, who was the cause OF their vigg-
lis! : At length, the hour OF midnight sound
ed. and as its echoes died away, the footsteps
of the expected one was heard. How wildly
beat the hearts Of mother and daughter as Pow
ell p entered that door they SO long and ca
gerly watched! He was there, before them,
but not noisy-not harsh--for he was sober,
calm and collected. SO great was the Joy OF
wife and daughter, that neither could give ut
terance to the wild emotions that played around
their hearts but they could not have spsken
then, for words, lest the echo of voice should
have dispeled what seemed pleasing illusion.
"Mabel! Isabel !" were the first words that
greeted their ears, and in a moment both were
crying for Joy OR his bosom. We need not
detail the affecting conversation which follow
ed, nor the joyful surprise with which the mo-
ther and daughter heard his resolves and
hopes. 1t will all be sufficiently understood
from single expression of Powell r., as his
daughter was about to retire to rest. Ihey
were the sweetest words her ears had heard for
many long, long day. They, we're" good
| night, my chlld-and may God ever bless you
you have saved your father"
| That father had been to the election--he
| went predetermined to driuk-to get drunk
but as he was about to raise the first dram &c
| his mouth, the pie ,ding countenance oi his
daughter seemed to rise before him. His good
genius prevailed glass was replaced un,
tased on the counter,-he left the place, and
| with high moral purpose, FASTENED to enro
himself among the advocates of temperance
The pledge has been religiosusly kept--'he
yisaee of his mild and amiable wife is fast To-
sing its care-worn expression" Beli' has
become the Joyous hoping being she was de-
signed to be, while Powell P. is fast regain
| inc all his former vigor and nobleness. Otter
do these contented beings talk over past scenes
| while the amiable " Mabel fails not to desig
nate the night of which we have spoken al
that Of !" the joyous surprise"
We cut the following anecdote OF Governo
B,poer. from the "Germantown Telegraph
We wonder where Freas stole it!
| A YANKEE TAKEN IN.-The Governor o