Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-10-06
and the preservation Of his dearly priced

In the superb parlour of a fashionable
boarding house nj Washington, sat two
gentlemen, both young, and one "i them
possessing n face singulsrly remarknble
for its intellectual developments. The
room had been crowded, but one by one
The visitors had dropped off, ill the two
persons beiore meniinned remained the
sole occupants of the apartment.
81 suppose, Temple" said the younger
If The two, addressing his companion,
"you are tired of being compInenied
upon your recent effort in the cause Of
temperance, but ! must speak Of i, never
,heless. II was The most powerful M
peal have ever listened 10. Heartily
as ] have always participated in the
enthusiasm with which your speeches in
the House are received, | never until
now knew Of what you were capable.
"The subject on which spoke last
night, is one on which have reflected
very deeply" said Mr.. Temple.
eyes, | should suppose you had
studied It from childhood.
"NM exactly if YOU had known IN"
in the earlier part Of my life, you would
have thought that had very little ac-
quan'ance with the subject, practically
ut least"
"Why, YOU wero never Incorporate,
were YOU 7"
"Nm absolutely incorporate, but ]
was given to irolcking, and indeed TO
most kinds of dissipation
"And may ! ask what has wrought
such wonderful change in your habits :;
for your morality is now 50 strict "a Ia
be proverbal. "As correct as Temple,'
is an expression commonly used To de-
note the utmost degree Of severity III
morals"
"li is n long story, and would proba-
bly, weary You"
"Noi at all. If you have no oh &c
rion to relating it, | will listen to it with
grea, pleasure.
"Well, then, | will begin at the be-
ginning, and iiace my errors to their very
source, which was The unboundrd liberty
] enjoyed in cbildhood. ! was an oul,
child, and my father had died IN INV in
fancy. My poor mother, OF fcourse ,doard
on me, and never dreamed of imposing
on me the slightest restraint. The CON
sequence was, that grew up headstrong
and ung overnable, and when at the age
of eighteen, my mo,hcr's death removed
the slight barrier which my affections for
her had ciea,ed-l plunged at once into
habits Of the most reckless dissipation. -
| will no, dwell on particulars. Suffice
il To tell you that before ! attained my
twen'y-itird year, had spent my fortune,
ruined my reputation, and was compelled
To fiee rom my native city To avoid The
disgraceiul consequences OF riot ~
which had been engaged with some Of
my dissolute companions. After wan
dcring about for several weeks, ! found
myself ia Maryland, in respectable
and wealthy neighb"rhood. My means
were entirely exhausted, and il was alb
solntely necessary that | should make
some effort Tor my own support. ! So
liciied employment as "a private teacher,
and was IN that capacity received into
the family of a wealthy farmer, whose
only daughter became my pupil. Here
ihpre were no temptations To dissipation,
aud IT, there had been, | think the love
which ] soon began to feel for sweet
Lucy Gray would have prevented INV
yielding to them. ] succeeded IN inspiring
similar sentiments in the object Of my
Affection nor did her father forbid me
,o hope. Bnt he was a sensible aud
prudent man, and very naturally wished
In knnw Something ot the character and
connections oi the man Who aspi,cd to
become the husband oi his only child. -
Accordingly he wrote to some distant re-
laiivcs who resided IN New York making
some enquiries respecting my i"tn,rr
habits, and circumstances. | dared moi
wait till the answers To these letters
should arrive, Tor, as ! have said, my
reputation IN my native place. was not
such us would advance my suit with the
careful parent Of my beloved Lucy
With her, therefore, ! sought and OBJ
tanned private interview, IN which ]
used all the influence ! had acquired
over her gentle heart TO induce her Ia
consent tn n secret marriage before the
ArrIviI Dl Int OTeHUPN pllttS IIofn view
York. With much difficulty succeeded
Lucy could not resist my passionate
plradings, and nj last, though very re-
lucian,ly, she promised 10 meet me a. the
same place on the following morning,
and 10 unite her fate with mine at the
nearest town in which we could find
clergyman. At the hour appointed, on
the morning which succeeded our inter.
view, as ! was impatiently awaiting my
promised bride, ] was surprised 10y the
apptoach Of her mother. In "A few words
she informed me that she had become
aware of her daughters intention Ia
elope that OF course she bad interlered
TO prevent and concluded by present.
ing me Lucy's farewell letter. At first
my rage and disappointment knew no
bounds /; but there was a quiet dignity
about Mrs GRAY which awcd me III
spite Of myself, and prevented me- giving
vent To my passion IN her presence. ]
left the spot, and the neighbnrhood, and
It was not TIL was many miles from the
place that ] opened Lucy's letter. Then
indeed, my passion subsidized. Softer
feelings succeeded-and before ] had
finished the precious epislIe, had sol.
.,Y,nb IN I.vnto all ,h., .n.f,,,.