Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-05-05
From Traits Edinburgh Magazine.
JUDGE THOMSON-A LOVE STOR

From Traits Edinburgh Magazine.
JUDGE THOMSON-A LOVE STORY.
In the spare corner of some newspaper there
appeared, good many years back, a copy of
verses of some mark, in which the nameless
writer. himself in the heyday of youth and pas.
sion, moralzes with tenderness of the common
LOT, and expresses wonder whether the serene
or Indifferent old men, whom he saw far adj.
vanced on the downward path of life, had ever
possessed az warm heart as his or been agi.
tated by feelings akin TO those which filled his
own breast. Following out this train Of mus.
ing, he comes to the conclusion
Yes! each has had his dream of joy,
His own unequalled, pure romance,
Commencing when the blooming boy
Fir.t thrilled 10 womons lovely glance.
These fugitive lines were forcibly brought to
recollection on perusing the subjolned letters
to which it is our duty to prefix short explain
atory preface.
With all the caution, prudence and kcenest
of acquisition. which is said to distinguish our
countryinen-be it the acquisition Of knowl-
edge, or Of pounds, shilngs and pence, dollars
rupees, or plstoles, there is often lurking at the
bottom of the heart Of the genuine Sco'chman,
a fund IF latent romance, which will sometimes
break strongly out where il is least expected to
exist. Sir Walter Scott. both in the strength
and weakness Of his character, was an emf
nent exempar of this peculiarly of the ma.
tional character; of this double nature, or RIA.
cy mixture Of the shrewd and prudential, with
the enthusiastic. Like the hero of our true
tale, Scott seems to have cherished, to the latest
moments of his life, the memory of an unfor-
tunate early attachment; though most unlike
that excellent person IN almost every feature
OF character, in which one good man can differ
from another II was our intention at first, to
tell this "Truc Tale Of true love" in the
form of narrative but upon second thoughts
we shall give the original letters. One letter
from Judge Thomson to the long beloved, it
would be sacrilege to touch.
LETTER I.
From A. d., Manchester, to H. W., Esq, Ban.
ker, Ludlou.
Manchester, ooh Sept. 1912.
My dear sr,-I am pretty sure you will be
gratlfied with the perusa Of what follows.
You know the town OF Kirkcudbrght. with
its Old castle, its quay, and it's tall jail.tower
Well, some sixty years ago or more, group
Of children might be seen daily vending their
way to and from Kirkcudbrght school, their
homes being two or three miles distant from
the town. Two Of the gronp, boy and girl
about the same age, were generally seen in
hand in hand, seemingly more attached to each
other than the rest. The girls name was Ma.
ry Sharpe, the daughter Of Adam Sharpe, a
small farmer on the Sekirk estate and hel
companions name was William Thomson, the
son Of neighborng ploughman or coltcr.
More than twenty years passed away, and a
man, still in the prime of life, visited Kirk.
bright, after many years sojourn in the Wes
Indies.* He had gone to push his fortune, ant
had not been unsuccessful. Though his face
; was bronzed by a tropical sun, his heart still
beat warmly at the recollection al old scene,
aud old friendships. He was William Thorn
snn the cutters sun and he inquired anxously
for Mary Sharpe, tine companion II his child
, hood. lie found her in Liverpool, the wife o
Captain Cunningham, the master Of foreigI
ship, with two or three children playing aroun'
her knee
Forty more years rolled away. An aged AM
infrm female called upon my friend, MIR. Joh
. Rae, shp.owner in Liverpool, and formerly on
Y Of the magistrates Of Kirkcudbrght. She wa
!. decen,ly dressed, and had evidently eeen bette
, days, bnt had lattery tasted the bitter cup Q
\ poverty in her declining years. She told he
tale, and found ready sympathy from Mr.. Rae
, She was Mary Sharpe,t now widow Cunning
u ham, and the inmate of an amshouse. Nj
n Rae, in the kindness of his heart, administers
S to her pressing wants, and promised TO exei
himself in her behalf. lie Immediately ad
:. dressed letter to the Earl Of Selkrk, o
whose estate her family had been tenants fc
: sumo generations, and four of whose uncles an
e aunts had been nursed by her MARY Sharpe's
{, mother. His iordship, however did not repl,
= Mr.. Rae wrote to others connected with III
d widows family with no better success o
i, communicating the dlsappoiniments of his hope
;. to the aged widow Mr.. Rae inquired of her
:, she could think Of any other friend to whom h
!, could make another appeal on her behalf. Sl
" said there was only one person, an old schoo
o fellow, who, she was sure would befriend he
il if he was still alive, and had It in his puwer.-
S. What is his name, and where is he to
n found !" asked Mr. Rae. "IIs name is VIII
a lam Thomson he sailed for America for
4 years ago, where, ! believe he settled, but
" have never heard Of or from him since. 18th
/, is wide address, and fear hopeless chance
~ said Mr.. Rae; but he is not easily baffled whe
;. good 10 deserving and suffering fellow ere
IS lures is the object. lie knew something of
l. worthy and benevolent GaIlovidian citizen
in New York, a Mr.. Johnston Il and he at on,
7, penned letter. detailing all the crcumstanc,
- of Widow Cunningham. the Mary Sharpe
other years, addressed it Z" William Thomson
S. and despatched it under cover, to Mr.. Johnst'
n of New York. Mr.. Johnston knew a Jud!
al Thomson, of Broome CO., who, he thought, a
er swered the description given by Mr.. Rae,
ID forwarded the letter to him, and he pas
no man Read his letter, of whice enclose
:. copy.
may tell you that Judge Thomson is n.
dead but the widow Cunningham still liv'
!; lie left her f6O0 by his will which will RI
m der her comfortable in her old age. and prof.
nd bly, leave handsome sum u her daughter,
rh ann FRIED ny tU hn hos