The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-10-18


had never tasted! Said |, as | breathel
upon my stiiIened fingers, Am | ther
the first who has sought in the hot-housC
OF imagination a pleasing warmth which
the hard world of realities denies us
Six dollars for a load of pine wood; ay
you will not have them till December.
will write |!
Happy, thrice happy is The family in
whose close and warm circle no hear
feels lonely in its joys nor in its sorrows
no glance, no smile remains unanswered
where the members daily say to each OH.
q, not in mere words, but in their actions,
your cares, your joys, your fortunes, are
also mine =
beautiful is the quiet, peaceful house,
which closes its protecting walls around
the pilgrim through life, which collects
around It's friendly, cleaning hearth, the
old grandsire, leaning upon his staff, the
manly husband, the amable wife. and
their happy children, who close the day
OF sport and enjoyment with hearty
thanksgiving, while the mother chants to
them little song, telling how
CANCELS their vigiIs keep
Around the bed
And DER the head
OF innocence ascep!"
Here had TO stop; for something
like drop of rain fell upon my cheek,
and ! could not see my paper clearly.
How many thought, as my thoughts
against my will, took a melancholy turn,
how many are doomed to know nothing
of this happiness y For moment con-
sidered myself in the only looking-gIass |
had in my chamber, that of truth, and
then with gloomy feelings | wrote on,--
Unhappy surely is the desolate one who,
I'm the cold and dreary moments of life,
(Which come so often can rest on no
faithful bosom, whose signs are unan-
swered, to whose complaint no voice re-
plies, i understand you; sympathze
with you! He is depressed; no one
raises his dropping head He weeps ::
no one regards it! He goes away; nc
one follows him! He sleeps; no one
watches over him! He is alone! Why
does lie not die! All who would mourn
over him! How cold the grave which
no warm tear of love bedews! He is
lonely in the winters night. For him
earth has no flowers, and dimly burn the
lights of heaven. Why wandcrs he here
alone! Why does he not flee as a shad-
ow to the land of shadows? All ! he still
hopes. A pauper, he bcgs for happiness,
and hopes, in the eleventh hour, that
some friendly hand will bestow it, 1t
was my own situation that ] described.
Early robbed of my parents, without
brother, sister, friends or relatives,
stood so lonely and desolate in the world,
that, but for a strong confidence in Uea-
ven, and a naturally cheerful disposition,
should have sought an escape from such
an eXistance. Hitherto, more from in
silnct than philosophy, | had habitually
suppressed all earnest longings for hap
pier state of life than that which surroun-
ded me; but lately other thoughts had
been gaining power over me, and, espe-
claIly this evening, felt an unutterabIc
desire for a friend, for one whom might
love; in short, for bosom companion,
"a wile,-one with whom might feel
myself king, even in the meanest hut
But | remembered, as involuntarily |
shuddered with cold, that all my love, in
such circumstances as the present, could
not prevent my wife, if had one, from
being frozen or starved to death. More
depressed than ever, arose from my
stool, and paced up and down in my little
boundary. The oppressive feeling Of my
situation followed me like my shadow on
the wall and, for the first time in my
life, was quite disheartcned, and cast a
gloomy glance upon the future.
But what in the world | exclaimed
earnestly to myself, will all this dull
bordering avail = Again tried to loosen
myself from the anxious thoughts that
plagued me. If but one Christian soul
would only come TO see me, whoever il
might be, friend or foe,-any vister
would be welcome to break this dismal
solitude. Yea, if one from the world Of
spirits would open the door, nc should be
welcome. What was that Three knocks
at the door ! I'll not believe my senses
Three knocks again!' went and open
ed the door. Nobody was there but the
wind howled along the staircase. HASH
ly closed the door, put my hands in my
pockets, and continued my parade, hum
ming to keep up my courage. In few
moments | heard something like a sigh
stopped and listened. Again hear,