Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-11-27
The Adventures of a Night.
BY A PHYSICIAN,

slant rain, and the roads were consequently
deep with mud. had taken a severe cold !;
and having bathed my feet and taken a strong
dose OF medicine, went to bed, determined if
possible, to dispel the malady under which
was laboring by profuse perspira,on The
draughI which had taken, being somewhat of
a sedaiive character, soon fell asleep; and
was dreaming that was in The grea, Sahara
Desert, and saw an approaching tornado, lifting
Immense quantities of sand in The air I'LL The
sun was darkened and there was no hope of
escaping from its overwhelming fury. To add
to the horrors of The scene, heard fearful peas
of thunder, echoing along "lhe troubled sky"
was awakened from this appalling vision by
loud rapping al the door. As soon as awoke,
was beating against The windows, convinced
me that it a night, in which no one would
venture out without being compelled 10 do so
by the most urgent necessity. Under these
circumstances, lost no time in opening the
door; and 10 my surprise, my midnight visilan,
was no other than Cecilia Forbes, an interest
ing girl Of abon, g years of age.
This young lady was the younges, daughter
Of highly respectable widow, who resided a
bou, three miles distant, in back settlement,
and who was living in condition moi much re-
moved from the ills of indulgence. Mrs Forbes
had seen better days; but train of untowaId
circumstances had darkened The sky of her de-
clning years. About seventeen years prior TO
the time TO which | refer, her husband, who
was military officer on half pay, fell from his
horse and the next moment was corpse. The
stroke fell heavily upon his surviving widow,
for he left her with three children, aud small
pecuniary means for rheir education and sup
port. The Oldest was boy, about fourteen
years old the others were girs--one of Them
ten years of age, and ll,le Cecelia, an unweau.
ed infant.
As Mrs Forbes was possessed Of much en-
ergy Of character, and cherisbing all a mothers
affection for her son and two daughters, she
managed to educate them respec,ably. Her
son was appren'iced 10 respectable merchant
in Halifax and when he twenry-one years
of age he commenced business for himself, in
connexion with George Halsey, who was only
one year his senior. By some fortunate spec
ulations. these young men, who entered into
commerce with rather slender amount of cap
i,al, rapidly increased in wealth
Perhaps there never was happier man, than
was Charles Forbes, when he became The oc-
cupanl Of decent mansion, which afforded a
comfortable home ,n his mother and sisters
Abou, this period, Agnes was jus, on The verge
of womanhood )" and her blushng loneliness
made deep impression upon The feelings of
George HaIsey. Afler an acquaintance of a
few months, they were allianced TO each other;
and dsy appointed for the solemnlzaion Of
the nuptial bonds.
But before the anticipated day arrived,
George took cold while returning from ball
on a winters night, and was seized with vio-
len, attack of the pIeuusy. For two or three
days, his life seemed in eminent jeopardy; hut
owing 10 good constitution and superior med
icaI kill, he survived lhe crisis of the dIsease.
Ii, however, left him weak in health, and a con-
,inued cough betokened AFFECTION OF The
lungs. Medicines were administered without
removing the malady, and his physician recon-
mended temporary sojourn in tropical cII-
maie, as the only probable means oil restoring
him to health.
In accordance with this advice, brig he
longing 10 Forbes g. tialsey, was loaded Tor
The West ladies, and Mrs Forbes insisted that
Chsrles should accompany his partner In The
voyage. aud ex,end 10 him that care, which The
en(eebIed state Of his health seemed 10 require
The cargo was an exceedingly valuable one
and hopes wese entertained by The young mer-
chant. ,ha, the voyage would tend to angmen'
Ithei, capital OF course the paring between
Hai.ey and Agnes was an affecting scene o"'
/, tbey and their friends deemed thai the SepaFa-