Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-10-23

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Of Mr.. Jackson poor Sophia's character was all
in tauers amongst thegossips OF theviIlagr, with.
out her knowing or feeling the slightest emotion
of the breeze that was blowing away her rcpuia.
ton.
! The girl before mentioned then wrote 10 her
brother in New York, that Sophia had been sedu.
ced by a stranger, and her character had been 10.
alymined-thatCol.J Jackson toohad been there,
and, not knowing her Infamous conduct, had been
taken by her beauty, and she believed actually in.
tended marriage-representn the stranger and
Col. Jackson TO be two distinct persons, and that
the seduction Of Sophia was antecedent TO his
short acquaintance with her-that il was his du-
ty, and she urged him by all means 10 acquaint
so respectable gentleman as Col. jackson with
the true character Of Sophia. And that il might
not merely rest on her assertion alone, she enclo-
sed certificate signed by several respectable per-
sons, that Sophia Thompson had recently become
of very infamous character so far as common re-
port was 70 be accredited. This certificate she
requested her brother to present to Col. Jackson
stating that the high respectwhch they entertain
ed for his reputation had alone induced them to
disclose the matter.
This letter reached the brother, and he took
the earliest opportunity of diyulging the whole
|COltGulS Ol inc DuuHtl CoullOeu 10 MS CUEts
COL Jackson was far from being too credulous,
and he, for awhile, suspected that it was all false
and malicious;-but he could sec no motive for
raising such n report against a harmless and de-
fenceess female. The letter, too, and the docu-
ments accompanying it, were signed by respecta-
BILE names, as he learned by the young gentleman
who presented them. What then could it all
mean! He cOuldnot think that 50 many people
Of responsibility would combine together to ruin
a girl for no cause whatever. The young man
assured him that he believed it, and the young
gentleman was no mean character. lie thought
upon it-slept upon it-dreamed of it-accused
himself of being weal-easily dupcd-love sick
and every thing else. He finally concluded to
write to her father, of whom he had obtained con.
sent. He did wrlte-toro up his eucr-wrotc
agaln--burnt that--wrote ncemore-hcsitalcd-
read it over and over-seaIed it-whcre was his
usual decision! 1t must be dOne--at last he sent
it TO the post office and was sorry he had done SC
five minutes alterwards--but the mail was jus
going-t was gone!
This letter informed Mr.. Thompson of his re-
| solution TO Withdraw his hand from his daughter
forever, enclosing the letter and certificate before
mentioned as the cause of his taking this painful
5 step--slating that every thing which he had en-.
gagged to do for him would be done, and that il
5 would be better for him to remain where he was
? he had settled all his debts, and he might draw
t on house, in New York as he wanted it, to the
3 amount Of the sum first offered. lie presumed
that Mr.. Thompson was innocent although hi
: daughter might be criminal without his knowl
1 edge. "My wife, if ever have one" said Mr.
: Jackson, "must be like that of Caesar, not only
e spotless, but unsuspected."
Y Before this letter reached the village whore Mr.
Thompson resided, he had started with his family
for New York, and arrived there totally ignoran
Of what had been transacted.
: Mr.. Jackson had told him at parting, to cal
Q Immediately on his arrival, at a number dosigna
5 ted in a certain street, and Mr.. Thompson lost nc
e time in going TO the place. But how was he as
G tonished on being told that Col. Jackson. thro;
, days before, had left the city for the southwark
Il and was not expected to return until the lapse o
G year. How mysterious! How incXplicablt
: was his conduct!
d He carried the news to the family yet veal
), and gloomy from the fatigue of travelling, whc
e received it like shock of sudden thunder---espe
Q ally Sophia. " ..n.. .
They took lodgings at a boarding house, AM
n MIR. Thompson went in search constantly two 0
+ three days in succession, to sec if he could pos
d siby ascertain any thing more particular concer
% ming Mr.. Jackson. But every one who knev
IS any circumstances connected with his business
IS told him pretty near the same story that he ha
gone to the south 10 settle some business of i'm
g poranco connected with his fathers estate, an
is was not expected back short of year.
t. Mr.. Thompson at length came across the youn
l. man TO whom the letter and certificate had bee
sent impeaching the character Of Sophia. The
Id had been somewhat acquainted, and MIR. Thomr
N son venturedto open very slight detail Of hi
ID concerns, and he found the young man seemed t
ID know more that he was willing to tell about i
IT This alarmed Mr.. Thompson still more, but
OF could not decipher the enigma.
Poor Sophia was in torturos. So much uol
bic can ''envy, hatred and malice" make the mo
lg innocent people living, in very short time. 5
the tongue of slandcr a going, and we shall soc
IN find that sit is an unruly evil, and of deadly po
to son"-that sit setteth on fire the course OF nj
rt ture, and is set on fire of hell" .. " ' ..'".
They were all willing to think the best of the
10 friend and benetactor; yet to leave them in SUE
rs situation could not be justified, even by the p
er of necessity, however impervlous There mU
ad be some waighty causes for such unaccountah
he behavior. What it could bewasthe desideratul
u Perhaps he went off in great haste and would st
lid write back an explanation. They concluded
en- wait awhile longer before they settled on al
I'M course to take. ng.".n
pr In this perturbation of mind Sophia was loo
on ing over an old book and found the follow
by lines, which she took pains to transcribe;
ler The tender immaculate dove
g May fly and abandon its mate
Ir- Awhile-but his wanderings are love,
ID ... 'IiS not in his nature to hate,
d. "" Returning in season to bring
..a Glad tidngs the spirit to buoy,
to- I.. He bears on bis tremulous wing,
ra- ..aa Profusions of transport and JOY.
l'G .u.a And so shall thy lover return,
seq Thou maid of disconsolate soul