The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-01-10
LllS0ALhLLANNDUS.
From the Boston Mercantile Journal.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

Vember,-The north wind howled mourn
! fully through The eaness ,rees-ihe broken
clouds 6Iued rapidly across the face of lhe
leavens-and the whole OF nature, assum-
ed an aspect, cheerless and uncomfortable
well calculated to remind the moralist OF
The closing scenes in the great drama of life
AS traveller, with weary steps, wended
his solitary way through one OF those beau
plu hamlels which abounded in New Eng
and-and which coUsiitue The noble orDa-
nenls, emblems of Greedom,pesce and hap>
piness, Of which she is justly proud.
TO Judge from his coslume this traveller
belonged TO the humbest ranks of llfs--ol
had been singled out as victim by misGor-
uDe. His coarse straw hat, patched dGub
ct, and his canvass trousers, sol ed by tar
in many places they proclaimed his
occupation and his poverty seemed but
poorly calculated to protect him from the
incl emency of the weather. His form was
cast in noble mould denoIing grea, acIvi-
W anc strength. His manly features,
1ronzed by exposure 10 the tropical sun,
and partly concealed from view by his lux
uriant locks Of Goa black hue, showed that
he was still n the dawn Of manhood. And
his eyes seemed lighted up with an iniell-
gent spirit by CLEAN Of expectation and .
hope which showed that his humble. fortunes
lid no! acco,d with his noble ma ura-and that
however severel Y fate had dealt with him
,is energies were still unbroken--and that
n augre the chill northern blast, and the fa-
tigues which il was evident he had recently
Undergone, he was resolved to push on
ward until the object which he had ia view
was accomplished.
1t is now three years. said he 10 him
self as he pIodded along the way, since
very fooIishly le(t my happy home urged by
/ pique and love OF adventure, to brave the
lsrdsbips and perils of the ocean Since
hen my life has been a constant series of
nisforiunes. have me, with storms on
avery tack. But thank Providence, al |
,hough my canvas is sadly reduced and
pretty well worn out, ami my pockets des-
ltue.of ballast, my hnl is unimpaired and
ard my spirits are unbrokon and buoyan,
as ever | hope my parents ale still lIv-
ing, and prosperous and happy--l was
fool TO leave hem. And my brothers and
sisters-how happy We were logether-&
cousin Mary, that bright little fairy, whom
loved with love surprising that of cou
'ins.-ln whose company have passed so
many rapturous hours! Oh, | was fool
10 leave such blisslu scenes. And believe
after all, that the little fairy loved me! II,
know she dd-she almost told me so. Bu,II
il is too Iate now to relraCe my sleps-I can
prly relrace my folly. ldare say the bright
and joyous young thing has forgotten Ned
w WiIis and was married to some wOThier
fellow than am, long since. For her ro-
~ cheeks, laughing eyes, and sweet dis2o-
.i1ion, to say nothing Of the property she
was TO inherit when she came to age, al
lracIed many admirers and made sad hav~
&c among the hearts of the village. Well,
II she is married there is no more to be
sad.-l have no right to complain. Bat
hope she has chosens good husband,
g i'll see her once more--wsh her long
life and happy one-and away to sea again
But if she is not married.. He did
not finish the sentence, buI change came
over the counlenance of the il-clad and
weatherbeaien mariner as # he were in
duging in vision of rapture, aud he invol'
unfairly quickened his pace.
AS Edward Willis journeyed on towards
his home he was surprised to find that al
though it was in The middle OF The week,
there were no signs of labor among the in
hablants. All was quieE even the oxen
were browning contenledly in The pastures,
the schoolShouses were closed, and the
meeting houses were open-lhe people
whom he met were neatly arrayed in their
Sunday clothes, and their countenances
were wreahed with smiles of gratitude and
.oy. On enquiry he learned that it was