Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-03-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From HE Cincinnati Herald.
THE CONVICT'S DAUGHTER.

HE CUNNlCl DAUUHl ER.
TIE reading of an article in one of our late
| monthlies on Capital Punishment, brought
wildly to mind a scene through which |
passed in childhood. As it was my privi-
iege to spend that golden period of life in
the country, / will conduct my readers to
one of'the most beautiful agricultural dis
lricts in Western New-York, though now it
is dotted over with thriving towns. The
song Of the robin, the lowing of herds, and
the whistle of the plow-boy, have given place
to the din of commerce, the whirl Of machin-
cry, and the hum Of IA busy multitude.
Most of the inhabitants of the town Of
n claimed a puritanic origin, and sus-
tained the claim by their industry, frugaIity
and Intelligence. Tn clumsy looking but
commodious school -honse was the best build
ing in the school district, except the church,
whose tall spire rose from a copse Of aspiring
poplars. These all important buildings, with
the parsonage half buried in rose-bushes, the
white cottage Of the s~choolmaster, and a few
mechanics shops, constituted what the good
| people called The Centre. Hard by this TO
Gus of civilization lived good Deacon Jones,
the mos. important light in the constellation.
Mr.. Fielding, the schoolmaster, was skilled
in the use Of globes and birchen rods. The
parson could preach an excellent sermon.
Yet in all matters pertaining to time and
sense, Deacon Jones was the oracle, and
never was an honor more judiciously confer
red or more meekly borne.
But perhaps the most interesting character
of that time and place was Miss Huldah. an
unmarried daughter of Deacon Jones. For
twenty years she had resolutely turned a deaf
ear to the signs of admiring SWANS, simply
because she was already happy and useful.
Were she 10 leave her parents in their old
age, she was sure they would miss her sadly,
and not one Of all the poor or /" sick in the
neighborhood could spare her." Her kind
parents would not ask her to remain with
them, lest it should be a sacrifice neverthe-
less they smiled approvingly upon her volun-
tary decision. Though Miss Huldah abjured
matrimony for herself, she had an encourag-
ing word and a ready hand for those of her
friends who were differently disposed. In
deed she was the presiding genius at all the
weddings and merry makings nor was her
presence Of less Importance in cases Of afflic-
ton and bereavement. As no ono else could
arrange the apartments for a wedding, or
place the white rose in the hair of the bride
so tastefully as Miss Huldah neither could
any other spesk so soothingly to the bereav-
ed, so well attach the sable badge to the ha-
biliments Of the mourner, or so piously fold
the hands and adjust the shroud of the un-
conscious sleeper.
AS there is no picture without its dark
shades, so there is no community, however
pure in the main, without its exceptionable
characters-characters on which sin has liked
its dire impress, and wrought its Legitimate
results. individuals who "sow the wind
reap the whirlwind."
This undesirable member Of a christian
community afflicted the good people of N
in the person of James O'Brien, an Irish en-
igrant of tho middle class. When he came
to N he was a fine looking man of %,
frank and generous, with the wit and keen
perception Of the ludicrous so common among
his counuymen. These qualities gained him
many friends. But they soon learned that
he was passionate, and fatally in love with
the Intoxicating cup.
Mary O'Brien was a person of less mental
capacity than her husband, but more amiable.
Her patient kindness often soothed his per-
turbed spirit, but failed to reform his habits.
They had but one child. And such a child /!
The intellect. goodness and beauty usually
distributed through a large family, seemed
concentrated in little Nora O'Brien. She in
hcrited the bright intellect and ardent tenn
permanent Of her father, with all the winning
SeH'cnSSS VI Her mOlHeTS Wnile IN person
she was a prodigy of beauty. She was one
OF those beings whose mission to this earth
Is like that of the flower and the dew-drop,
and whose very presence excites thoughts of
a purer world. She was a general f~avorite,
and happy for being so sensitive, SO gifted,
that a mothers approving smile and loving
tone, the light and music of childhood, were
not wanting. As Mary O'Brien prepared her
child for school, watched her receding form,
and thought of her until she returned, it is
difficult to say whether love or pride predom-
mated, as her beauty and amiability passed
IN review before her minds eye. James o.
Brlen also loved his child, and her influence
tell upon him silent and pure as the snow
hake. But, alas for that man in whose soul
love hath so far lost its power that natures
hollest ties fail to restrain from sinful indul-
gence.
As all of o'Brien's faults grew out of his
love for intoxicating drinks, great efforts were
made to sunder these bands Of steel by which
long Indulgence had bound him to this vile
habit. When the friends of Temperance nrt
forth their first e%ifectual effort in the circnla-
tion OF the pledge to abstain from distilled
James was urged to avail himself
Its benefits. "Never a bit of it," said
Jenny, as Deacon Jones put down his owy,
name, and handed him the pen. Sand cans
as we'll be after laving the cratur without
my name on bit of paperi" Pos
ibfy he nigh. have tried the experiment.