Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-01-18
MlSGIIL L A NJ Y.
An Incident in Real Life.

A gentleman of this city has furnish
ed us with the following interesting mar
rative of one of those real struggles of
the young, to assist their parents, which
sparkle like diamonds along the pathway
of human life. In traits like these, there
is a moral heroism manifested, which
marks the pure gold Of human charac-
ter Wisconsin.
!" Business called me to the United
States Land Office-while there await
ing the completion of my business, lad
apparently about IL to II years old,
came i'll and presented to the receiver a
certificate of purchase for 40 acres Of
land. l was struck with the countenance
and general appearance Of the lad, and
enquired of him for whom he was pur-
chasing the land; the reply was, "for
myself, sir" then epquired where he
got the money? he answered, learned
it by my labor" Then, said /, you rich
ly deserve the land. l then enquired
where did you come from? New
York" said he. Feeling an increased
desire to know something more of this
lad, asked him whether he had parents,
and where they lived; on this question,
he took a seat, and gave me the follow
ing narrative"
II am from New York State-haye
there living a father, mother and five
brothers and sisters-I am the Oldest
child. Father is drinking man, and Of
ten would return home from his days
work drunk, and not cent in his pock-
ct to buy food for the family, having
spent all his days earnings in liquor with
his drinking comprehensive family had
to depend chiefly on mother and myself
for bread; this distressed mother much,
and had powerful effect on my feel
ings. Finding father would not abstain
from liquor, l resolved to make an effort
in some way to relieve mother, sister and
brothers from want-aftcr resolving
things over in my mind, and consulting
with mother, got all the information |
could about the Far-West, and started
for Wisconsin with three dollars in my
pocket. left home on foot-after spen-
ding my three dollars, worked OCCASION
ally a day; and renewed my travel so
long as money lasted. By labor occa-
sionally, and the charitable treatment
got on the road, I landed in Wisconsin:
Here | got an axe, set to work and clear
ed land by the job-eaned money, saved
it, till gathered $50, which money I
now pay for this 40 acres of land.
Well, my good lad, flor by this time I
became much interested in his Listory;)
what are you now going to do with this
land? "Why, sir, l will continue to
work and earn money, and, when l have
spare time, prepare some of my land for
culture; raise myself log house, and
when prepared, will write father and
mother, brothers and sisters te-come to
Wisconsin and enjoy this home. This
land, now bought by me, design for my
mother, which will secure her from vast
in her declining years"
What, said l, will you do with yonr
father if he continues to drink ardent
spirits to excess?
"Oh, sir when we get him on the farm
he will feel at home, will work at home,
keep no liquor in the house, and in short
time he will be a sober man. then re-
piled, young man, these being your prin-
ciples so young, l recommend you to i'm
prove ON them, and the blessing Of God
will attend you. I shall not be surprised
to hear Of your advancement to the
highest post of honor in the State-with
such principles as you have, you are de-
serving of the noblest commentator.
By this time the Receiver handed him
his duplicate receipt for his forty acres of
land--rising from his seat on leaving the
Office, he said, "At last I hare a. Home
for my Mother!"