Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-10-29


sleek and hearty, and showed their teeth
merry.
Campbell led the way 10 the house. which
was, for Texas, superabundantly furnished.
! Comfort and abundance were every where.
| The breakfast was, 10 Il hunter delicious,
consisting of coffee, hot corn cake. yenison
steaks, and wild honey, while cold turky
graced the centre OF the board. What en-
| loved however, better than the breakfast,
was the attention of the daughter 10 het
blind father. He seated himself ai the board
and Nelly having first helped me, supplied
all he wished with care aud watchfulness
which was delightful 20 behold. She anti
olpated all his desires. her whole soul being
seemingly bent to give hiul pleasure. She
was in fact more like mother with her child
than daughter with father in the prime OF
1life. Breakfast concluded we talked egain
sof his history. particularly since his arrival in
Texas.
The routine of day was simple enough, as
they explained to me. The negroes owned
by the father and daughter worked in the
field from dawn until six in the evening; the
tuther fashioned some rural implements, an
axe or plough handle, while the daughter
past six; dined at half past eleven. and sup
ped at six. After THIS meal, Nelly generally
read to her father for two hours. Their Ii
brary was good, including general st1nda'd
works, and the four first volumes oil Cham
hers Edinburgh Journal.
Campbell went out into the air after lit
tie while to talk to the negroes, and was
left alone with Nelly. took advantage of
his absence to learn more of her charactef.--
Never was | more delighted. Not regret
nor wish for the busy word of which she
read so much, while il was clear 10 me that
her lover. whosoever ne WAS, had only sue
ceeded by promising to live with her father.
To leave her blind parent seemed to her one
OF those mpossibililies which scarcely even
suggested itself to her mind, Yes, Nelly
Campbell was sweet creature, perhaps the
only romantic recollection | bore with me
from Texas.
remained with them all day; visited |
their whole farm; | examined Nelly's favor
te retreat, in grove az the end Of the house, |
and then left them. We parted with re-
gret which was mutual regret which |
strange to say, was quite pintul on my side, |
and | never saw them again. Still did not
lose sight OF them, | always wrote by steam
er to Nelly, and many a long letter obtain
ed in reply. More aud more did discover
that she was a daughter only, anu that even
u husband must for time hold second |
place in her heart. AT length she wrote
And now, sir. am married, and am hap
py. though almost regret the step, os ! can
no longer give my whole time 10 my blind
father. He is, however, 50 happy himself,
that must resign myself to be less his nurse,
especially as the only quarrels John and
have, is, as to who shall wait on him. tie
has lost part Of his daughter, he has found
Il son.
This picture of happiness made me thought
fuI, and would that great as is the blessing
Of civilization, and vast and grand as are the
benefits of communion with our fellows, a
scene of felicity might yet bc seen in the
woods. Though am strong lover OF man
Kind and wish to be among them, and enjoy
he blessings of civilization, yet do | think If
were an old blind man, | would DC a back
wood squatter, with daughter such as
Nelly.
| heard no moro from them, as | soon re-
urned to England, aud tho busy life OF the ,
world and other vexations, have always pre-
ented my writing. Should |, however, ey
II revisit Texas, my first care wOnId be TO
un up the Trinity, and once more ENJOY the
hospitality at the table OF the BLIND SQuAT- {
TER.