The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-08-21
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, AUGUST 81, 1850.
fore bidding adieu to the years of girlhood for

The letter was long, and every sentence was
a sharp thorn in my spirit. The tenderness and
affection of sister breathed through every line,
which seemed mingled with sentiment of
mournful sadness.
1t cannot be, thought I; she is only trying to
tease me, and | carefully rc-rcad the letter But
no. There it was plainly and undcnably as
serted.
"A bcWlldcrlng sensation filled my brain. Cold
chils crept over me, and felt as if sinking to
the floor, when loud knocking at my door a
reused me. | started up and staggered to the
door, and there met Mr.. N, a noisy, bolster
Gus politician, with his head full of party plans
and schemes
"Why, what on earth's the matter, Melton?'
he exclaimed, as he saw me- ssSick-eh:''
| answered conflsedly, but soon rallied my
companion, at length, commenced long TRADE
against the opposing party, to which / attempted
TO llsten but the real fact of my friends marriage
now, Tor the first time, as the painful subject
cured to my mind, appeared reality. | had
lost the only very dear friend, for another, near
er and dcarer, had come between US Married!
Alice Lessing married. felt angry, knew not
what at "What a fool is woman' Inward
ly murmurcd. "Thinks she must marry, at any
rate
grew excited; and when my attention was
|
direct question, replied hastily, impolitely.-
He cast upon me a look of suspicion, and left me,
! no doubt thinking me intoxicated.
When he was gone, tried to think calmly
and nationally, but finding it impossible, took
up a late paper and tried to fix my thoughts u.
pom its contents, in which partially succeeded
but there was spirit of vexation upon me, such
as l never before encountered.
| In vain tried to Danish Alice utterly from my
| hO1,
my friend took possession of me. But it was
time when my services seemed indispensable as
editor, and many weeks elapsed ere l could leave
my place. But the time came, pleasant sum
mer morning, and | started in a carriage, alone
with my thoughts, for the distant residence my
carly friend.
Now was enabled to think calmly. Ireview
ed my past lfe-and thoughts and feelings new
to me, sprang up in my bosom. Hitherto | hat
thought myself constitutionaly unlike others
! had felt that was made of different material
that the example fthe best could slight witt
impunity. Thoughts of domestic happiness ha
never found place in my imagination. Impel
led by some all-powerful influence, | had labor
cd tor--l knew not what. Did I care for world
ly honor? thought not | felt that | only re
garded it with contempt. But it seemed that m,
course was up a step ascent--and l toiled indie
tntigably to climb it, without stopping to inquire
Wnat l SnOulu flnd at Its summit.
For the first time it occurred to me that wal
not happy. | had worked so industriously tha
l had never paused to ask myself, cam | hap
py?' had felt emotions ofjoy and Of sorrow
of pity and Of gratitude; but had never take1
note Of these feelings. They had been awakened
| by circumstances and passed with them away
Anything which undertook, | engaged in witt
the most arduous interest; and thus, from the
time was sent to school until now, had ne
yer been in the habit of studying my own feel
ings.
Thus this seemed to be my first effort at self
examination. What am living tor:-what are
my purposes:-what my hopes? were the inqui
rics suggested to my mind. HOh, happiness
our being end and aim." repeated to myself
Has it been my am' thought |. If it had,
had gone widely astray from the path, feared
Then the thought that the darling friend who
seemed now lost to me forever, would perhaps
gladly have united her fate with mine, and
could have had her dear presence to cheer me
!, her hand and heart to assist me, and her love t.
bless me in the rugged pathway of life-mad
me almost frantic with happiness and dcspai,
Might not have been the possessor of all these
joys? Had [ not blindly neglected to secure
them' But they were lost to me now, and ev
en- felt that deserved it, for appeared in IN,
own eyes highly culpabc
Reflections Of this nature had occupied me un
til found had, heedlcssly, taken wrong road
/ Pcrceiving dwelling at some little distance il
advance, l rode on to get directions to set m
right again. But, to my glad surprise, where
had expected to sec entire strangcrs,on approach
ing the door was met by my old school friend
Charles Gleason. The meeting was joyous a
unexpected. He insisted on my spending tn
night with him, and, inviting me into pleasan
sitting room, he introduced me to sweet, hap
py looking woman, who returned my salutatiol
with most lady-like grace and atfability. Then
pointing to group of smiling, rosy-cheeked lit
tie ones, who sat on the carpet, amidst toy-book
and play-things he said,
"Those are our treasures
| had seen Charles Gleason amid the whirl
pool Of political excitement, and where his youth
full efforts seemed to g i've promise of future hon
or and distinction statesman; but for severa
years had heard nothing of him, and had won
dered what had become Of him, for he was, a
mong all my school companions, the one hac
liked best. There was similarity in our tastes
and feelings, which insensby attached us to
each other.
'Tis not strange that was struck with Won
der at finding my highly educated friend in the
rustic garb Of a farmer, inhabiting plain but
handsome cottage in retired part of the coun-
try.
We passed happy evening-for who could
resist the charm Of such sweet spirits as guarded
that quiet dwelling? The wife was intelligent
and agreeable; the children interesting, good.
natured, and orderly, as was everything i saw
A bright-eyed little girl of five years sat on my
lap, and modestly answered my questions with
such sprighty intelligence, that felt almost
startled to find so much information possessed
by SO small child, never having had an oppor.
tunity to observe the character Of children much
The second, sweet boy, with the blacklist, YET
the mildest eyes l ever saw, and round, rosy
face-and who had seen some two or three sum.
mers-brought me his pictures and playthings
and seemed to expect me to be interested in
them as he was; while the little one crept close
to her mother, and bashfuly watched me, and
no coaxing could draw her nearer.-Unused as
/ had been to such scenes, l was happily divert
ed with the infant trio. y. sa sEE
My friend told me that, becoming wearied ant
disgusted with political strife, he had purchased
this quiet place, and gone to farming; and would
not exchange his present peaceful situation even
for the highest office the. State could bestow
'for," said he, "our means sufficient to graft
! fly our tastes and wishes. We have no more
care than enough to give the mind a healthy exer-
else, and very few anxietics. Here we can learn
enough Of what is passing in this changefu and
/