The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-06-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
4 WONDFRFUL URE.
Selected from an unpublished Manuscript for d
8 fsssa. Herald and CORRESPONDENT.

a*e "A W - ~ LIT n 4 u IL Z u IL Il.
s Peter L ----, who resided some few wears
since in one -of the interesting villages that
adorn Mississippi Che now rests in the grave,)
and who had an interesting family OF wife
ana four children, had become SO addicted to
that social maIady-lazuess that it was always
with the greatestdificultY that he could by any
means be persuaded to make exertions for the
support of himseIf-mueh less the support OF
his family. He was not an habtual Grunkard,
but was OF that species of the genus homo,
which occupies the same position with reference
to society, that the mstetue does to the oak
living at the expense Of others. He seemed to
be either. entirely ignorant, or entirely indiffer-
ent TO the scriptural command, which enion.
ed upon him the providing of bread for his
household.
As contrast, Mrs. L. was noted for her in
dustry, frugality, neatness. gentleness and for a
multitude of kindred virtues. Every Sabbath
morning she, accompanied by her children clad,
as they were, in the simplest attire, walked rev.
erentiy up the aisle Of the village church, and
took her seat in farther corner. And there
during the service, the incense that rose from
her pure heart, we have no doubt, went up into
tie presence OF her God. Humility was with
her the queen of virtues; and she carefully
taught her children that, she that humbleth
himself, shall be exalted Poverty had bound
her hands to such degree that she was unable
to send her children to school; but every morn.
ing, save Sundays found her patiently endeav-
oring to explain to one a question in Arithmetic,
to another that The earth was round. TO another
who was looking at the picture, that hen spelt
hen not chicken, and even "ittle Jimmie" who
could only lisp. would beg thai he might .'say
his letters" BY her own exertions she man.
aged to provide herself and children as also
her husband with top2, which, however, was of
the cheapest hind. Not an hour passed, that
was unemployed, and manya night could a light
be seen through the window of her cottage
at late hour, when her neighbors were wrapt
in slumber, and her husband was away at the
coffee house discussing politics, from which he
gained no advantage, or talking scandal which
was none OF bis business. You would suppose
from his earnest manner and 9eEemence of
gesticnlaiion that, he bad great interests at
stake, which would he protected by the. success
of the party to which he had attached himself,
and be oVertI1rown, should the party be defeated.
1t was one night in the Autumn of I83-, thai
crowd had collected inthe bar-room of the cof-
fee house to hear the news and talk politics
and scandal, and poor Peter among them. For
one lTouf lie had been unburdeniBg himself oil
what he thought terrible philfipic against The
arstocFatc influence of wealth, and was dis
cussilg with vehemence the merits of his par.
ty, when In walked tie village blacksmith
who, from his native goodness Of heart and in.
.tegrity, was called Honest David" He had
seen, at a late hour. of the night. light glim.
mering through the window Of Mrs. L-'s
cottage, and had guessed that she was indus
triously plying the needle. and that Peter was
anywhere but at home. He determined 10 make
an effort TO change the state of affairs, and make
I Peter, il possible, scork. The health of Mrs
IL was very much impaired, and gradual
lyfailing. So saunterng; as if by accident, int
/ the room where Peter was huFling his srrowl
to the right and left against the principles Of th.
opposite party, he sat down. He listened pa
| tiently until Peter closed with, sand tell you
/ fellows, these bank monopolists, these men VIII
live by the labors OF others, must be put down
] Don't you think so, honest David?n
The attention of all was turned to The black
smith, interested 10 know his opinion, as he wa
never known to advance one that was not sns
/ taiEed by good, sterling sense. Moreover. b
voted with the same party Peter voted with, bu
simply because he thought. the right was o.
that side. Delaying his reply until there wa
complete silence, and looking Peter full in th
face with as grave an appearance his purpos
demanded, he began:
"What do think! You have asked me th
question, and ! am going to Tell you wh0t 1 thial
and IN such terms that, heFeafterl you will hav
no occasion to doubt what my opinion is; an
let me tell you that it viii always be precsel
what it is now. Peter, link thatyour talkin
politics is Of no ADVANTAGE to you, and the sui
ject you do not understand. think you neglet
the Interests Of your family to come here az