Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-10-20
THE REFORMATION
HARRY CORNWRIGHT.
By PETER RAGGS.

At the period Immediately preceding
The Revolution, when the first meanings
of the approaching tempest commenced,
there lived ar the green, row called
Boston Common, worthy blacksmith,
named John Cornwr:ght. He was a
sturdy, honest old fellow, Of no remark.
able parts; a sound believer in the rights
of The colonies, and an adm!rer Of The
lervid eloquenoe OF James Ous. But
valuing his daily occupation above poll
tics, he followed diligently his trade; and
if The fanciful acts of his mother coun-
try sho,k his loyalty little, he only
buried his feelings in his own heart, or
calmed his agitation by hard knocks on
his anvil, rather than by turbulent speech
with his fellows. Strong was the belief,
however, in Johns mind and increasing
daily in strength, that i. would be more
profitable 10 the colonies 10 be governed
IN an open way by few quiet ci.izens
IN black knee breeches and home spun
hose, on this side of the Atlantic, than
by tilted gentleman, residing in magnif-
cent establishments over the water; pos
sessing high-bre and fascinating man
ners, doubtless, but having unfortunate
ly, no very clear ideas of the muss they
were getting the colonial business into.
Meantime the blacksmith ,oiled al his
| trade. History is silent touching the
part he performed in the struggle which
transformed the colonies from children
to rivals of England. nor has the present
sketch aught to do with that portion of
his existence.
John Cornwright was widower.-
Rumor, with her thousand tongues, said
that he did not take on very badly when
his amiable vile departed. Remark
was made that he looked happier, and
strobe home 10 tea with mnre confident
step, after that lady slept under the turf
a. Cops Hill, than before her deeease.
Gossips noticed that now he never was
frs. 70 leave a jolly good party and.
indeed, IL was sneeringly stated, in a
general way, that things were quite diff
ierenl before Mrs. Cornwright died.
The old wooden house was now un
der the mild reign of sweet Kate Corn
wright, pretty damsel of eighteen; who
carried il with high hand among the
beaux OF Bosloa, receiving even many a
passing compliment from those sprouts
OF nobility, who, in the red,and gold
livery of his majesty, vexed the town in
the shape OF army officers. Perhaps
the compensatlng power of Providence
gave This beautiful girl as a solace for the
distress which her wild brother Henry
wrough. in the heart of the old black
smith.
Harry should have been lord, for he
got as drunk as one; and he kept quite
as bad company as George the Fourth
himself did in after years. Loving hi:
sisler dearly, and entertaining a respec
for his parent. still the influence which
they possessed over his actions wa.
limited. Dreadful tales were told Of hi
revels by the old men, though all con
fesseG that spice of fan and share o
wild courage entered often into his frol
les. A poor widow at the North, ent
4 blessed Harry as he passed, as the pre-
server OF her boy from burning house
where others dared not enter; and IN,
broken nose of sergeant testified to th,
strength of his fist on an occasion wher
the aforesaid sergeant was too pressing
in his attentions 10 young lady in th'
street. Yet these facts do not free Har
ry from blame for excesses IN stree, en-
counters, which, under modern light ar,
Justly visited by fine aud Imprisonment
nor do they diminish The culpability o
! his sitting for whole afternoon at tim