The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-04-05
and leave our readers to realize the con.

trast and deduce the moral.
One morning MIR. E.. one of the visitors
ofthe mission, invited lady to accompany
him on q visit to a most interesting old
gentleman whom lie had found in the. vi
cinity OF the mission. She Immediately
complied. and on the way, was informed
that his name was Blennerh asset. ! j
They entered a forlorn and comfortless
room. and found an interesting looking
man. delicate and refined in appearance,
even amid the utter poverty which sur
rounded him; and whose manner and lam
guage gave unequiyocal evidence that he
belonged to different position in society
from that which he then occupied. He
was attended by colored woman, whose
every look and act betokened the most en-.
tire and devoted attachment to her master.
Yet. no familiarity Of word or manner in.
lthnsted that she had. ever forgotten the rel.
alive position which. from his birth, she
had maintained towards him.
He received his visitors cordially, but
with considerable emotion. He referred
to his past history and his present circum.
stances; and he and the old colored woman
wept together. as past scenes Of happiness
and of misery were described. He re-
ferred with much bitterness to those who
had crowded around his father in the days
ofhis wealth and prosperity, and who could
forget his son amid adversely and sorrow
'Do you see that black woman?' he ex.
claimed, as she was about leaving the
room; ''she has more heart than all. the
people have known. She has clung to
me amid all my poverty and sorrow with
out the slightest prospect Of Remuneration.
My father was the friend of hundreds, He
set up merchants and mechanics, he pat
ronized literature and the arts, he was
courted and fattered in his days of pros.
perily, and when splendid fetes were Civ
EN- to Aaron Barr end Blennerhassett,
there were enough found to do him hom-
age. But when the storm burst upon his
devoted head. how few were found 10 rally
around him, or to befriend his innocent
and suffering family2 lam poor. can
not work. | am too infirm; and this old
woman turning again to his devoted SER
VANITY has done for me what ell the rest oil
the world have failed 10 do-given me a
quiet home, and grateful heart.'' Yet,
as he spoke, the look OF interest was sue.
ceeded by one Of sad and mournfL import.
The visitors relieved his pressing wants.
spoke kindly to his attached servants, aud
left to meet the other claims which were
pressing them on every side. 9 80
Mouths rolled away, and the old man
removed his residence tar beyond the la
dy's walks. Buthe was not forgotten; and
again and again he was referred 10 with
interest, and commented on as one of the
saddest instances of the reverses of human
fortune. A record of this visit was pre-.
served, when again. in the most accidental
manner, his residence was discovered
Two OF the ladies Immediately called. It
was decent looking house, but the hall
| and stairs proved that it was only a tene-
ment-house. and with sad forebodings, we
ascended 10 the upper story. We knocked
at the door, and faint voice said ..Come
in." We entered. One glance at the
misunderstanding room, uncarpeted and un-
warmed, at the miserable bed, without q
pillow or proper covering-one glance at
the pallid face, and shaking form of its in
valid occupant, and we sat down, (accus-
toned as we were to scenes Of misery,
almost p0werless to act or speak.
Such tale OF want and woe, Of physi-
cal and mental suffering, was revealed,
such loneliness and seeming neglect, such
contrast with what we knew of the early
years and prospects Of the unfortunate
man, that the hearts would swell and the
tears would flow. though the trembling in
valid had raised himself upon his arm.
nervously. yet politely, inquiring who we
| were, and what we wanted.
awe are friends," said Mrs. D.,
advancing towards the cot, sand we have
called to see if we could aid you; if we
could not do somethingfo to make you more
comfortable. !" lie gazed at her earnestly,
and said, IL know your countenance.
! Who are you?" She mentioned her name,
recalled the past to his mind. and then
gradually led him to the recital Of his own
woes and wants.
Many questions were asked and an.
swered, and much Information ELECTED, but
in broken and somewhat incoherent
manner on his part, and we could no,
describe the interview, and give it the in
terest it possessed for those who saw and
| listened to the mourniul tale in that cold
and dreary room. We promised him per-
maneni relief, and assured him that, so ia.
as our means and influence could prevail,
he should Eever again know the desii,u-
lion from which he had 30 deeply suffered.
We told him God had sent us, and we
hoped to benefit his soul and body. We
left, and Immediately sent him sufficient
bedding and clothing to make him perfectly
comfortable. In q subsequent interview
many facts were related. For, though
weak in body. and occasionally confused
in expression. his memory seemed unim-
paired, and he gave continuous account
OF his past life. To our utter surprise, we
found he was but fifty years of age, though
we had judged him much older from his
appearance.
i we sketch his history as narrated by
himself. 81 was the second son Of Har
man Blennerhassett. bearing my fathers
name; and was born on the Island in the
days Of my fathers greatest prosperity
Ny infancy and childhood were guarded
by the love Of most devoted mother
and my education, during my youth, was
mostly superintended by my father q
home. afterwards went to school il
4 Canada, and finished my education. Their
having prediction for the law, enter
!. ed the office of David Codwise. in New