Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-07-26
MisfellQneous
THE QUIET MAN.
by THEODORE S. FAY.

You would have been delighted with him.
He was so unobrusive, SO thoroughly imbued
with the spirit OF stiffness. He was living
Iebuke to everything in nature. His tongue
was superfluity. The rose that unfolds its
soft leaves noiselessly in the green house, and
blooms, and wtherS, and says never a word,
had an existence that he might have envied,
or stream that lapses along deluSively with
out ripple, his abhorrence Of confusion, ex-
ercise and riot, was so deep rooted. | have
seen him walk fifty yards round an old COW,
reclining in the Sha e, rather than disturb her
cogitalions. At school, he used 10 lei the birds
out Of the cages, the mice out OF the traps
He would rather suffer any privation than
speak. 1t was wonderful. He was statue.
A bustle acted on him like spell. A stran-
ger put him on the rack. He closed up in
company like sensitive plant and the ex-
Qulsi,ely susceptible leaves Of his mind drew
themselves in and shrunk, the moment he was
driven from the atmosphere of his own cir
Gle. Poor, dear Alfred, to what excrutiations
he must have been exposed How the rattle
and thunder, the joltin!, pushing and pulling,
and all the everlasting agitalions and discords
oil this restless world, must have Jared upon
his gentle spirit! What loathings and thrill
hh6og NHub nuu cUuuuCIllbsy Hluot
have made up the history of his existence p
Have you never observed, my attentive read
er, il you are afflicted with any wound, bro.
ken arm cash upon your finger, or foot en-
cumbered with one Of those viSitations of hu
nlanity which defy philosophy 10 tell the use
Of, what tacit and unanimous consent ap
pears 10 prevai among all your acquaintance
to bring themselves violently in contac; with
the affliction So it was with Alfred. Every
disturbance pursued him. He went 10 a re-
mote country village, and barrel Of powder
exploded under his window. He visited a
vessel oil war in the bay, but had no sooner
set his foot on Geck than orders were given
for salute. He spent month in the West
Indies, and was driven away by an earthquake.
He was board the Steamboat - when the
boiler burst, and in the Albany stage when it
overturned. They have lately enlisted him
In the militia, though drum sets his teeth on
edge. Poor, dear Alfred my heart bleedS
for him. Yet, in private corner, who ever
spoke more the purpose Who ever amaSsed
greater fund OF observation Who could
unbosom himselfto friend more delightfully."-!
Who coIld whisper in woman's ear more
persuasively? How he pouES out his very
soul in letter What companion he would
make in prison What husband Wha
father! What an ornamen ut so society, if he
could but talk What happy fellow, if ma.
ture had given him n nerve % bear the crasl
and riot Of worldly life.
met him one morning, last summer on my
way to the Albany steamboat, and was pleaset
TO learn that he was bound on the same jour
ney.
al am going" said he "to fly from the hub
bub OF the city, and indulge myself for nlontl
with country life. Nothing like rural quiet
j shall Hue till come back to this inlerna
bedlam." ....... .,.,..
As we approached the ferry gigantic, ruff
fan looking parsonage grasped his arm with
"'Have hack, sir 2"
"Any oranges, to-day, sir 2" said boy.
"Buy paper 7" screamed another.
"Out OF my way I" thundersd a cartman, o
ahe wheel passed within an inch Of our feet
"Clear the road o. bawled a traveller, pant
ing and dripping with haste, thinking he wa
100 late for the boat.
s'All on board?" shouted the captain.
The man rang the bell. The steam was lie
1ff, bursting by fits from the pipe, the whee
tufned and splashed, and lhe dusty thr n
gave way 10 the green waves.
''Thank heaven p said Alfred, uncoverin
his ears, and taking long breath. "Now fc
the country"
"A shower came up suddenly, and drove a
the passengers into the cabin. Babies scream
ed. A lap dog, bsnished by the corporatio
law, began 10 bark. gentleman at OIL
back favored US with random passages frol
Cinderella, out Of tune atrocously. Alfre
had armed himself with book, and was sir
wing TO read; but FIVE worthless, on the san
bench, commenced talking politics, and aft,
few civil prelminaries on the subject OF Il
general state Of the country, Poland, the R,
form bill, the three days, and the doctrine
Modification, started of upon Genenl JacI
son and Major Eaton. with that calm and di
passionate temper which peculiarly dsti
guishes American gentlemen on board stean
boats, when discussing the affairs of the n
tion. Alfred shut his book, leaned bac
folded his arms and closed his eyes. Resi-
nation is avirtue. felt for him from n
soul. He is the genilest Of all human ere
lures. But II Major Eaton had shown himse
at that moment, would scarcely have al
'swered'for the consequences. Indeed. lit
,rninsture dandy, with.plaid ipantaloons and
ratan, ofelipgat the sRms time hissilysr.spul