Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-13
,fgnteresting M(isfeuanp
THELosrFoUND DANDREsToREp,
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

A SKETCH FROM LIFE.
"You have just returned, friend Manson,
have you not" said Livingston, ''from your
Western journey"
"Yes," he replied, 81 have, and there
was circumstance attending it which will
make i. the most memorable event in my
whole life"
"Indeed, what is that, my friend?"
"Ah, it would take more time than either
you or could now spare" said Manson, "for
me to relate, and you to listen to the partic-
ulars but / will attempt very brief sketch
of the substance:
When I went to school in Connecticut, I
had very dear friend and schoolmate, named
John McL-d. He was one of the bright
est and most beloved pupils in the school,
He grew up, paid his addresses to beauti-
full and excellent young lady, member Of
the church At length he was married to
his Mary; and they prepared Immediately
after that event, in pursuance of previous
plan, to emigrate to a Western State. The
evening before the day We were to separate,
perhaps forever, I had a tender interview
with my bosom friend and hislovcly wife; it
was deeply affecting to us all.
The next morning they departed, with
the afectionate farewells of many old friends
and ncighbors in the town where they were
born and reared, with handsome provision
made by the parents of both, who were in
competent circumstances. Ten years clap.
sed, during which I was in the Methodist
ministry in distant places, as my lot happen
ed to be cast Not word concerning them
reached my ears in all that time. The course
of duty called me then to the vicinity of the
place where my friend had settled, and re-
solved to 60 out Of my way considerably to
give John and Mary call Arriving at the
town, and inquiring for their residence, was
told they lived some distance from the centre
village. At length found the place. At
the first glance my mind misgave me. The
sight of the miserable cabin made me sick !;
and after hitching my horse 1 scarcely dared
to enter. Knock could not there was no
door-nothiug but blanket stretched across
the passage. Removing this, alas ! what
did l behold There was Mary sitting on a
stool with an Infant in her lap, and another
child in the corner on the ground for the
cabin had no floor
Oh, sight of woe! How altered vas the
lovely Mary T-n!
"Do you remember me, dear Mary?" I
said.
90, Mr.. Manson, it is indeed you? We
are ruined; John is lost, and I and the chill
dren are starving here. We have not had a
morsel to eat since yesterday morning"
"Great heavens!' said I, "and where is
John?'
"He is at the store; be has not been here
forseveral days"
~ must see him." I replied.
"Better not, sir, he is savage now, and
will illtreat you"
"I must and will see John," I replied,
and started Immediately for the store, accord
ing to her direction. There was no time to
lose, for was to be at the conference, with
er was bound, at a certain time appointed.
I readily found the store and entered. The
first sight disclosed four men playing cards
at table. The next glance discovered a
man stretched out along whiskey hogshead
The landlord was sitting by, but instantly
hoped up and ran behind the counter to
wait upon me, supposing was customer.
Says I, isis John McL-d here"
They all looked at me on bearing the
question, as if I had been the old one or a
Sheriff.
"What is that to you" he sullenly repli-
ed.
~ want to see him." I answered. While
I was speaking I took another sweep of the
room with my eye, and saw something like
man asleep in the corner. is that John,"
I asked.
"None Of your business" answered the
surly bar-keeper.
off it is that unhappy man, you will find
it some Of my business" I replied. So 1
went to him, recognized him, though in this
shocking, beastly plight, and began to wake
him. This was no easy job, and while l was
aboutit, the rumseller and his guests remon-
strated, telling me to 60 away, threatening
chastisement and showing violence. I had
in my hand loaded whip, am not inferior,
you know, in point of wiry, muscular power;
and though man of peace, confess that in
the twenty-seven years I have been in the
ministry, I never felt so strong adisposition
as at that moment, to give four or FIVE men
thrashing. They we're intimidated, and I
succeeded at length in getting John upon his
legs, and trotting him off homeward. My
presence and the exercise sobered him, so
that when he reached his hovel be was in his
right mind.
l forgot to mention that when first went
into the house, the child upon the ground
started up affrighted, running to her mother,
crying, "Is he going to carry US to Jail, mo-
ther, where father was?" And that poor
mother sobbed upon my hand, as if her heart
would break. Well, I conversed with them
an hour, talked of old timesin Connecticut,
the old village, and school days. He was
softencd his heart was touched. Then l
urged the pledge; his wife put in her pro-
foundly earnest, almost frantic plea. She
felt this, indeed, to be the hour of destiny.
"Do you think 1 can keep it?" said, at
length, the miserable man, once so promising,
now 90 fallen. "Is it possible for me to be
saved?'
Ill 20 an;l NTH non6denna and hnna.