True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-10-21
9 gntky d4listahe,
A NIGHT ADvENTURE.

n N " n u N ~ y 4 Az " ~ - |
I will tell you all about an aGair-im-
portant as it proved to me but you
must not hurry me, I have never been
in hurry since then, and never will
Up till'that time, Inclusive, | was always
in hurry; my actions always preceded
my thoughts; experience was Of NO use
and anybody would have supposed me
destined to carry a young head upon old
shoulders to the grave. However was
brought up at last "with round turn"
I was allowed certain space for reaec-
tion, and plenty Of materials; and if it
did not do me good, it's pity
My father and mother both died when
] was Still. "a great awkard boy +; and 1, be-
ing the only thing they had 10 bequea,h,
became the property Of a distant relation.
I do not know how it happened, but /
had no near relations. / was kind Of
waif upon the world from the beginning
and l suppose it was owing TO my having
no family anchorage that acquired the
habit Of swaying to and fro, and drifting
hi,her and thither, at the pleasure of wind
and tide. Not that my guardian was in
attentive or unkind--quite the reverse;
bat he was indolent and careless, conten.
ting himself with providing abundantly
for my schooling and my pocket and lea
wing every thing else to chance. He
would have done the same thing to his
own son, if he had had one. and he did
the same thing to his own daughter
But girls somehow cling wherever they
are cast-any thing is an anchorage for
them; and as Laura grew up. she gave
the care she had never found, and was
the little mother of the whole house.
AS for the tiiular mother, she had not
an atom Of character of any kind. She
might have been picture, or vase or
any thing else that is useless except to
the taste or the affections. But mama
was, indispensable. 1t is vulgar error to
suppose that people who have nothing in
them are nobody in house. Our ma.
ma was The very centre and point of our
home feelings and it was strangers ob.
serve the devout care we took Of a per-
sonage, who had not two ideas in her
head. ....
1t is no wonder that was always in a
hurry, for I mus! have had an instructive
idea that had my fortune to look for.-
The Governor had nothing more than
genteel independence, and this would be
a good deal lessened after his death by
the lapse Of an annuity. Butsister Laura
was thus provided for well enough, while
I had not shilling in actual money. al
though plenty Of Hypothetical thousands
and sundry castles in The air. 1t was the
consciousness of The latter kind of prop
erty, no doubt, that gave me ia free.and-
easy air, and made me so completely the
master of my own actions. How did
worry that blessed old woman how IIau-
ra lectured and scolded how the govern.
or stormed and how was forgiven the
next minute, and we were all as happy
again as the day way long But at
length the time Of separation came. l
had grown great hulking fellow, strong
enough to make my bread as porter, if
that had been needed and so a situation
was found for me in a countn g-house at
Barcelona, and after lecture and a hearty
cry from sister Laura, blessing and a
kiss from mamma, and great sob kept
down by hurricane laugh from the gov.
ernor, went adrift.
-Four years passed rapidly away. I
had attained my full height, and more
than my just share Of inches. | already
enjoyed fair modicum of whisker. and
had even made some progress in the cul-
ivation Of pair Of mustaohes, when
suddenly the honse l was connected with
failed. What to do? The governor in.
sisted upon my return 10 England. where
his interest among the mercantile class
was considerable I; Laura limited myste-
riously that my presence in the house
would soon be a matter Of great i'm
portance 10 her father; and mamma
let out the secret, by writing to me that
Laura was going to "change her condi-
tion." / was glad to hear this, for |
knew he would be model ol a fellow
who has Laura's husband and gulping
down my pride, which would fain have
persuaded me that il was unmanly 10 go
back again like the i'll sixpence, set out
on my return home.
The family, l knew. had moved to an.
other house but being well acquainted
with the town, / had no difficulty in find
ing the place. 1t was range Of hand.
some buildings which had sprung uo in
the fashionable outskirt during nv alb.
sencs and although |! was far on in the
evening, my accustomed eyes soon des.
cried through the gloom the governors
old-fashioned door-plate. was Just
about to knock, really agitated with de-
light and struggling memories, when =
temptation came in my way. One Of the
area windown was open, gaping as II for
my reception. A quantity Of plate lay
upon q table close BY. Why should I not
antae Aav,d anuaar unanmnits,aed r, tha