Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-17

years after, when relating some Of his
boyish adventures to a friend. ~ in
vited about thirty young fellows. Of
my own age, to participate in the fun
Of pulling down Dame Doan's sign
board. We attached one end Of long
line to our common enemy, who, after
an impartial drum-head trial, had been
duly sentenced for the crime Of being a
public nuisance.
The boys arranged themselves in a
row, to be ready for the signal 10
move. mounted upon an empty box,
and made little speech to the crowd,
which good-huinoredly applauded, to
the tor Of my vanity. The boys then
took up their line of march down street,
singing.
liking Alcohol We will confound,
And drive him from our land:
The temperance army has the ground:
His kingdom cannot stand
The fallen sign-board. of course,
kept time with the song a~ it Travelled
in the rear of the procession. Before
our little temperance jolliiication broke
up. we had the board nailed up TO its
place aglin, but face to the wall. and
a short, tectotal pledge written on the
back. now the face. with red chalk. TO
which we affixed our signatures and
there il has remained until now. n faith
ful monitor. 10 remind us Of our prom
Use.
The present proprietor of the little
shop has. more than once. retraced the
faded letters we left on that old sign
board; and many Of the signers. now
grown to useful manhood. have assured
me that, their honor thus pledged,
from the fact that their names were
always exposed to the public gaze. was
a greater restraint from the fascina-
tions Of the wine cup than a dozen
pledges, given in the ordinary man.
ner."
When Dame Doan died. Henry hal
been in Cambridge University two
years. As she left no property, he
was necessitated to drop his studies.
and enter the mercantile establishment
of Howard Moretpn, a wealthy mer-
chant of Liverpool.
He was aware that he was not a
relative of Mrs. Doan /: for she had told
him the story Of his early lite, or what
she knew Of il. in substance. nearly as
| follows.
!
Johns. n. B. where she became a wii-
ow and childless for her little Tommy
sickened and died soon after his father.
She was thus left alone, in a strange
land, dependent upon her own exer.
tions for her daily bread.
.'You" continued she. '.were left
motherless. when about three years
old; and your father. Mr.. James Hos
ford, left you in my care. took you
TO my heart, to fill the place made void
BY the death Of my little Tommy
Since that time, have loved you
and cared for You, as for my own child
have never known any difference.
Dreading lest you should be taken
from me by your father. secretly LEFT
America, and returned 10 my early
home. l have never regretted that |
took this step; for your father was an
Incorporate man, and a gambler: it
was for your good that did it it was
all for you that have led the irregular
life, which, otherwise, should-not have
DONE"
"Had l no brothers or sisters" in
quired Henry.
Il knew nothing, of your family or
connections, only your father. He used
to buy his liquor Of me, and placed you
in my care when your mother died."
Henry gave himself SO assiduously
to the interest Of his employer, that in
three years, he became head clerk of
the establishment.
.iis honesty, industry, and business
tact SO completely won the confidence
Of Mr.. NJ. that he gave up to Henry
almost the entire management of his
extensive Wholesale trade. After the
first year. he went to board in Mr..
Moreton's family, by that gentleman's
especial invitation, where he soon came
to be regarded as an indispensable
part OF the home circle; at least. SO
thought Mr.. Moreton's only daughter,
Annie.
Gentle, little Annie Moreton! How
shall we present her lovely picture to
our readers?
We will not attempt it. We will
only say, he must indeed have heart
like an iceberg, who would not fall in
love with sweet Annie MoretOn. We
know of one, at least who thus fell,
completely and ir-ecoverably!
At twenty one, Henry was honored
by the offer Of partnership, which he
gladly accepted. The time, SO long