The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, November 18, 1840, Image 1
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PEW SERIES.] VOL. 1. CA^IKEA, SOITM CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1840. NO50.
POETRY.
for the camden journal.
THE INFANTS' DEATH WATCH.
From thrjSISS of the Missionary
It was the Death watch night. The old town clock
Had pealed the midnight hour, and those deep
sounds
Fell on the ear, fur through the stilly eve,
As footsteps of a guost retreating fast,
To his eternal home. The moon sailed through
The fleecy clouds, as when the snow bird hurt
Its mistress bosom socks; and which the Eve,
First daugnterof Eternity covers
With her veil; or, as the ship at sea, flics
Tho coming storm; and flutters in the breeze.
buna's soft beams fell through a latticed blind
Beside an Infant3 corpse, indent, and dressed <
In funeral array. Noothci
j^amcd through the silent :oojn, rave as the fays
Of tap"""3 ^1C chamber near, showed
The forms of ?llcsts buried in sleep profound.
One figure paced the jloomy hall of death,
Slill as the spectre of another world.
*i: i.nvnrod round the infants corso
Ills PJ'Uiw i.v.w.
And thus communed in secret with the dead:
S-A'cc} One! Upon thy brow.
19 this the sleep As cold moon beams,
Of senseless deaiit! On moiling snow,
Or dost thou keep. Or foam of streams
Thy fleeting breath, Murmuring low.
For dreams that tread,
With rosy feet, L >v'd Or.c!
Around thy bed, The taper light
Where Angels meet! Shall not intrude,
Tho't comes nut To mar this night,
j
Doeth's bami j.'s , Oar solitude.
And all things hero 1 Yon starry Eve
Arc for the grave. j Dinnn'd by its tear,
With me shall grieve,
Spirit! > ! Reside thy bier.
Thou art not here, O this soft gloom,
^ No, thou hast flown, Those signs of wo,
Cleaving the air, IIow like the tomb,
To Coil's high throne! Oover'd with snow.
From that blest way
Canst thou not see, Cherub!
Thy shrouded clay, By thee nnfelt,
Alono with me! Away I'll sip,
J/>! here's a crowd Those tears that nio!t
Of Ar g' Is f.ur. Thy waxen lip,
Fanning thy shroud, They are the first
And flaxen hair. Since childhood's hour,
I've known to hurst,
Dearest! With such wild pow'r.
Upon thy cheek But here's the day!
Is cv'ningsr sigh, Hist! footsteps come.
As whisp'rii.f sneuk To bear thy cia\
The souls on high. To its !o:;;> home!
Thy sweet blue cj es Farewell!
A"0 faded now. Farewell!
Thy white hair lies
^I9$ ELLi^ KOIS.
THE POOR PRINTER.
And tih: Exf i.i'.siVE?. ? On tlio fourth
of July, IS?. Hattiet I,> might have
been seen sitting on the sof.-t in her neat
little parlor, in a house situated in P.
street. New York. The metropolis was
alive with men, women and children, of
every color, class and creed?old men,
whose heads were whitened with the
snow of age?young mr;n in the meridian
of manhood, unitedly and unanimously
agreed to "drive dull care away," and
join the jubilee to celebrate the birth day
of American Independence. Ever and
anoon the bursting thunder of artillery
seemed to shake the island of Manhattan;
the carved eagle sat perched upon a pole
of liberty, and our star spangled banner
become the playing of the balmy wind.
Whilst every AmericanWart was brim.ful
of joy and gratitude, there were two
generous hearted, noble minded individuals
bowed down with sorrow so pungent,
Htid disappointment so bitter, that the
soul stirring proceedings of the evcr-tobe-reniembcred
fourth could not raise
their drooping sp rits. The persons .alluded
to are Harriet and her suitor, William
Malcolm. When the intelligent patriotic
ntrl high minded William entered
TTorr?r?f'c mnrlmfnl trnc JlcnnnnSnl^d
and surprised to see the object of his love
bathed in tears. 44 Why do you weep, my
dear Harriet?" enquired William, in a
voice ricli as music; at the same time gras
ping affectionately her snow tapering.ftn*
gcrs, which were ornamented with three
costly rings, die offerings which friend
ship and respect had laid upon the altar of
her fairy hand. Harriet gently and gracefully
raised her head, while the warm tears
of grief- flowed free and fast from her
dark hazel eyes, and fell upon her fair
check like dew drops from a rose leaf.
' What can I do," continned William, "to
tear away thodark drapery which seems to
mantle your tender feelings in gloomy sorrow
on this high and happy day?" Harriet's
feelings were too big for utterance; she
could not vent her thoughts iu words, so
violent was the temper of excitement, occasioned
by one who had broken up the
great deep of her heart. Soon after she was
able to speak, she said she had iustreiurncd
from a visit to aunt K , having paid
i her a visit for the purpose of inviting her
> attend the anticipated wedding which
, )uld probably take place in a few days.
Sh> ' desi'jibed the interview she liad with
her aunt. il was as fn,l(nv&:
\\ "hen s he had make known her errand,
Iter i >unt observed?
#'jV sit rouble that you, Harriet, have
P
?
assumed llie responsibility of pledging
heai land hand to a man without soliciting
my advice?"
Harriet replied, " When I first became
acquainted with the man of my choice, I
sought the advice of my mother, who happened
to be in the city at the time; upon
inquiry she discovered that my friend was
an honest honorable man, and had no
objection to my associating with him; our
friendship has ripened into love; we arc
pledged to each other and the wedding'
day is appointed."
"What is the gentleman's name, Ilarj
ricl?"
" Ilis name is William Malcolm."
"Is he a Physician, or a lawyer, or a
Merchant, or a Minister?what is he?"
"lie is journeyman printer," replied
Harriet.
"A journeyman vrinlcrV' exclaimed
her aunt, with great emphasis. " Do yon
intend to disgrace your connections by
marrying a man who picks up type for a
living? You must be foolish, and your
mother mad to sanction your follv; you
need not imagine. Miss, that! shall condescend
to mingle in the society ??f mechanics;
you lack common sense, or you
would not throw yourself away."
Harriet again replied:
' William is a respectable, industrious, j
and economical man, and loves me."
"It makes me think of casting pearls
before swine," continued the old aristocrat.
"You are a beautiful girl, vour accomplishments
are superior to the attainment of
most of girls of your age?how can you
so lower yourself as to marry an illiterate
mechanic?"
"My dear aunt, do you know that a
printing office is an Acadamv, where lessons
of useful knowledge arc continually
before the mind??William is riot an illiterate
man, he is a sclflaught classical
scholar,, and occupies a lofty place in the
estimation of all who know him."
"I will pay the expense of your wedding
and give you a splendid set of furniture,
if you will try to forget liiin, and
take my advice; there is Squire , he
thinks a great deal of you; would you not
like to hare him, or Doct. , or Mr.
, the Merchant? You can, I have no
doubt, marry cither of these gentlemen,
and thus keep up the dignity of your 1'uI
mily?"
"Pa is a mechanic, and I am not too
i proud to marry a mechanic," replied Harriet.
"Your father is my youngest brother; I
| he is an extensive land holde:; how can
I you call him a mechanic."
I "I have frequently heard him say," ro'
plied flerriet, " that he earned his farm by
.ddigently using the saw, the broadnxc, |
'and (he jackplanc; ftirlhcmorr, I have
!heard him s#v, ihat vmi in your younger i
days, nsed to pound puitv, ami prime]
1 1 "-?> --..1.1..n\.,?
sasiics, wnen uiicie iv cuun uwi ,
to lure help; you have not forgotten that
my dear uncle is a sash maker, it is but a
few years since he relinquished that business."
'Impudent creature, how dare you
thus insult me in my own house7?your
uncle is President of the Hank of ;
and one of the richest men in this wealth}'
j metropolis."
" Aunt, I don't intend to insult you nor
injure the feelings of my uncle; you know
better than I do, that he shaved wood before
he commenced shaving notes?yonder
stands the. old frame building which
was once his humble residence.
" Harriet, you must quit my house immediately,
and never dare to darken the
door again."
Poor Harriet's feelings were wrought
up to the pitch of excitement; when her
proud and arrogant nunt spoke disrespectfully
of William, she introduced the sarcastic
remarks which mortified the woman's
pride. lTntil that morning she sil;
ways respected Iter aunt, but her tyranny
completely changed her feeling.
"? * * * 4 4 *
On the 8th dajf of July, Mr. R , Harriet's
uncle while perusing one of the
daily papers, discovered the following,
and read it loud to his wife.
"Married in this city, on the 8th inst.,
by the llev. Mr. Chase, Mr. William Malcolm,
to Miss Harriet Lee, both of this
city. On the opposite page he saw a long
editorial article respecting the wedding,
the following is an extract:
"Last evening, in conformity with a
polite invitation, we attended a wedding
party; every thing went off with great
eclat; the cake, coflce and wine, were
excellent; the bride looked more like an
angel than a human being, her hair was
smooth and dark as a raven's wings, her
mouth like blooming tulips. The groom
?o >> *? tvoll nri-iii.iinirrl with: lie is a ele
ver fellow; the wealth of intellect shone
011 his superb forehead, and a great soul
looked through his calm blue eyes; he is
the talented author of several splendid ar
1*11 t A
tides which nave appeared in our most,
popular periodical. We understand lie is
about to assume the management of a periodical
in this city. May the sunlight of
success beftin upon his exertions."
Putient reader, allow the author to digress
a few moments, in order to lay bciufc
you a brief history of the two piossional
men, and the mcrcliant who was
!selected In Harriet's aunt, as a suitable'
! companion for a young lady, occupying
sttch a conspicuous stand in society as she
did. The physician w as an inferior looking
man, rather ill-formed and dwarfish.
He was round shouldered, small twink-*
ling eyes, a heavy intellectual brow, and
mouth indicative of eloquence. Notwithstanding
his personal appearance, lie was
esteemed and respected by a large acquaintance?he
was a natural dwarf, but
an intellectual giant?he was an ordinary
looking man, litil his attainments were
rich and rare, his brilliant talents won
for him an imperishable name on the jwtge
of immortality?by marriage he connected
himsaif with a poor hut honest family
?lie has obtained a princely fortune since
the sacred band was riveted, and still
lives to enjoy it with his amiable companion
and beautiful children.
The Jawyir was n tall nnu graceiui
man, lie had an eye like an eagle, was
straight as a pine, and strong as Iftrcules,
a large pair of brown whiskers fringed
his expressive countenance, no artist ever
chiselled a better looking month than his
?a heavy mass of rich brown hair hung
in clustering curls over his line forehead.
He arose to eminence in his profession,
the syren song of llatlery was perpetually
sung in his ear?one praised him because
of his eloquence; another alluded
to his b< ncvolcncc. At the age of twenty-five
he married the daughter of a rich
merchant.
Let us lean over a neriod of ten years.
. 1 I
In yonder white frame house in Centre
street New York, may be seen the wreck
of a ruined mar.. Ills eyes are bloodshot,
his teeth yellow, his hand trembles, his
face is as rod as the rising sun?he is a
victim of intemperance?if, reader you
choose to look into his dwelling house,
you will find it neatly furnished, and clean
as a new pin; a pale female, plying that
little polished lance, the needle, attracts
your attention?site has seen hotter days;
hut now she earns a subsistence for herself,
her unfortunate husband, and three
little ones. She is the wife of the talented
and liberal lawyer, we spoke of a few
seconds since; the bewitching voice of
flattery spoiled him, he mingled much in
society, was a public pet. His friends
deemed it an honor to drink a social glass
with him; thus he engendered an artificial
appetite which like a serpent imprisoned
him in its folds; his business was neglected,
his time mishnproved, his property
worse than wasted, his intellect blunted,
and his health destroyed.
The merchant was a hungry speculator,
greedily after dollars and cents, wealth
rolled in its golden tide around hint, the.
more music there was in his purse the
more friends he won, he was too stingy
i" go; M.sr?ied, determined to get ricn in
a hurry; ho leaped into the dark, lie committed
forgery, in Auburn prison may bo
seen the man who was selected for Harriet
by her aunt; fortunately he has no
wife nor children to mourn his fate.
We will now resume the narration ofj
the poor printer's history. 'Twas oil a
bright and beautiful morning in the monlli
of May, that one of the splendid steamers
which ply between New York and Albany,
was crowded with beauty and fashion;
the passengers were amusing themselves
by gazing on the romantic scenery
which nature had spread with lavish hands
on both sides of the Hudson. At noon
the bcli rung to inform the passengers
that dinner was ready; a rush was made
to the table, which was loaded with the
richest luxuries the market afforded; at
the head of the table set a man somewhat j
advanced in life, the hand of time had
scattered a few gray hairs upon his head;
the next seat to him was occupied by his
wife, with an air of affected dignity she
looked towards the door, which at that
moment was opened by the Captain who
politely requested the gentleman and lady
at the head of the table, to give up
their seats to the Hon. William Malcolm
and his lady! If a voice from Heaven, in
the tones of thunder had spoken, they
would not have been more surprised than
was Harriet's uncle and aunt when they,
in the presence of more than one hundred
persons, were obliged to make room
for the plebians they refused to associate
with ten years previous to that cvenl; to j
this proud pair of aristocrats, the scene
was extremely humiliating?after all it
was an honor to sit by the side of this
great self-made man; after the cloth was
removed, a great many apologies were
made by the old couple. They invited
the Hon. Win. Malcolm and his lady to
all and sec them; they did so; and liltold
hypocrites strained every nerve to
please the once poor printer ar.d his beautiful
wife.
William resumed the management of
the periodical spoken 01 111 me commencement
of this article; his labors were
crowned with success; at the close of the
year he removed to the south, the same
success attended his footsteps; lie rose in
spite of the obstacles in his way to the
honorable eminence lie now occupies.
A Screamer.?A gentle piece of female
humanity yclepcd Green?by courtesy
Miss Green?delivered an oration, or more
properly speaking1, a stump speech, at
Augusta, Maine, on the 4th of Jul) last.
The concluding remarks furnish a sample
of 'real grit;'
"If! shall have heen so happy as lo
have gained the approbation of those for
whose sake I have so far departed from
the strict limits which ancient prejudices
have long prescribed to our sex, I shall
be amply paid for all lhe sneers of wittlings
n;wl fouls. (Cheers ) 1 have been only
desirous of winning the approving smiles
of the nobler sex for sentiments, not for
myself, and I say unto yon, lords of creations,
as you call yourselves, if you doubt
my sincerity?I proclaim it here in the
face of all Augusta, uow assembled around
me, and you may believe me or not, as
vou please ? that there is not one among
you, Tom, Dick or Harry, that I'would
give a brass thimble to call 'husband' tomorrow!!"
tiir nnnvv a i> n*a TTiri?
X IJli U AW \J llivn XVX7 U i I
THE
? sin of
drunkcncss
px pels reason,
drowns memory, <listempers
the body, defaces
beauty, diminishes strength,
corrupts the blood, inflames the
liver, weakens the brain, turns men
into walking hospitals, causes internal,
external and incurable wounds; is a
witch to the sense, a devil to the soul,
a thief to the purse, the beggar's
companion, a wife's woe, and
children's sorrow: makes man
become a beast and selfmurderer,
who drinks to
other's gooa health and
robs himself of his
own! Nor is this
all: It exposes
to the divine ,
displeasure
'a s
en
5 ^
r 3
2 ,
s 1
h
> >
T* Tj
C H
5* H
5 ?3
such are
some of the evils
springing from the root of
mi iMfKEarnruss.
Starting Children in the world.?
The following extract contains sentiments,
and facts which cannot be loo frequently 1
read, or loo deeply impressed on the
mind:
??w?r?? t^tinp? hard
"iUany nn unwise |i.ntn. ?
and lives sparingly all his life, for the
purpose of leaving enough to give his J
children a start in the world, as it is callcd.
Setting a young man afloat with money i
left him by his relatives, is like tying blad-'
tiers under the arm of one who cannot!
swim: ten chances to one he will Jose his
bladders and go to the bottom. Tench
hiin to swim, and lie will never need the.'
bladders. Give your child a sound education,
and you have done enough for him.
See too that his morals are pure, his mind
cultivated, and his whole nature made
subservient to the laws which govern men,
and you have given liim what will be of,
more value than the wealth of the Indies.
You have given him a start which no mis-1
fortune can deprive him of. The earlier
you teach him to depend upon his own recources,
the better."
Music.?''() Music! the theme of bards;
from time immemorial; who can sing of
thee as thou deserves!? AVIiat wonderous
miracles hast thou not accomplished? The
war drum beats; the clarion gi^es forth its .
piercing notes; and legions of armed men
rush headlong to the fierce devastating
battle. Again, the drum is muffled, nndj
its deep notes break heavily upon the air.*1
while the dead warrior is borne along up- \
on his bici, and thousands mingle their
tears to his nicmory. The tender lute
sounds upon the silvery waters, and the
lover throws aside his fear and imprints a
kiss upon the lips of his beloved. The
1 ?i?o mountain recesses and a |
I'UJ-iV ?uigo .1. ..... ...
thousand spears are uplifted lor a fearful
a;id desperate combat. And now the organ
peals, and with its swelling notes '
the soul leaps into the very presence of
the Deity.
FINALE TO A COURTSHIP.
'Flora?ah! dearest Flurn?I am conic i
?ah! Flora 1 conic to?oh! von ran di" {
cidc my fate?I am come my Flora?alil'i
'I see you, Malcolm, perfectly.?You :
arc come; you tell me interesting intcJli- j
gcncc certain])'. Well what next.''
Oh, Flora! I cotnc to?to '
'To ofi'er me your heart aiid hand, I
suppose?'
' Yes!'
' Well do it like a mail then, and not
like a monkey.,
' Plague take yonr self possession!' exclaimed
I sttddcnily starling from my
knee, yon make rue" ashamed of myaeJf."
4 Proceed, sir,' ?aid Flora.
4 You like brevity, it would seem/
' Yes,1 replied Flora.
4 Then will vou marry m<V
| 1 Yes!'
j 4 W;ll yon give mc u ki?sV
j 4 You may take one.*
I took the proffered kiss.
4 Now this is.going to work lightly./
said Flora, 4 when a tiring is to be suid,
why may it not be said in two seconds,
instead of stuttering and stammering kwo
hours about it?1 exclaimed the merry mSi?|pn
rlncniinr mv hand energetically.
"""""" v,MMr* ,b "v ? o .0
'Well then,' said I,?humbug apart, what
day shall we fix for our marriage?1
THE DEVIL UNDER THE BED.
Several years since, while journeying
in the state of New York, I had an inter- ' (
csting conversation with a friend on .(be
subject of temperance, which made -en
indelible imprepsion on my mind. Among
other things. he related the following <oircumstance:
"In this village (said he;) a
short distance from my house, lives a man
and his wife, both of whom, four or five '
years since, were drnnkards, but now
they are sober and industrious?are valuable
members of society. The history of
their moral deformation and reformation
is as follows. Some ten ycaFs since they
were married. They were front respectable
families; their property considerable;
and themselves much thought of in the
village. When they were married, they
made a splendid wedding, and ell were
talking of the happy couple, and of their
flattering prospects. After the marriage
evening was passed, and they cleverly located
in a line house and pleasant place,
in the full tide of prosperity, much company
came; Friends often called to congratulate
them, and take a glass of 'good
cheer.' With their friends they drank
and drank again, till they became exceeding
fond of the liquid poison. It was
not a year from the time the nuptial knot
was tied, before one would enquire of
another and another if there was not
something singular at times in the appear?
l * 1.no?f
ance anci conuuci ui iiua ioiu noyyj %
?something that indicated a degree of
intoxication? S >on after such inquiries, it
was whispered around that he had neglected
his business for some time, and
that she made a poor house-wife, and
that their property would soon be gone.
At length the fact came fully out that they
were drunkards. They were often seen
intoxicated. Many wondered at the great
and sudden change, and lamented their
ruin. Poverty came on a apace. Friends
expostulated in vain. They seemed to
care for nothing but the intoxicating glass;
and they who had been much loved, began
to be shunned by all respectable persons.
They at length became so fond of
spirits, as to drink it several times in the
night after they bad retired to rest; ant!
the better to accommodate themselves,
tliey placed a keg of liquor under the bed,
out of which they could easily draw to
satisfy the cravings of appetite. One *
night, as the husband awoke from 'liia
slumbers and thought of the tumbler and
.u_ i niifriifa rushed in and
Iiiu urgj ufruvi
troubled him. He reflected upon what'he
ojicc ivas?the pride of a family, respected
and honored by all. He reflected also
upon the poverty and disgrace he tiad
brought upon himself, upon the wretched
condition of himself and companion.?
They had fallen from a high elevation.?
His heart ached. It was loo painful to
be endured alone. He waked up his wife,
and with a voice of alarm said, Dear
S , the devil is under the ber?! She,
somewhat frightened, demanded on explanation.
lie then told frer of the
thoughts which had "bpen passing through
his mind, and spoke of the awful influ*
ence which the 4 critter* was exerting on
them, over, which they had been-sleeping*
They talked and wept, and talked again
? and come fully to the conclusion that
evil spirits had been haunting -their house
ever since they were married; that one
had even gotten under the bed, and that
it was not safe to Imre him there any longer,
or to harbor any of his kindred asao-ciates
in their habitation. They therefore
concluded to ?ject them all. The
? (irel tkft.
husband men sprang uj'f OCI6VU U(U? m>v
enemy nearest at hand, stepped to tho^
door and dashed him headJtwtg. The wife
in the mean time sought a light; the house
ivas thoroughly searched, and entirely
exercised. And since that hour; (continued
my informant, somewhat animated)
they have drunk no spirits at all, and tire
doing well?arc respected, beloved., industrious
and prudent?fast acquiring pjO?
pet ty?yes, they arc doing well."
SZiuu s Advocate
Taking Time hi/ the ForrJocIc.?An old
lame captain vvi,.? wen: .art to fight the
Indians and < r.iiog upon tlicm unoxpecxedlv,
"Boys,'' said lie, "there they are*
they arc very numerous, my opinion U
they'll v.'li'j) us, but fight hard, retreat ii>
good order, but as I am a little lame, I'll
go now." And away he went.
" Go it ye p'ppins," as the man said
when the horse w;*s running away with
the apple cart.