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Miscellany: The Wood-sawer

Miscellany: The Wood-sawer image
Parent Issue
Day
24
Month
March
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

They wrong, who trust to looks alone, Or from nppearance judge; Virtue mny havo her b riff ht est throne In liim we tnake our drudye. 'I know my business is not looked upön by the majority, as so respectable as ■trade, a clerkship, or a profession; but yon know Í was not put to a tnde and have always been obliged to wörk atany thing I could find to do, to help support my mother.' 'But you might find something clse to do, besides sawing wood.' 'VVhat can I do at present, that would be as profitable? 1 liavc always told you lhat Í did not intenct t o folio w this business through lile. Just as soon a8 I earn money suflicient, l shall engagc in sometliing else. Once you did'nt feel and talk as you do now.' 'As I grow oldcr, and associate more wit.h yoimg women, I pesceive by their actions and language, lhat they do not respect young men whodressmeanly and are engaged in low employments.' 'Whyshould you mind what they do or say? My business, if it is low, is an honorable one, and I earn every dollar I receive. I owc nothing. But the same cannot be said of many of those young men who dress etravagintly, displayejold rings and chnins, and spend so much lime and money in riding and other amusements.' 'I don't know how that is, hut they appear loget nlong well and always have money to spend.' Appearances are very deceitful. You :annot teil how much grief it has caused me, to see tho chnnge that has been wrought in you the last few months. - You donot meet me with your accustomE;d smiles and often seem indifferent when [ can cali upon you. It is solely on account of what other girls - and very foolish girls too - say, that you thus ap;)ear?' 'I confess I do not like your business, md since I have grown older and heard jo much said, my mind has changed ma;erially.' VVilliam Nelson was the son of a poor ivoman, From early life he was accustomed to work and earn whatever' he ;ould to support his parent. He would un of errands for the neighbors, bring .vat er, wheel stones, or do anything that .vould bring him a penny. Evcry Wedlesday and Saturday afiernoon, bcfore he went to play, he would take his basket ind run down on Long VVharf or Portland Pier, where men were stubbing boards, and load it with chips for his mother. VVilliam was always industrious. both at home and at school. Master Patten often said hc was one óf his best schol ars. W hen young Nelson was fourteenyears ?ld, he left his school and exerted himself to get employment so as to bé of some assistance to his vvidowed parent, and often found employment by tho day, working bard for fifi y cents. When he becaniea little oldcr and a little stouter, he bought him a horse and saw and und'ertook the business of sawing wood. Hc went round among his neighbors and sohcited their work, most of whom employed him. - Thero wero two or ihrec, however, whO depended upon Sam Freeinan, a curious bharacter, who made it liis business to saw woodabout town, nevér receivingany pa}' for his services. The next door neighber of Mrs. Nelson was a Mr. Richards, by whom Willinm had often been employed. He not only sawed his wood, but brought home his flour, provisions, &c. and the whole family appeared tobeattached io the widow's son - none moreso, than his young daughter' Sarah. For years she had been accustomed to give him a slice of pie, a bit of cake, or an apple, whenever he went mto the house, and she really appeared to be attached tó the poor boy. It was certain VVilliam loved her, for many an evening has he employed himsëlf in painting pictures or making boxes for little Sarah. As William and Sarah grew older, their attachrnent for each other increased; he not thinking of his poverty, his patched jackefs, or his low employment, and she not dreaming that show and parade mako the man - that dress and fashion influence the heart, or that honest industry and poverty are a disgrace. But as Sarah rningled more in society and understood the manners and customs of the fashionable world, she began to look with more indifference upon the wood-sawer; but still she treated him kindly and really seemed to be strongly attached to him. William was a likely boy and given to no bad habits; he had treasured in his mind a fund of knowledge, gleaned from useful works, which he had perused during his leisure time. Nelson had become of agc and was still nttached to his early friend, but any one could observe that although Sarah loved him, she wished io give out the impression that such was not the case. - Many of her female companions would sneer at her, throwing out some unpleasant romark about the wood-sawer, while thcy were gallanted by the gay and the fashionable. Whatever was said, Sarah never lisped a word against her humble friend. She knew ihat he was good and she often contrasted the language that feil from his lips, with tho conversation of other young men of her acquaintance, and she was struck with the difterence. He was sensible and his language good and solid. They spoke the common topics of the day and criticised the dresses & the manners of othors. On one occasion when Sarah was in conversation with a neighbor of his - Jano Waters - the latter remarked - 'I do not conceive how you con speak to that wood-sawer. He appears to be a low bred fellow.' 'What do you mean, Jane?' 'Mean?- why, Nelson associates wilh the low and vulgar - and then his business, you know, brings him in contact with a certain class that are not thought much of by people in. general. I am surp.rised that a girl of your taste should have any thing to say tohim.' 'Jane, you surprise me. I know oí nobetter heartéd young man of m'y acquaintance than William. I lmve known him, as you are aware, from childhood, and I neversaw a mean action in him, or heard him utter a passionate word. 1 know he is not as fashionablo as rnany other young men; but his business will not permit him to be.' 'Would you marry a wood-sawer?' said Jane, laughing heáriily- -'now teil me, Sarah, would you marry a woöd-sawer?' I know you have too múch sense and respect for your friends than to think of it.' 'I don't know whal I should be tempted todo, if I had the offer.' 'You know you would nofr disgrace your family and friends so much.' 'There is no disgrace in tnarrying an honest man, my way of thinking. Let me ask you a question: would you marry a simple-headed fop]' 'Do you mean that as an insult to me. Sarah?' 'Not at all.' 'I would marry a gentleman - one who had sense enough to keep himself decent, and pride enough to keep himself clean and tidy.' 'Well, if you ever marry, it is my wish that you may get'a good husband; but what I know of you, Í fear you will be terribly deceived. 1 would ralher have a man with a good mi'nd and correct h'abits, with but one shirt to his back, than a person with fine exterior and plenty of money, possessing a base heart.' 'You talk like a fooi, I'm sorry to say, and we'll drop that subject now,' said Jane, coloringas if in a pnssion. 'I wish to say to you, Jane, that I did not introduce the subject, and shall not get angry, whatever you may say against William. Although you have been waited upon by one whose conduct and manners I am displeosed with, you cannot accuse me of 'treating him with but the utmost kindness. You have not thus been kind to young Nelson; he has seen it and so have I; but neither of us has complained.' 'Well - I cannot treat him with respect. He is altogether too low for me to associate with.' 'You may feel so, but I do not. Time perhaps may y et teach us some severe lessons. As [ have often said to you, I prefer a kind and good heart, that l have known aud tried, thöugh dressed in rags, to a fashionable and foppish person, I know but little about.' 'Jiivery one to her liking, said the scornful Miss Waters, tossirag her proud head, and turning up her nose. A day or two elapsedafter thisconversation, when another femalefriend called upon Sarah, and spoke in like terms of William. The same day meeling one or two others, they expressed themselves in a similar manner. Who could wonder then that Miss Richards wasdepressed in spirits, and that she used the language at the commencement of our story, the next time she saw William'? Poor fellow, he was sad indeed, and hardly knew what course to pursue. For a long time he had received ill treatment from the friends of Sarah, and unpleasant epithets had been heaped upon him, as he passed along; but he murmered not, still pursuing the even tenor of his way. The next time NeLson called upon Sarah, she appeared more depressed than he had ever seen her. On inquiry why she was thus cast down, she replied - ';Ever since you were last here, I have been thinking of what I said to you and have condemned myself times without number. I have been spoken to by a number of my young companions, and what they said induced me talk in the manner 1 did. 1 shall not heed them again, whatever they may say.' 'I have been no less grieved than yourself. I knew something had been said, but by whom I knew not.' 'Be assurec?; William, that I '11 nol again wound your fcelings. We have been intimate from childhood, and never beforc I believo has a word passed bctween us that caused the least painful emoticn - and tlm wül bc the last.' Jane Waters and her lover were invited to a social party at the house of Sarah. John Elkinsscarccly noliced William, and took occasion to show off his wit at the expense of Nelson, and the merriment of Jane & one ortwo kindrea spirits. Occasionally you would hcar wood-sawer spoken loud enough for the company to hear; but William had good sense enough to hecd it not. fie treated them all with that respect which is duo from one person to another. Jü'st before the company dispersed, Elkins, Jano's beau, remarked to Nelson, loud enough to be heard by all - 'We have a load of wood at our store to saw, and we should liko to have you come up to-morrow and saw it.' 'Very well, sir, I will go with pleaüurr,'remarked William, 'I am always glad of a job.' 'I suppose you won't charge more than old Williams; or Boze, llie negro.' 'O, no sir, I always charge mode? ate. I find it more advantageous. I am tnuch obh'ged to you for the job.' In a few minutes the company had rctircd. when Sarah remarked to Wüliam - 'I was astonished at the impudence of tèlkins, hut more so, to see how calmly you bore it.' 'Ncver mind, John lias a lesson vet to learn in life, and the úay rnay come when lie will bitterly regret bis course. líe is not worth minding.' On the inorning of the noxt day, William went early lo the store of Mr. Fosdic, the gentleman with whom Elkins was clerk, sa wed his wood, and received the pay. He observed, hqwever, as he occasionally saw John and the other ulerk, that no liitle sport was made of h'ini, all of which ho boro with his magnanimous spirit. In process of time Sarah Richards became the wifc of William Nelson, and Jane Waters the wife of John Elkins. - Sarali's was a simple wedding, with a few friends to witnèss the ceremony, ond she commenced house-keeping with but. littlc furniture in a small dwelling, which her hnsband had bought, having laid by enough in a (cw years f rom his labonous business. But Jane made a great displayon her wedding day, and hired a large tenement and had itfilled with the best of furniture. What changos a few years produce! - As the wheels of time roll on, the poor of to-day become rich to-morrow, and the most wealthy end their days in poverty and rags. None can faihorn the future; none can lift the veil and penétrate the secret recesses. Elkins, the husband oi Jane, was set upin business by his father. He occupied one of the best Dry Goods' stancls in Middle Street, and foi a while had a large run of business. But he became rnaltentive to his affairs, and spent a large portion of his time away from his store. It was said he gambled, and one or two of his friends had seen him disguised by liquor. Pursu'ng such a course he could not long sustain himselfandwas obliged to fail. In seüling his ailairs, it was found that he did not possess half enough to cancel his debts. Outof ernployment, for several months he might bc seen hanging round the groggeries, till at last he removed inio the country, his father purchasing for him a small farm. Nelson prospered. By diligence and prudence, after a few years, lic gnveup sawing wood, and entered into business more congenial to his taste. By strict attention to his concerns, he gradually accumulated property and was considered one of the first merchants in Portland. - In his prosperity he did not forget he was once poor. The saw and liorse thal he used so'many years, were placed in a chamber of his house, that if .ever he should grow p.roud and treat otlicrs with unkindness, he might take a look at them and remember what he once was. No money would have tempted himto part with them. Mr. Nelson had been intnercanlile busiiièss for more than a dozen years, and during that time had not héard a word respecting Elkins. One morning on taking up the Advertiser, he read a paragraph, stating that one John Elkins had committed some crime in North Yarmouth, and was broughl lo the city and committed to jail to await his trial. 'That must he my old acquaintance,' said Nelson, 'I will cali to see him.' In a few days Mr. Nelson went up to tho nil and entered the cell of Elkins. - 6 ut he was so altered that he hardly knew him. Themarksof intemperancc wero prominent on his face and in his tattered dress. Without making himself known, Nelson said - 'Sir, Ihave called to see some of the prisoners and I have brought you a few things wliich, perhaps, may be acceptable.' 'I thank you for your kindness,' said lbo prisoner. Nelson made but little conversation; and was about to leavo when the prisoner remarkcd, 'Do not leave me yct, sir. J Iiave been here severa! day.s, and you are the iirst perspn I have secn e.vcepting the jailer and one or two prisoners.' 'You appear to have suffered a great deal in your life time, if I rnay jitdge from your appearance.' 'Ah, sir; l have - I have - and a great deal of it is owing to inlcmperance and gambling. In carly lifemy prosperts wore bright, but I ruined tnyself by bad associates.' 'Have you no friends living?' 'Very few, sir; rny parenta have been dead several years.' 'You have a family, I presume.''l had once; but where they nre now, I cannot tell. My .viíe left mo on nccount of my habits, and it is more than two yenrs since I Imve secn her. I unJerstood that she was living with a friend of hers in Biddeford. O, sir, Í never thought I should come to this,' and the poor man put his hands to his face and wepí. After a moment, he continued- If there was any hope for me, I know I should be a different man - but no, 1 am ' 00 old in sin - too degraded - have no friends.' 'It is never too late, vny friend, to reform,' said Nelson. 'When you again ïave your liberty, if you are really determined to be a difierent man, you can y et be happy.' 'Sir, who would employ a person of such habits as mine have been?' 'I would employ you, if I were convinced of your reformation.' 'Are you in earnest, sir?' 'Most assuredly.' 'I thank you with all my heart,' and a jeam of hope lit up the countenance of the man, as if he had never befo re heard the words of kindness. 'This seems like a dream. Degraded, ragged, friendless as 1 be, you have promisod me employment should 1 liveto enjoy my liberty again.' 'Upon this condilion you know, that you will be steady, and do your best to respect yourself.' 'I would with all my soul, and I feel more than I canexpress, the kindness you have shown me.' 'Have you any acquaintances in the city?' inquired Mr. Nelson. 'Not any now. I used to be acquainted with a great many; but what has become of thein I do not know. It is more than fifteen years since I was in the city before. There is one man - l always thought I should like to know what bcoatno of Vmrnr 'And who was he?' 'tlis name was VVm. Nelson; and he used to saw wood some twenty ycars a go.' rWhy do you feel a more particular interest in him?' 'I'll tell you. although I feel ashamed of myself, and have repented of what 1 did times without number. He was a fine young man of excellent disposition, but poor, and was obliged to saw wood. - I ridiculed him in company and before others - he bore it all without a linrsh word or a single retort. Would to ETe'aven I liad possessed a spark of his excellent disposition. I'd give worlds to see him and ask his forgiveness on my knees. Bad I treated him well, I should not have suffered half what I have gone through. It has always troubled me.' 'I know that man.' 'You do? Prny tell me something abont him. lias ho prospered?' 'O, yes. líe gave up sawing wood some years, and is now engageel in the mercantilc business.' 'If I thought he would speak to me and think it no disgrace (o him, I woukl send him woi'd lo como and see me. - Nothing vould givo me so niuch pleasure as to ask his forgiveness.' 'He would grant it l know.' 'Do you think so, sir?' 'I know so. And if he knew you had reformed, you would no where find so true a friend. 'I am more and more anxious to see him. Shall I trouble you to ask him to cali and see a degraded being?' 'iMr. Elkins, you shall see your old friend, Mr. Nelson - he is here now - it is he who has been conversing with you - lam the wood-sawcr.' 'Good heavens!' - and the degraded being feil upon his knees, and wept aloud. In a few momeñts he reuovei'cd himsels, ond in broken words and with streaming tears asked forgiveness of Nelson, which was as rendily grantcd. After remaining with Elkins two or threc hours, Mr. Nelson left the cell, rejoicing that" his friend had come to his senses at last, and devising a plan for his release and future wellare. The crime that Elkins had committed was a Iriíling ihcff, while undor iho in iluence oi" ardent spirit. On the day of his trial no one appeared against him, and he was dicharged. Nelson immedialc-'y look him to his house - gave him a rfew suit of dot hes, and employed him in his store. Poor Elkins' heart fil.'cd wiih gratitude to bis benefactor, aixi he exérted himself (o ihc utmost to picase him. Elkins had been in ihc store of Mr. Nelson some twelve or fourteen monllis, and conducted himself wilh the utmost propriely, wlien by the arrangement of his friend, his wife was reconciled to him and came to the city to reside with her husband. Now Ihey are happy. The past is forgotten, or reinembered only to bless Hcavcn for the great changa that hasbeen wrought. Few that see tilkins day by day kncnv the sorrow ihnt 1 ie endurecí, or feel llie oy fluit continally thrills his

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Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News