The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-10-18

OF Ills mniliIY ihilEhtu WIN long roe,
and drenchcd TO the skin by shower Of
rain. II was bleak November day The
sky was curtanrd with floating clouds,
through which the Sun would peep. ever
aud anon. rs If 10 make the gloom which
succeeded lis departing rays tenfod more
dismal. Not living animal of any des-
cripiion was seen trayersing the felds--the
fowls had retired to their nesis, aud the
beasts 10 their coYerts--and all of our fami-
~ had seated themselves around \ huge
cracking country FIRE, the old man smoking
his pipe, and mayhap philesoybisns ON
the states of the living and the dead, rs It's
essenced s,nUkc carIed from its aperture,
and mingled with the floating dement's
areund-the old Indy knitting Stockings for
her children, aud alternately caressng and
seoEling the btile urchios as they played
about the hearih--and myself the only
one Of them except q sister, who was abb
sent, old enough 10 he engaged IN serious
pursuits, employed IN reading the tales OF
salor and devotion with wlich the history
Of Ulr revolution abounds--lle entered rs
If in haste, and took his seat by the fire
without saying a word, or even reply ms
10 the salnlations with which We greeted
hlm-Ile sat silent for the space OF more
than five pinutes-The FIRST words which
burst from his lips breathei q ctrsc on the
wretches whose slanderOus tongues had
at length succeeded m dcprnius him Of
the confidence of the greater portion Of his
patrons. IT is not the loss, in a pecunla-
~ point of view" said he, which affects
M. II is to think that should be super
sfde1, after all my exert'ons and honest
efforts, by parcel Of villains; that my
good name is raincd by their detracton;
and that am almost every where looked
upon as an ignorant assumer OF thing which
are above my omprchcnsion--this II i.
Which a.llicts me, and throws cloud over
my once ardent expectations !" We adj
sised him 10 change his place of residence.
e" No, aald he, with emphasis, " Here was
born--herc | was 'ducated-l spent here
Tia. days OF my chIshood--its scenes are
linked To me rs closely as life cannot
have thrm-thc asbes Of my father and Of
all my kindred rest IN the grave yard Of the
residence where my ancestors have lived
and died my mother, whose head Is
bIearhed with the SHOWS Of sixty winters,
stu has claims upon me--and IL would he
like parting the soul and body to leave her.
BESIDES continued he, "if | were 10
leave this place, should be followed by
The slanders of my base charlottesville, |
will remain here, be the consequences what
they may"
There was another reason which led to
this resolution, Of which young Welhomn
was silent A beautiful, accomplished,
and elegant young lady resided in the
ncighhorhood, whom he tcnderly loved,
aud who loved him in return But We
were silent respecting her, fearful lest the
mention of her name might raise a tempest
IN his bosom, which would not be easily
allayed His love seemed to increase for
her IN proportion as the ilnprobahlliiy of
his getting he, grew stronger. Her father
was man Of wealth, and made il a Stae
qua non of Wcilbourn's success, that he
should become 50 likewise. His only pros
poet WIS now blightcd; and we did not
deem It necessary Ia add TO the polgnancy
OF his feelings by bringing to his mind an
additional source of grief
We prevailed upon him to stay with us
that night. About one O'Clock, we were
awakened by loud knecling-it was AS
ccrtalncd 10 be q messenger from Well
bonrn's mother, who had been taken sud
denly i'll. Thomas and myself immediate
~ started oil and reached his home ust IN
time Ia receive the last hencdctiOns of the
dying saint In fifteen minutes after We
entered the house, Mrs. Wcllbour's spi-
rlt had fled In he mansions of eternal rest.
Her son appeared the image of stupeiaction
Ills was not the loud and Vociicrous griei,
which expires with It's sound. twas the
scttled sorrow of despair And il wasloug,
very long, after bis mothers remains had
mingled win It's native earth, ere he rcco-
verrd his tranquility of mind.----ilc
now gave over the practice Of physic en-
hrcly; AID determined ~ devote the re
maludcr of his DAYS TO the culture OF the
little SPOT which had been saved from the
wreck OF his fathers iortunc-llc set him
sell asslduonsly to work, and scarcely ever
lett hone, except on an occasional visit TO
my fathers, or 10 the parents Of the lovely
girl, who seemed, after the dcccase of his
mother,to engross the whole Of his thoughts.
After long while, spentin the war of feel
ing produced by alternate fear and hope,
he gained her consent to become his bride.
Again, the airy Illusion of future happiness
danced before his vision.-IIe grasped at
the phantom, and it vanished The father
of the young lady was memorable in his re-
itsal--A rich planter had sued fer his
daughters favor, and won the father TO his
interest, and young Wellbourn saw her a
few months after led to the altar by his IL
Fal.--lie lived about SIX weeks after the
event, raNing maniac; and at length pre-
cllptated himself into the bay which was
sltuatcdncar his house < was drowned. His
body was picked up a few days after by
fishing boat, completely disfsurcd by the
length OF time which il had remained in
the wafer. a plain stone on which is in
scrhcd his virtues and his melancholy end,
tells the passing traveller where rest his