The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-07
,ha, his Hrr had bern one OF msscry. a


impertinence, howcver, was bir littie prac-
tised amongd rs, We we're satisfied win
such information as the stranger Thought
,.ruper IL communicate. wiilfoa ssksns
| him questions which he migiiI oai have
been disposed to answer.
The old gentleman, VIXEN shah deig-
rate h, the name uf lrwaod, purchased
beautiful site, aud built on IL a cottage
near the centre Of liz. village. Here lac
resided during bis life. Tine gradual,
lunflldrd The excellencics of his character ;
and. although we knew but little ol has for
mer history, aud thu little WAS gathered
| from fragments al Ais conversation, We
learnt enough Of Il 10 kne" thu his soil
taiy condition WIS aotthe result Of bis own
folly or VICE hui that he Was the victim
Of tredchery aud ingroLitute. Convinced
of this fact, not one nf the inhabitants but
extended 10 him the hand OF friendship.
His pecunlary means, however, were am
ply sufficient fer his purposes; and ahho'
he Heeded not assistance in this way, yet
Ils fe.lngs al gratitude were evinced on
more than one occasion when IT was polite
" rendered To- him. IL Afforded him much
satisfaction, he said, that his old age was
made comfortable by the kindness of 4tfan-
gers, although he had been sported with
aud abused by the companions of his child
hood. lie possessed wide range of in
Formations, both Of men aud books and he
WAS looked up 10 rs the Nestor of our vii
age. The old, who had lived ia the prac-
lice of every virtue from their youth up
ward, were proud of his appreciation and
the young never failed To- boast when hrs
praises were bestowed upon them. He,
nOttfom necessity, but inclination, assumed
the station of parish school master; and
the fruits Of his ldbors were seen long after
he had been gathered unto his fathers
But, lest | exceed the limits Of n No. will
eater al once upon the narrative Of his life,
which, just before his death, | received
from his own lips.
MIR. Harwood was born in the county Of
Desonshre, in England His parents were
wealthy, and he was the eldest son. He
of course fell heir, under the prlmogenIa
law of that country, 10 the whole ot lIls
fathers estate. by the death of his parents
the care of an only brother derolyed upon
him aud be was prevented from procur-
ing a commission in the army, by the i'm
junction which his mother had enforced
with her last breath, that he would never
abandon 10 the protection of another the
child who by her death WAS left an orphan.
He was not long, however, debarred of an
opportunity OF serving his country; for
the orphan who had been left to his care
soon followed its mother 10 the grave. As
soon after this rs he could settle his bust
ness, he obtained u commission, and his
regiment was ordered tn the East Indies
by the advice of his acquaintance, he en-
trusted the management of his estate dn-
ring his absence 10 his cousin Walter Tai
bot. Unskillcd in business himself, he
left every thing ~ he integrity of his kins-
man, whose protestations were too feryent
and apparently too sincere, TO admit a
doubt OF his honesty. This man drew up
writings, by which the property Of Har
wood was committed To him in trust
and inserted in the deed clause by which
the title was vested IN him, in case Iiar-
wood should be absent three years. The
paper was signed by HARDWOOD, M had
been anticipated by his cousin, from his
unsnspeeting nature and he left England
5hteifh WIN HiS dFiHtlpffl1fllib.
He arrived safely nj his destined station.
lie remained four years in the service
but, becoming disgustcd with the tyranny
and oppression wbirh he daily saw prac-
Used. he resigned his commissi IN. deter
mining To return home and. spend the ba-
lance Of his life in peace. On his return
whilst doubling The Cape of Good Hope,
| the vessel in which he sailed was wrecked
aud only n few articles of value were saw
cd. The crew and passengers preserved
their lives by taking To the boats, and were
luckily discovered the next day and res
cued from watcry grave, by m outward
bound lndlaman. They were landed at
one of the settlements on the coast, where
they had 10 remain several weeks before
they could obtain Il passage home. At
length, however, they met with vessel
bound TO England, in which they embark
ed, and, aitera tediousroyage, safely landed
on the shores of their country.
Mr. Harwaod Immediately pursued his
Journey home, with what feelings those
only can conceive, who have been long alb
sent from the scenes of their early years.
The recolections of his childish pastimes,
of his youthful amuscments, of the pur-
suits of his maturer ycars-of the friends
whom he had left behind, and whom he
was now unexpectedly about To meet with
again--all came across his mind. This
was the " harvest home" of feeling, if may
be allowed so to express myself.
He determined in the first place to call
on his cousin Walter, settle their business,
and reward him for his trouble INT what
was his astonishmcnt, when he found his
kinsman pretended bankrupt, whilst he
rolled in wealth? Applications for a set
tlement were urged upon Talbot--he was
willing, he said, to examine the accounts
but thought il entirely useless, as he was
worth nothing Harwood's estate had
been converted into money, and this there
| was no chancn Of nhtniuinr L. mns In win