The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-04-20
HEDUELLIsT.
Iurt honour, in an evil--cursed hour,

NV honesty--sweet peace of mnd--ali--aii
Are bariered for name CotaAs J..
Some months ago Ipaid visit to the
seat el my friend Henry Howard, whom
had moi seen for several years aud during
The short time that spent with him, mn
ny a pleasing hour was passed IN recalling
the recollection of departed days, and IN
cnnjuring up the occurrences OF other years.
Circumstances which had then recently
trapspised, introduced in the course Of
conversation, the subject Of Dueling,
and as the relation which my friend then
gate me, was of a very interesting ma
tule, take the liberty torepeat it IN de-
tail.
Il was oncen said he "on the eve ofbe
coming partieipainr in this deplorable
practice An acquaintanceliad challenged
me Oh some tritiing occasion, and being
then young, thoughtless and spirited, |
deened could not as man of honour
refuse the call | had accordingly sat
down In The heisht of my anger, 10 write
All acceptance, when the letter which
nov hold was brought the by ser,Mlt.--
1t WAS sen. 10 me by a friend, who had
been bitterly taught in the school of expe-
rienee, VIM having casually heard Of my
quarrel, considered it duty to prevent
what might have been the fatal conse-
qaences TO il owe the change OF my
yiews--ny peace my Happiness --perhaps
my life. shall therefore read it 10 you
without further preface"
1 heard, my young friend, that you
have received challenge, and have fur
ther understood that Your intention is To
accept. Permit me to request, before the
die is cast, that you will pause one mo-
ment, and listen to the story of one, who
like you was once happy, and might sth
have been so had the voice of friendly adj
monitloubeen sounded before him. How
miserable he has been, how wfetched he
nopis, tongue cannot tell.
sit is not my intention tn enter into
argument on The subject. Oblectuns 10
dueling have been often repealeds and
your oan guod sense will suggest tllem all;
] shall merely offer you a recital of my
sorrows and sufitrngs, aud leave youte.feet
for YOURSELF
One of my earliest friends and associ-
ates, was Albert Harding. We had
known each other from ntancy--me had
conned our tasks, aud played our games,
and shared our grievances together,-- and
we had grown up like two twin trees, that
cling closer as they advanced IN size. Ma
ny is the hour Of ,nalloyed bliss that wing.
ed its unobseryed flight over us, Ia that
sweet season Of innocence, wien our sports
had no pleasure, anless they were mutually
partaken. Would that had sunk into
death 1t that blessed period fur then |
should have been spared the pain OF that
dreadful reverse, which | have ever since
experienced But must not dwell upon
that period for it makes my healt ache,
and my eyes fearful, Whenever look back
inlo the past, and see those happy days,
like a bright constellation, shining through
the darkness of succeeding years. Suffice
it 10 say, that our childhood passed serene
ly away, amidst the interchange of more
than iraternal affections, till at length the
lapse OF eighteen yea S, gave US the signal
OF approach to manhood. We now both
tered into the world--but il was not ca
pable Of changing our hearts we had not
the opportunity OF meeting so frequently
as We had before done, but our friend
ship remainsd unbrokcn. AT length,
however, an. accident occurred, which was
destined toN1nar our peace for ever.
g had casually discovered that Albert
was attached to Az amiable young lady IN
or vicinity, with whom also had some
acquaintance but did not then know
that his affections were 50 deeply engaged,
as ad afterward reason TO believe they
We're. | undertook to rally him on the
subject, and at first he bore with me calmly
and patiently wasin Almost nlisehieroas
M,molrr at the time, and pursued my rail-
lery with little mercy. Still he continued
to take my impertineuee in good part. |
urged tie siege, until al length fairly ran
down his good nature, and he lost his equa
ninliiy, denouncing me in round terms as
!" al absolute fool" told him that was on
expression lid not expected from him,
but 8 i'll continued to teaze him. and left
little unsad that could make him the oh
ject OF his attentions appear ridiculous.
All this was done in spIit OF good humor
on my part, hut ought to have known
that it " IS triAing too much with an easy
and plant temper. One bitter world led
to another, till we both became fairly irri
tated, and forgot what we owed to each
other as fellow creatures and as friends. A
vague aud TASTY insinuation against my