Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-04-29
sidered as diseraceful. His proaigacy at

| last, Was carried 10 SUCH heighi, that Inc
authority of the laws was Obliged TO in-
teriere. An information was lodged
against him for an actien, which, per-
haps, was exaggerated by his enemies
and that exile with which he had been
so often threatened by his uncle, became
now the only means OF impunity. Forced
to fly, abandoned by his uncle, and not
daring to appear before his father, what
asylum can he seek Whose succor can
he inplore! He could see nothing in
the prospect before him but humiliation
and ruin. In comparing his present ST.
tuation with the past, and with what he
had reason to expect in future, he was
for some time in a state OF uncomfortable
anguish. Adversely, however, instead
OF driving him to desperation, became
the seasonablc school OF wisdom--he
soon collected all his powers-and form
ed plan, which, perhaps, is not easy to
parallel.
When man, BY the errors of his youth,
has destroyed his happiness, and, which,
is more dreadful still, the public esteem,
the fate Of bis shole life depends ON the
first resolution which he may form and
that first resolution is determined by his
particular character. A person OF weak
understanding, though born with love OF
vlrture, finds no resource within him.
self. To his own misfortunes he can
only oppose unavailns tears. The re-
morse which necessarily haunts him is
attended by encouragement. He feels
contri'lon for his faults, without having
power to repair them. The moment he
perceives that he has forfeited the public
esteem, he Is terrified by the efforts
which are necessary to retrieve il, and
despairing to avoid iniamy, he velunlari.
ly devotes himself to it, He, on the con-
trary, who is born with an energetic soul,
no sooner perceives the abyss into which
his passions have plunged him, than he
rs impatient of every obstacle to his re-
lease. Remorse does not teach him to
deplore his faults, it excltes him to efface
them. He seeks not that philosophy
that enables him to endure misfortunes,
but that resolution which may enable
him to subdue them.
The mind of Frederick was endued
with that energy OF resolution, which,
when once exerted is almost constantly
crowned with success. His eyes were
no longer covered with the bandage of
illusion. He beheld his misconduct
with tho eyes Of reason and equity. He
acknowledged his punishment to be Just.
He felt that he deserved the desertIon of
his relations, and the contempt of all
virtuous men: but to make no effort to
regain their esteem, he thought would
doubly deserve their contempt. Punish
ed by calamity, and corrected by repen-
lance, his first object was to recover his |
own esteem. The most obvious sugges-
ton, perhaps, in his situation, was to go
to his father, and throw himself at his
feet. He felt reluctance, however, TO
request forgiveness, for his anxiety was
first to deserve it. The accomplish
ments which bis uncle had caused him
to be taught for his amusement, he was
now happy to render subsersient TO his
He visited several towns
under a fictitious name; to the sciences
which he had already acquired he added
still more by study; MS principal view,
however, was to qualify himself as a
merchant.
Some years had now elapsed since
he left his uncle's house. His father
had almoat despaired of seeing him
again. Even the healing hand Of time
had not yet consoled him for his loss.
He had condemned his son, but he wept
for him still. His chief conso ation
was the friendship of Florio, who had an
excellent heart, and person Of the most
rigid probity. Floro had been left
widower early, with a daughter of SIX
teen; who, to the candor which she in
herited from her father, united the mo-
desty of her sex, and the timidity of her
tender age. To her personal charms
she added that inexpressible grace in
action and conversation, which ever
heightens the power OF beauty. Marian.
ne, which was her name, divided her f.
lial cares between her father and Homo
RUS, who loved her tenderly, and VINO
endeavored TO find in her the son whom
he had lost.
In the mean time Frederick had re-
turned to his native city, with total al
teraiion in his manners and principles.
Steady to the vow he had formed, to re-
pair and expatiate the errors Of his youth,
he resolved, if possible, to take shelter
under his parental roof. But he was
unwilling TO appear before his father as
guilty, though repentant son; although
he nigh, have fiattered himself, perhaps,