Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-27

iudicious distinctions and blind indul- I
gencs, laid the foundation Tor envy and |
all uncharitablsness in their youthful
bosoms. In that OF his favorite they had
the usual effect Of generating self-wiil
and rebellion; and while Jana and Ag-
nes well knowing nothing they did would
BIZ thought right, rarely erred from the
path of duty. Edmund, aware that he
could scarce do wrong, took care his
privileges should not rust for want Of
exercise.
But though suffered ia all minor mat
ters to follow the dictates Of caprice, to
laugh at Ills tutor, lame tho horse, aud
break rules Ito all others those Of the
Medcs and Persians) with impunity, he
found himself suddenly reined up in his
headiong career by an equally capricious
parent, precisely al the period whea re-
straint was nearly forgotten, and peculiar
ly irksone. II was tacitly agreed by
both parties, that the heir Of Castle Nor
ison could only 60 into army; but while
the guards or a dragon regiment was
the natural enough ambition OF Edmund
Morrison he was suddenly seized with
fit Of contradiction, winch he chose to
style economy, and talked Of a marching
regiment, with perhaps an extra i0O'.
per annum, to the undOubtcd heir Of
nearly ten thousand a year. Neither
would yield = the one had taught, tho
other learned, stubbOrnness; and Ed
Inund, backed by the sympathy OF the
world, and the clam0urs OF his cOmpan-
ions, tod his father he had changed his
mind, aud was going to India, with a
near relation, about tn proceed to Bonn
bay in high official character.
Morrison had a peculiar prejudice
against the East, and personal Pique
towards the cousin To whose patronage
Edmund had betaken himself. Ills
rage was as boundlcss as his former par
tiaIity, and the only consolation his poor
wife felt when her darling son left his
fathers house, alike impenitcnt and un-
blcst, was, that her boys disposition was
originally good, and would probably re-
cove, the ascendant; and that it was out
Of the power Of her husband to make his
soma beggar as we'll as an exile. The
estate was strictly entailed, and the
knowledge Of this, while it embiitered
Morison's sense Of his sons disobedience
no doubt strengthened the feeling Of in
dependence SO natural to headstrong
youth.
While Morrison was perverting legal
ingenuity, in vain hopes Of being able
to dIsnherit his refractory heir, his un-
natural schemes we're anticipated by a
mightisr agent. An epidemic fever car
ried off: in one short month, about two
years after his quitting England, he un-
rcconciled, but no longer unconciliatory
exile, and his young and beautiful BRIDE,
the daughter Of his patron, his union
with whom had been construed, by the
causcless antipa,hy Of his father, into a
fresh cause Of indignation. Death,
whose cold hand loosens this worlds
grasp, and whose deep voico stills this
worlds strife, only tightens the bonds of
nature, and teaches the stormiest spirits
to depart in peace. Edmund lived to
write 20 his father few lines of undis-
senbled and unconditional penitencc; !;
to own. that il the path of duty had been
rugged, he had in vain sought happiness
beyond it, and to entreat that the place
he had forfeited in his fathers favour
might be transferred to his unoffending
child
All this had been conveyed to Mr..
Monteith aud myself by the voice Of ru-
mour some days before, and we had
been more shocked than surprised, to
learn that MOrison's resentment had sur
vived its object, and that he dlsclain,ed
all intention Of ever seeing or receiving
the infant boy who, It was gall to him to
reflect, must inherit his estate. Mrs.
Morrison had exerted to soften his hard
heart, all the little influence she ever
possessed. Her tender soul yeurned
towards her Edmund's child; and some-
times the thought Of seeking a separa-
tion, and devoting herself to rear it,
crossed her despalring mind. But her
daughters were tie still more powerful
to her unhappy home. She could nei-
ther leave them, unprotected, to its dis
comforts, nor consciously advise their
desertion Of parent, however unwor-
thy; so she wandered, paler and sad
der inmate than before, Of her cold and
stately mansion; and her fair, subdued-
looking daughters shuddered as they
passed the Iong-locked doors Of their
brothers. nursery and school room.
The accounts Of young Morison's
death had arrived since tho good PASTORS
departure, and It was with feelings Of
equal sympathy towards the female part
OF the family, and sorrow for the un-
christian frame Of its head, that he pre-