Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-28

preston and it was now forgotten.
Such was the picture that met the
darkened eye of Tbeod"re, al the mo
ment when his impious hand had raised
the instrument Of selfdestruction: and
the words Of his mother which he had
written on its margin, again sounded Oh
| his ear
"Subdue Oh Heavenly Father! the
the stormy passions of his soul, land guide
his wayward feet in the paths Of piety
and virtue" "iiear, oh sod Of mercy"
exclaimed the kneeling Theodore, hear
her pray, and for her sake pardon the
guilt of this dreadful hour And that
prayer was indeed heard, for a peace
such as he had never before known,
now dawned on his throbing bosom; he
rose with confidence and meditated what
course ne should pursue 4 will not
again ntrpdr myself on m, father till
| AN 40 thy VI i,is forgiveness l will
direct all the energies OF my mind to the
profession ! have so long virtually aban
domeh, and look forward 10 the time
when can restore that wealth which
my vices have 60 wan,nnly scattered
Such was the determination of The
odore bu IN his professional career he
at once foresaw obstacles of the most
fearful weight, he had forfeited the con-
fdence lf the public and must necessa-
riy remove beyond the reach Of dis
trust. Having written to his mother and
obtained her pardon and her blessing,
without daring again to address his ia
ther, he left the scenes Of his misguided
youth, and buried himself in a distant
metropolis.
Unable to contend with poverty where
he had long known better days, Captain
Har.and formed the determination of
removing to the wilds ofthe west, whith-
er small party Of adventurous families
from his native State was now preparing
to emisrate. On lovely stream which
rolled its clear waters through imitless
forests of luxuriant fertility, the weary
travellers at length formed settlement
residence.
All around them was gay as the gar
den of Eden. The blossoming earth
teemed with plenty, but it was the wild
prodigality of nature, and the pampered
child of afiuence looked vainly for the
luxuries Of cultivated soil. But Capt.
Hariand had been a ,o!dier OF the Rev
olution, and scorned the qualifications
of the sensualist, while Mrs. Harland,
with constitution delicate even to sick
ness, possessed all elevation of soul that
lifted her above the common wants Of
mortality. Conc, otratng every wish
within the domestic circle, she felt not
the loss Of general society, and the
friendship of one lovely being, whose
character resembled her own, threw its
gentle charm over the shads Of solitude.
Elizabeth had been the companion Of
her tOilsome journey; for am. ny the
emigrants that accompanied Capt. Har-
land, the family Of Elizabeth mad formed
a part. Struck at once with the mid
virtues of her character, Mrs Harland
soon regarded her with maternal affec-
tion, and received in return all the
namelss but sacred Offices Of filial love.
Regarding the surrounding scenery
with an eye of enthusiasm, and behold
ing, IN perspective, days Of returning
prosperity, Mrs. Harland, but for one
absorbing sentiment, might have been
happy. Theodore, to whom, she had
repeatedly written since their arrival,
still continued silent; Capt. Harland at
length addressed his eastern friends,
soliciting information Of his son; none
could he obtained. Theodore could be
no where traced, end the wretched par
ents foreboded some fearful catastro-
phe. Meanwhile their new abode had
already become one Of terror. The
Red Man beheld with dismay the rapid
encroachments upon his native soil, and
the tomahawk was raised to repel the
invaders. DE ath was every where a.
round them, and the white blossom Of
tho forest was daily crimsoned with
blood. Immured within rude and
crowded fortress, yet still exposed to the
wide bosom Of desolatlon which the
proud savage welded over tho scattered
settlements of the white man, the par
ents of Theodore passed two years ig-
norant Of his fate, and losing under the
absorbing inflaence Of parental anxiety,
the sense of individual; suffering. In
creasing numbers at length gave ,hem
strength 20 contend with the savage foe
and Capt Harland at the head ofa few
volunteers, Joined detachment sent ou
by the Exc to destroy the Indian
villages. The wary savage still fed be-
fore them, and as yet nothing intercept
ed their march Near one of the de-
serted villages, Capt. Harland saw
grave freshly made, a wild rose was
planted over it, and an Indian name was
cut on rude stone that marked the