Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-12-25
From The .qiionfic Soren;r. ~, ,eoo

From The Atlantic Sottrenir fo,. 1922
am now an old man, but | remember as lift were
yesterday, the last evening / passed with n family
who always welcomed me with the cryor of youth 10
their mansion, where was loved shall be loved
no more. II was distant from the public road, and
haif hidden by grove Of white pines after passing
rude gate among the trees YOU saw the house before
you spacious lawn, surrounded by q HEDGE inclo
sing flower garden, and formed Of the swee, brior
and the native thorn. That evening the father was
seated before the door, apparently gazing at the red
sunset light upon the pines, while the children yyarc
playing old military horse which was soberv
grazing on the lawn. As came up, the bow had lust
succeeded IN mounting the charger and had given the
word OF command TO march; 1t obeyed witbsuch
unlocked for spirit that his poor rider could mt recall
the military phrase to stop him. till the horse had clear
ed the gate which stood in the line of march. wbon
ne stood Us still as marble at the word halt prononc-
ed by the deep voice ofthe father. came up in time
TO congratulate him upon the commencement Of his
military career. which his father assured him had en-
| ded more prosperousy than his own The father re-
| lated to US many of his adventures during the war
which he seldom mentioned to relieve the sadness
which we all felt IN thinking of approaching sepa-
ration hen the evening was far spent took leave
of them; but returned the manly grasp of the ia
theirs hanG, and the embrace of the chldren's was
oppressed with forobodng Sadness perhaps have n
strong leaning to superstition but there was an ex
preston that haunted ne long after in the tboupbte
and lovely face of the little girl as she bade me an
afectionate farewell.
was returning to this place after the long absence
| nave mentioned. The evening of my return SEEM
cd precisely like that of my departure. The sun cast
Its long red glow upon She pines the rosy clouds were
as smoothly painted in the waters of the river as in
the upper sky, and the smoke was rising above the
trees, seeming TO the imagination, like that most nc
cepah!c sacrifice, the incence of domestic altar
Every thing appeared the same; but knew all could
not be the same. The same forests were there in
their melancholy beauty, the same unconscious river
was moving IN its weary flow; but there had
bee time for fearful changes to pass over the epir
and destiny OF felt that strange reluctance tn
approach the house. which believe men ALWAYS feel
to re-enter the homes of their youth where history
of sorrow and death may await them-the worst of
which they are impatient to know.
sh0ok the ialtnesS from my spirit, however and
walked On. ne gate was no longer carefully sec1-
red and as came nearer saw that the hedre was
growing luXurianty wild. A few dead flowers 9ppear
ed here and there among the verdure of the garden
andntmated that the kind hand which cherished them
was gone. Without rejecting that other tenants
might be there, I opened the door and on entering
the little parlour, young female supported nv
pillows, In chair near the window, where the even
me light was shining in. Her face was beautiful.
though wasted by disease; death had evidently set
his seal deeply upon her, the hand of the statue il not
palcr than the she family extended towards mo
saying: 81 am glad that you are come" From the
movement and the words, knew it must be the pen
sive child had left in almost infant Iovelness and
much as had been prepared for changes. nv blood
ran cold at witnessing awful as this NV heart
beat thick and fast when | enquircd for her fatber
and brother she shook her head and was ansyyorcd
But there was a radlancy III her countenance which
cannot describe. Though have seen and f,It II
more than once, it gave the assurance that the
volume which lay open near her, had relieved ber
loneliness and sorrow, and would strengthen her IN
enter the vale Of death. She the last of her fam
lily, and l found the prophetic feeling that she vvos
destined to misery, which had once haunted me was
now too sadly fulfilled.
She had known me the moment entered and affer
recovering a little she told me in a oyv voice bou,
happy she was to meet me apain had oGen oh
served that she listened to my conversation with her
father and the changes Of her counenance had shown
now much she was Interested Now found that she
had embraced christianity as her support; poor oirl
She needed 1t all, before her short journey on earth
was done. In her childhood, when free from cnrc
she pale and thoughtul in the last stare of nor
sad life she was calm; and but for one remembrance
happy, like some star beautiful in the tears of the
morning. but far loyeier in the radiance of the
evening sky.
She told me that her father continued tho s,n,o
for some years after I left them. His hair niobt
have grown winter but his mud as rcsolute and
his step as firm ever lie had little society beside
that of his children, whom he loved with manly acc-
ton; but he knew not what was necessary 10
form their dispositions and instead of teachinp them
the principles Of duty contented himself with secur
ing the correctnes Of their conduct and FEELING bv
requiring their submission TO him. This mechanical
obedience could not guide them in all the events f
lfc besides. il left ont of view the great distinctions
between right and wrong, which all duty must de-
pend. She never thought Of questioning her parents
commands; but Ior brother, as he grew older, with
many marks Of fine and generous spirit BETRAYED NJ
times something resembling his fathers passion In
cir quiet life however, there was little To coll for
passion all went on in harnoDy and they enjoyed ag
iull measure Of happiness os permitted on earth
rs tie boy grew into q man, his father pave him
the care Of ms estate. Under nyouthfnl hand II ra-
pdy increased in value; and the girl delighted 70
make improvements in Der brilliant little garden the
place was the admiration Of the country. The father
often sat OF his door in The evening she was water
ing the thirsty flowers, and w6tched with an eve Of
calm satisfaction tho movements Of his son as he
placed oil in order for the night Who could have
thought TINT trifng provocation could profant the
scene with earthly passon But trifles powerful,
bccaiise they find the heart unguardod.
One day WHOM the directing the movers
N the field the signs Of a thunder storm appeared in
the wei; clouds lay there like the black ridges Of
mountains, sometimes coycn to their base by tho
iulfuuO shoofirr 70, tho Il