Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-19
r,,o5t6e Butte Of Salamanca; or.
.ryr FATHER AND son.

-
THE FATHER AND son.
M the proximity of the two armies,
M snmerous marches aud manGuvres
." ,..sJing four days, indicated to every
80, on the morrow, these haraHsIng
.' ' ,Ton unsatisfactory displays OF gen
. ,.o'J he terminated, and on the al
sup docided thew would obtain brlei
, leI, no inclination for repose, and
listed the outposts, slowly wandered
~ di.nnca from the camp. The lar
>'y 49, nIv were visible. The scene was
,aor;I a, 4 church yard. The piles oil
''" ,'ropn, of men, and scattered tents
a..,r blended TO the gaze At this
murmur fell upon my ear. APP
1 ,cbaJ the SPOT from whence the sound pro-
4 , y5. !, was of two voices Of a youth and
i, m ,,rown man. AfcwSteps farther brought
oSi,bt of the hitter | looked on them
...,ycIy Two figures we're on the ground
4 aI.,a N elderly man and youth o.
I.eo, Their faces were close together,
1 " hand, elevated in the attitude OF
| ,rrr and their heads directed upwards ;
4 !, words now dropped distinctly on my
/ recognised the elderly one, a most meri-
/ nom, soldier, who had risen troa. the ranks
4 Ecu,enancy. Two days before his only
1 had arrived from England as an ensign
1 n, same corps with his father, who was
/ ,,ly nroni ofhis commissioned son, 4 fine
r,mi,i, &, lli. fresh from school, and from the
lie, home of his boyhooA now all at oncc cast
n tbc arena of death. Could it be wonder
nifhis young spirit quarled at the pros
# before him. when he compared 1t with
he had left behind in his native land!-
hi, night he had withdrawn with his parent
| 10 the solitude Of the encampment, where
lbehcld that father and that son, unseen by
ihcm invoking the Father Of all at that mid
sat hour. The prayer Of the son was inter-
sap,cd by many a sob; his fathers low but
Eare, voice in vain whispered consolation:
lhe youth felt awfully oppressed by the sense
b his nov and startling position i'll commence
ingh pcrllous career. Distinctly heard
b. young heart unfold all its latent apprehen
DlenSonS, and utter all its doubts and dlSmays,
pad then he sObbed bitterly, casting himself
pO the armsoI his kneeling father, whose voice
o,c louder as he appealed to Heaven to
Strengthen and shieldhis boy in the hour of
eopbar Down he turned his face on his sons
and kissed him, with low whisper. To
,ha, son the glory Of soldiers fame and
soldiers death appeared vain and nnenviable;
hc wished TO iorslke his dismal trade to p,lr-
sue an humber and unaSpiring course in the
midst OF ct'II life, and IN the absence of petit;
but the oil soldier would not listen to these
requests; he did not chidc or upbraid his son,
ne Aae" that nature was strong, and must
noIihercourSe uncontrolled. 4 long silence
snSned the SobS Of the youth became less fire.
locn', and at length both arose, the son with
Lighter and bolder heart, fortified by the
'Prlt which had 'rcgained the mastery, and
ll the prayers which had not been unheard
Or mhceied. The father placed his arm
round the youth, and both walked leisurcly
'"ay' Tue son did his duty at Salamanca,
'> 'onauct was especially noticed and APP
9@0led; ne behaved like young lion, and
Vas IN the the kest of the deah-s,orm, till the
dose OF day. The struggle did not end tlll
, came over the field, but then this young
nero hour was come it came as he was
congratulated by brother officer on the al
!. n"l aenleved success Of the day, when ne
{" 1eld Oy mnsket-shot His poor father
OOsl' nm among the slain, and buried hun
u zone grave near the spot where they had
Eyea On the previous night From that
our i mat father pined away; nc still did his
Jules well death he vainly sought in every
.E.e'eedIng action: at last the spirit was van
1>oed' and hepassed away from amongst us,
usea'hed by mortal weapon, but his heart
'erced by one o. those unseen wounds which
4le mortal skill.
TF,sy.y