The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-11-06
MISCELLANY.
From the Charleston Courier.
MOURNFuL INCIDENT.
(oRIoINAL.)

u texture, as 10 huiDit W 10 DfurT tit"u
The most deIicare and tender care. He
who would woand, with bitter cruelty,
the confidng heart, or for n momeDt in
fiict one pang Of bitter anguish on the
Iunsuspeciing bosom, deserves 10 he pu-
nished with more than inqnisitorial se-
veritv. To the shame of human nature,
however. it must be acknowledged, that
the instances ofbruial behaviour towards
the weaker sex, are not sufficiently rare,
but indeed So numerous, as To excite the
deepest regret of any moralist. Unhnp-
piIy, pnrents themselves tou often, from
n mistaken zeal, mud fatal error of judg
ment, hoping Ia .ohiMn what is usually
termed splendid aud desirable alliances.
mar the prospects and ruin the hnppi-
ness Of their children. ! went n few
days since, by special invitation. to visit
an intimate and valued acquaintance.
My friend amply united quickness of per-
oepiion with fluency of language. and
would frequently Intersperse bis conver-
saiion with witty, and, sometimes, with
serious anecdotes. On this OCCASION, he
was uncommSnly grave; after walking
for some time in the balcony, he ohser-
we'd to me, with some emotion, "Did
y0u ever hear the melancholy fate Of
poor Cecil III answered in the mega
tive. Then" said ke, "sit down, and
I'll tell il TO you, just as received it from
one who witnessed the WHOLE" He pro-
ceeded: James Thornton returned home
after having completed his education.
aud promised fair to renIize the pleasing
hopes aud vivid expectations which had
been INDUCED Of him. His father, who
had made every pecuniary effort to afford
him the advantage of n collegiate course.
anticipated with delight the period when
he should see his son prudenily and hap
| rily married. The old gentleman was
highly respected in Salem, and being n
verse to the fashionable frivolities Of the
day. was always of opinion, that in the
middling walks of life. where there WINS
more simplicity and less affeciation Of
manners, was chiefly to be found, genu-
inc aud unnlloyed satisfaction. James
was neat and genteel in his appearance,
modest in his carringe. sensible in his
views, and arden'ly devoted to study.
With the advice Of his friends, he fixed
upon the law as profession. and i.nme-
d'aiely pursued its acquisition with ASST
duty. Ills lnbours were amply recon-
pensed IN his speedy admission to The
bar, and in n liberal practice which
crowned his laudable efforts. Scarcely
half nile from their residence, the
lofty mansion of Mr.. N. reared it's guild
ed turrets to the heavens, in all the pride
and pOmp of magnificence and wealth.
The inmates Of this splendid castle, with
the exception Of one of, its members,
were uplifted in spirit, in proportion to
the elevation Of the edl6ce. This was
the innocent. amiable, unfortunate Cecil
eldest daughter Of the !ordly proprietor.
She was endowed To an eminent extent,
with those winning and lasting graces,
personal and intellectual, most admira
bly, calculated 10 attach aud to please.
Cecil was not vain of her beauty, proud
OF her abilities and attractions. nor
naughty or inso1ent from conscious
ness of superior riches. She was conr-
teous To nll. but in her intercourse with
the poor was peculiarly kind and a,tent-
i've. 1t cannot, therefore, be thought "a
matter of establishment, that vonth Gu
pnble appreciating charms so striking,
excellence aud worth SD rare and dsiin-
guished, should feel more than ordina-
ry interest in their happy possessor. Mr..
N. being fond Of literary and intelligent
socie,y, frequently invited his young
neighbour tn the house, without remote-
ly dreaming what might possibly he the
result. Of all things moss near aud
dearest to his heart, was the favourite
idea he had formed and fondly cherished
of giving his eldest daughter in marriage
to some Individual Of uncommonIy large
estate and conspicuous standing in life,
with a view, as he remarked, of sustain
ing, with becoming dignity, the hononr
and character Of family so far and fair.
ly descended. 1t could not, therefore,
be reasonably supposed, that he would
listen, with the least complacency. To
what he imagined the insoIent preien.
slohs of Thornton, Cecil. unhappy girl,
in whose eyes moderate fortune, with re-
spectability Of conduct and domestic
happiness. seemed far more precious
than opulent misery and ermined disso-
Iuteness. here, as in most cases, widely
differed from her ambitious parent. The
frequency Of their interviews terminated,
as was naturally to be inferred. in mu-
tual, solemn, and positive engagement Of
each Others affections. No suoner was
the fact communicated to Mr.. N. than,
naddened with rage, in frenzy Of ex-
asperuied modification, he firmly swore
their eternal separation. Ia VAIN were
the tears and enlreatiss Of his daughter,
the earnest solicitations Of his friends.