Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-02-27
Nj j S G. ELL A NY.
THE PARTING GIFT.

ns iiofACE CLIFTON pressed the hand
of his friend land bade him an almost fear
ful farewell, he drew from his finger a
Ring, and said, while he tried to force a
smile, 81 know not why have kept this
bauble so long, my dear Alfred, unless
It was that l might offer it to you as
PARTING GIFT; keep it in remembrance of
our friendship, and should we meet aga ain,
l shall expect to see that you still wear
It," "I need no such remembrance, :"
said the ardent Fairfax, "but l will keep o
this Ring while l have life." "And not
till see the circle on the finger of some
fair lady, will / ever admit the thong ht
that there is being whom you regard
more than myself" was the rejoinder.-
The friends separated; Clifton to accom-
pany his father to Scotland, the place of
his birth, from which they had been ab-
sent for some years, and Fairfax to the
pursuits of studies, which were 20 fit him
for the profession Of the law, to which he
was destined by his father The young
men had been almost constantly togeth-
er, for the space Of three years, and the
friendship which had been commenced
in early youth, was destined to endure
after that period had passed away, and
to survive the effects Of time and alb
sence; this parting, therefore, was deep
~ painful to both. During three years,
Horace Clifton heard often from his
friend, and was panied to perceive that
his letters were written in a strain of
melancholy reflection, which i'll accorded
with his ardent and cheerful temper, and
Clifton feared that some secret sorrow
was preying upon his spirits; as he gath
cred from the letters that the profession
chose for him by his father, was utterly
dstasteful to himself. At length, Fair
fax entirely ceased, and Clifton, although
the silence Of his friend surprised and
panied him, had little leisure to dwell on
the circumstance, as his own time and
attention was entirely engrossed by his
filial duties; both of his parents were in
brief space OF time gathered "to their
fathers" and Horace Clifton having no
ties to restrain his desire of seeing diff
ferent countries, and being in possession
ot splendid fortune, resolved to visit
France, Spain, and Italy, and eventual
ly seek again his young friend across the
Atlantic. Before he set out on his tour.
he made every inquiry respecting the
present situation of Fairfax, and learned
from correspondent, that, in con-
sequence oi some family misfortune, he
had left his native city, and had accept
ed the situation Of supercargo in a YES
sci bound for India. This intelligence
greatly surprised Clifton and de spatch-
ing letter to be delivered to his friend
should he return, he commenced his tour.
In Italy, Clifton became acquainted d
with young painter, an Englishman, of
the name Of Grenville, whose engaging
manners and intelligent mind won his es-
TEEN, and secured his entire confidence: /:
the young painter was in i'll health, and
his mind was distressed by gloomy FORE
bodings. In one Of his conversations
with Clifton, he said, 81 shall never re-
turn to my native country-I feel that |
shall not. And what changes have &C.
Cured in my family since left them! the
total failure Of my fathers mercantile
affairs, his embarkation for India with
my mother and sister, in order to relieve
his desperate fortunes-the death of my
beloved mother all this in the
space Of five short years. came to Ita
ly with friend Of my father's to study