Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-06-08

an interest in the father had been ava
kened by the son, II was at once confirm
ed by the appearance Of the old man
now before him.
! He had raised his head slowly from
the staff on which it had been leaning
at the entrance of the stranger, and dis
covered countenance in which the
lines Of sorrow and suffering were dis
tinctly traced. Still there was some
thing in his high though furrowed brow
that told his affinity with the proud Al
yah; and the ravages Of infirmity had
not yet altogether robbed his wasted
form of the dignity Of that soldier.
"Will you pardon the INTRUSION Of a
strangerY said Mr.. Courtney Il have
been led hither merely to chat an hour
with a revolutionary veteran" Gle
! who comes to cheer the solitude Of dark
ness must be welcome, said the old man.
As Mr. Courtney perceived that he was
utterly blind, the scenes Of the revolu-
ton furnished an easy clue to converse
ton, and they chatted without effort.
81 would" said Courtney, "that every
one who assisted in our glorious struggle
might individually share the prosperity
| it has confirmed to our nation. | fear,
| however, there are many whose blood
even has cemented the proud fabric of
| our independence, that are themselves
left in want and obscurity." 'True,"
said the old man, E.the decaved soldier
whose strength was wasted in the con-
| f1ict has but little for himself in hope;
| but | trust his posterity will reap the har-
vest he has sown.'' "You have a son.
said Courtney, worthy of such har-
vest Is the youth called Alvah, your
ALL" "All that survives Of a large fami-
| lyl He alone, the child Of my old age,
has been spared to save me from public
dependence"
''Have you long been deprived of
sightF asked Mr.. Courtney. "Only two
years. n-"And during that period you
have had no resource but the labor of
your son!' "None but the wants of a
soldier are few, and the filal piety of
my boy renders him cheerful under
every privation that effects only himself
He labors necessarily, and have no re-
greet but that Of seeing him thus fettered
TO servitude." Il would" said Mr.. |
Courtney with enthusiasm, Il would that
could place him In a sphere more suit
ed to his worth. With the advantages
of education, he would become an orna-
ment to society; but this, under your pc
culiar circumstances, he cannot have |
had, even in an ordinary degree" ''But
for his taste for learning" SAID the SOL |
der. che must have been utterly desti- |
tute. There were hours, however, when
he has respite from labor; in these,
which he invariably devoted to study, he
has gradually acquired its common Prin-
ciPles."
The entrance of Alvah himself inter
ruptcd the conversation. He had brought
some little delicacies for his father; the |
avails of his days labor. Il have just
been thinking said Mr.. Courtney, "ofI
making some arrangements, with the APP
probation of your father, for your future
establishment. | grieve TO see a boy of
promise thds losing the spring time of
life" "You forget sir, said Alvah, res
pectfully bowling, ''that | can embrace no
proposal that would separate me from
my father, however advantageous"
''Certainly not in his present situation;
but | have friends here, who will readily
assist me in making a suitable provision
for his support, and you may then be put
to business that will secure you future
"Impossible, sir! NV Z
father can have no claims like those on
his SON" lis a short season only since
my weakness required his support, and
shall | now transfer the duties of filial I
gratitude to he hand of charity2" Mr.. II
Courtney knew not what to reply. "Do I
you think me ungrateful of your prof |
tered Kindness" continued the boy, I
while his dark eye swan in tears and $
every trace of pride suddenly gave q
place to the loveliest expressions of gra- q
itude; Il feel most deeply your bene '
yoent solicitude for my interest, but |
indeed, sir, | am perfectly happy in I
ny present condition. Ny father, too, G
S satisfied with the slender provision ?
ny labor affords, and should it hereafter t
become insufficient, will not scruPIe to 4
.sk the aid of benevolence." Mr.. Court '
lev was affected. The soldier had again F
eaned his head over his staff and was
invoking blessings on the head t
t his son. A storm had commenced, d
nd the sleet was even then dripping e
through the broken roof. Mr. Courtney d
ose to depart-"Must then 60" he ex a
|
ervicel" "Will you not even accept Y
nd he put his hand into his pocket-but 1
.lvah drew back with an expression, a
nat answered the unfinished sentence. .
he old man gave him his hand with e
mile of benignity. Accept my thanks, a
r, and suffer me TO crave the name OF h
i'm who has thus sought the dwelling of Il
overly" The stranger gave him his W
anne and address, and received pro- n,
Use that they would seek him IN future al
eed, reluctantly left them. m
Mr.. Courtney was man of feeling, tr
ut he was also a man of pleasure; and OF
18th the votaries of dissipation, the soft lie
I'D holy whisperings of benevolence HI
re too often lost in more seductive sc
rains. The scene he had now witness tn
ID had however awakened all his bet til
II principles. The dignifed submission tn
the father--the proud humility of the a
far ha Ia lob n Ill