Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-12-10

eternal At the close of the prayer, the
family arose and saluted each other with |
that affection which has not its root in |
earth, and whose blossoms, however di-
minutiye and colorless to the eye of man,
ia this wrctclied soil, shall yet bear glori-
oussfruit in the garden of God. 1t was
lovely sight to behold the young people |
assisting their aged relatives to arise from
their knees-andit was lovelier hearing,
to listen TO the happy good nights ex-
changed among the parting family. The
wife of Weberg was most asslduous in
preparing the comforts of her husbands
parents, and Welberg yielded to her with
that proud gratitude, that feels more ex-
ultaiion in benefit conferred by those we
love, rhan if we conferred it ourselves.
He loved his parents, but he was proud of
his wife loving them because they were
his. To the repeated offers of his children
to assist or attend their ancient relatives
he answered, No, dear children, your mo-
Their will be better-your mother always
does best. AS he spoke, according to a
custom now forgot, kneeled before him to
ask his blessing. His hand, tremulous
with affection, rested first on the curling
locks of the darling Everard, whose head
lowered proudly above those of his kneel-
ing sisters, and of Maurice whose irre-
pressible and venial levity of joyous child
hood, laughed as he knelt. God bless
you said Welberg-'God HESS you all
and may he make you as good es your
mother, and as happy as your father is
this night ; and as he spoke the happy ia.
Their turned aside and wept.
''The wife of Welberg, who was natu-
rally of cool sedate temper, and to whom
misfortune had taught an anxious prevoy-
ance, was not so intoxicated VI th the pres
ent prosperity of the family as its young
or even its aged members. Her mind
was full of thoughts which she would not
communicate to her husband and some
times did not wish to acknowledge to her
self; but to the priest, who visited them
frequently, with renewed marks of Guz-
mans bounty, she spoke explicitly. She
said, that however grateful for her broth
er's kindness, for the enjoyment of present
competence, and the hope of future wealth
she wished that her children might be per-
mitted to acquire the means of an indie
pendent substance for themselves, and
that the money destined by Guzman's lib.
crafty for their ornamental education
might be applied to the purpose of ensu.
ring them the power of supporting them.
selves, and assisting their parents. She
alluded slightly to the possible future
change in her brothers favorable feeling:
towards her, and dwet much on the CIR.
cnmstances of her children being stran
gers in the country, wholly unacquaintec
with its language, and averse from its re
Iigion; and she mildly but strongly sta:ec
the difficulties TO which hereto family o
strangers might be exposed in Catholic
| country, and implored the priest to emplo,
| his mediation and influence with her bro
, Their, that her children might be enabled
through his bounty, to acquire the mean
of independent subsistence, as if
and she paused. The good and friend,
priest (for he was truly both) listened 4
a her with attention and after satisfying
his conscience by adjuring her to renounc
! her heretical opinions, as the only mean
f Of obtaining Il reconciliation with God ant
: her brother, and receiving a calm but firm
: negative, he proceeded to give her hi
4 best lay advice, which was to comply witt
e her brothers wishes in every thing, to ed
Y ucate her children in the manner prescri
d bed, and to the full extent of the mean
(which he so amply furnished. He added
n en- confdnce, that Guzman, though, durin
: his long life, he had never been suspecte
t of any passion but that of accumulatin
f money, was now possessed ola spirit muc
] harder to expel, and was resolved that tn
J, heirs of his wealth should be, in point of a
# that might embelish polished society, OH
: level with the first nobility of Spein. F
: nally, he counselled submission TO he
: brothers. wishes in all things-and til
e wife of w elberg complied with tears,whic
: she tried to conceal from the priest, an
hod completely efaced the traces befor
g she again met her husband.
y SIN the mean time the plan of Guzma
g was rapidly realized. A handsome hous
d was taken for Welberg-hls sons an
e daughters were splendidly arrayed, an
n sumptuously lodged and though educ;
d ton was, and still is, on very low lev
h in Spain, they were taught all that VIZ
then supposed to qualify them as compar
d ions for the descendants of Hdalgoe.
IS Any attempt, or even allusion to their b.
: ing prepared for the ordinary occupation
e of life was strictly forbidden by Guzmar
If The father triumphed in this-the mott
y er regretted it, but she kept her regrets /
l. herself, and consoled herself with thinkin.
r, that the ornamental education her childre
Ie were receiving might ultimately be turne
r, to account for the wife of Welberg VIZ
Ie a woman whom the the experience of mi
i, fortune had taught to look to the futul
e with an pnxious eye, and that eye vii
re ominous accuracy, had seldom failed /
re detect a speck of evil in the brigh
J. est beam of sunshine that had ever tren
le bled on her chequered existence.
IS 'The injunctions of Guzman were ODE,
: ed-the family lived in luxury. II
lie young people plunged into their new Ii
D. of enjoyment with an avidity proportions
1T to their youthful sensibility Of pleasur
" and fast for refinement and elegant pu
id suits, which their former obscurity had r,
g pressed but never extinguished. I'll
d proud andhappy father exulted in the pc
A. sonal beauty and improving talents of h
s. children. The anxious mother sighe
y r,,y,oats,,ooo buf fr,ol coro he, ;e.b el,,,