The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1839-07-19

old aae, has been spared 10 sayespublic de-
pendence.
HaYe,you long been deprived Of sight9
asked Mr.. Courtney sOnly two years.
And during that period you have had no
resource but the labor Of your SOM None,
but the wants Of a soldier are few and the
fiIial piety 81 my boy renders him cheerful
under every priyahon that effects only him-
SELF He labors necessarily, and / have no
regret but that Of seeing him thus fettefed
TO seryitnde ] would said Mr.. Court
.ney with enthusiasm, 4 would that could
place him in sphere more suited to his
worth. With the advantages of education,
he would become an ornament TO society;
but this, under your peculiar circumstances,
he cannot have had, even in an ordinary de-
gree But for his taste for learning,' said
the soldier, she must have been utterly des-
titute. There are hours, however, when he
has respite from labor; in these, which he
invariably devotes TO study, he has gradu-
ally acquired its common principles
The entrance of Alvah himself interrupt
ed the conversation. He had bought some
little delicacies for his father; the avails of
his days labor. 4 have Just been thinking
said Mr.. Courtney, sof making some agree
'ments, with the appreciation of your father,
for your future establishment. grieVe to
see boy Of promise thus losing the spring
time of life' you forget sir said Alyah,
respectfully bowling, that can embrace no
proposal that would separate me from my
father, however advantageous sCertainly
not in bis present situation; but / have
friends here, who will readily assist me in
making suitable provision for his support,
and you may then be put to business that
will secure you in future competence.'-
Impossible sir! My father can have no
claims like those on his son. Otis short
season only since my weakness required his
support, and shall now transfer the duties
of filial gratitude to the hand of charityg
Mr.. Courtney knew not what to reply. do
you think noe ungrateful of your profered
Kindness continued the boy, while his dark
eyes swan in tears and every trace of pride
suddenly gave place to the loveliest ex-
pressions Of gratitude; q feel most deeply
your benevolent soiicitude for my interest,
but indeed, sir, / am perfectly happy in my
present condition. MY father, too, is salts
fed with the slender provision my labor at.
fords, and should il hereafter become insult.
6cient, viii not scruple to ask the aid of
Mr.. Courtney was affected.
The soldier had again leaned his head over
his staff and was probably invoking blessings
on the head of his son! A storm had COM
menced, and the sleet was even then drip
ping through the broken roof Mr.. Court
ney rose to depart-sMust / then CO. he
exclaimed, without rendering you any ser
vice? will you not even accept and he
put his hand into his pocket-but Alvah
drew back with an expression, that answer.
ed the unfinished sentences The old man
gave him his hand with smile of benignity.
accept my thanks, sir, and suffer me to
crave the name of him who has thus sought
the dwelling Of poverty The stranger
gave him his name and address, and receiv-I
ed promise that they would seek him in
future need, reluctantly left them.
Mr., Courtney was man of feeling, but
he was also man of pleasure; and with the
Votaries of dissipation, the soft and holy
of benevolence are too often
lost in more seductive strains. The scene
be had now witnessed had however awak-
ened all his better principles. The dignif-
nifty of the son, preferring the most serVile
abor to the shadow of dependence-his
1eep but quiet tenderness for his unfortu-
nate parent and his perfect exemption from
selfish feeling all, were wildly impressed |
IN their Visitant IF an intercourse with
he good, influences even cold and torpid
hearts, (as is beautifully exemplifed by the
Persian fable of the piece of clay that be-
anne an odoriterous substance by the con-
act of the rose, that influence must be
trong indeed in the soul of feeling. The
Feath of corrupt world may dim the ma
i've gems of the heart, but let the language
f pure and elevated sentiment be heard
nd the chords of responsive feeling will at
nee awaken like the sleeping tones of a
arp attuned By the winds Of heaven. Eorl
time the pageantry Of the world lost its
over on the mind of the gay Courtney and |
he haunts Of pleasure were forgotten. He
luddered as he contras.ed the eleganciesl
lat surrounded him with the destitution he
I'd witnessed. The straw pallet of age and
scanty fuel-the precautions
lpply-the picture memory drew, seemed
ren vet more vivid than the reality.
The following day Mr.. Courtney had left
e city, but blank cover enclosing two .
lndred dollars, had been placed BY all un-l 2
loWn hand insthat of the old soldier 81,
ears passed away and the glow Of unearth- 9
pleasure that the traveller then experl- y
iced was gradually forgotten. The bland Z
hments Of pleasure resumed their Wonted =
fuence her glittering wave again huFld 2
N onward without The power Of reflection, 2
id il momentary wish had led him % 3
lQuire the further fate Of Alvah Hamilton, =
8 bright phantasna that surrounded him s
Eerted bis purpose Death had deprived 9
"a of an amiabIs wife whose influence E
ight have won him from the sphere q lllu-l g
81, and Bis only child, early accustomed :!
the round of fashionable pursuits thought q
1 Of opposing them. The axalIea senIl- J.