Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-06

'lolie' Dut trust Ills posterity VIII reap
the harvest he has sown.'
You have a son. said Mr. Courtney,
worthy of such harvest. Is the youth,
called Alvah, your alll'
'All that survives of a large family. He
alone. the child of my old age, has been
spared to save me from public depend
ence.'
Have you long been deprived of sight7'
asked Mr.. Courtney.
Only two years
And during that period have You had
no resource but the labor of your son!
'None-but the wants of soldier are
few, and the flial piety of my boy renders
him cheerful under every privation that
affects only himself. He labors necessarily,
and | have no regret but that of seeing
him thus fettered to servitude.'
Il would said Mr.. Courtney with en-
thuslasm, Il would | could place him in
sphere more suited to his worth. With
the advantages of education he would be-
come an ornament to society. But this
under your peculiar circumstances he can
not have even in an ordinary degree
But for his taste for learning said the
old man, 'he must have been utterly desti-
tute. There were days, when he could
not labor; and as these were invariably de-
voted to study he has gradually acquired
its common principles
The entrance of Alvah himself inter-
Iupted the conversation. He had brought
some little deIicaces for his father, the
avails of his days labor.
Il have just been thinking sad Mr..
Courtney, of making some arrangements.
with the appreciation of your father, for
your future establishment. | greve to see
a boy of promise thus losing the spring
time of life
You forget. sir said Alvah, respectfully
bowling. that can accept no proposal that
would separate me Fl 'n my father, however
advantageous
Certainly not in bis present situations;
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 a future COM
petence.'
impossible, sir. My father can have no
claims like those on his son. It's but a
short time since my weakness required his
support, and shall now transfer the du-
ties of flial gratitude to the hand of char
ityp
Mr.. Courtney knew not what to reply.
DO not think me ungrateful for your
proffered Kindness continued the boy,
while his dark eyes swan in tears, and
every trace of pride suddenly gave place
to the liveliest expression of gratitude. 4
feel most deeply your solictude for my
interest, but indeed, sir, | am perfectly
happy in my present condition. My father,
too, is satisfied with the slender provision
which my labor affords, and should it here
after become insufficient | will not scrupe
TO ask the aid of benevolence.'
Mr.. Courtney was affected The sol
.lier again leaned his head over his staff
Ind was probably invoking blessings on the
mead of his son. A storm had commenced
and the sleet was even then dripping through
the broken roof. Mr.. Courtney rose to de-
part.
Must | then CO. he exclaimed. without
| rendering you any service! Will you not
accept and he put his hand into his peck,
ct. But Alvah drew back with an expires.
sion that answered the unfinished sentence
The old man gave his hand with an air
Of benignity. Accept my thanks sir, and
suffer me to inquire the name of him who
has thus sought the dwelling of poverty!
The stranger gave his name and address
and receiving 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 whisperings Of benevolence are
too often lost in more seductive strains
The dgnified submission of the father
the proud humility Of the son, preferrine
the most servile labor to the shadow OF
dependence; his deep but quiet tenderness:
for his unfortunate parent, and his perfect
exemption from selfsh feeling, all were viv
idly impress ed on their visitant. If inter
course with the good influences of ever
cold and torpid hearts, that influence mus
be strong indeed on the soul of feeling
For little time the pageantry of the wsrlC
lost its power on the gay Courtney, anC
all the haunts of pleasure were forgotten
lie shuddered as he contras;ed the elegan
cies that surrounded him with the desti
tuition he had witnessed. The straw pale
of age and infrmity, the picture that mem
DRY drew seemed even yet more vivid than
the reality.
The following day Mr.. Courtney hat
left the city, but blank cover enclosing
two hundred dollars, had been placed b,
an unknown hand in that of the old soldier
Years passed away, and the glow o
unearthly pleasure that the traveller the