Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-06
THEgSOLDIER'S son:
OR,
THE TRIUMPH OF VIRTU f

'Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt
find 1t after many days"
Shall take your baggage, srl' said an
intelligent looking boy to a traveller, who
had Just arrived at one of the principal
hotels in Louisville.
MY servant takes charge of it, replied
the gentleman; but struck with the pecu-
liar interest of his countenance, as the
boy retired, he flung him piece of mo-
ney. The boy looked at him with hesita-
ton, and his pale cheek redeemed to GRIM
son. Picking it up at length he approached
the traveller with an air of embarrass-
ment--
Excuse me, sir, sought employment,
not aims
True, my little son. said the gentleman
laughing, 'but you surely will not return
so small a trlfe on my hands,
The boy stood for moment in silence.
His young spirit evidently recoiled from
the idea of appropriating the humiiating
gift, and he remained twrling it in his fin
gers. There was an expression of min
ged haughtiness and gratitude in his manly
features, and his slender form assumed all
the irregular attitudes of indecision. At
this moment beggar approached, and his
countenance frightened.
Permit me- said he, bowling gracefully
to the traveller, permit me to transfer
your bounty And presenting the coin to
the humble mendicant, he instantly disap-
peared.
The little incident made strong impress
sion on the mind of the stranger; and two
days afterward he distinguished the elias
tic figure Of the boy amongst group of
laborers. Pleased at again seeing him, he
Immediately approached him.
May | seek your name, my young &C
quaintanceP he inquired in tone of kind
ness.
'Alvah Hamilton replied the boy, and
he still continued to ply the instrument
of labor with increasing diligence.
Our traveller, whose name was Courtney
looked at him with interest. The extrem
beauty of his countenance, its marked ex-
preston of high and noble feeling, strongly
contrasted with the coarseness of his
dress and rudeness of his employment.
Have you no parents ? inquired Mr..
Courtney.
Il have yet father
And what is his vocationF
He is WORKOUT soldier. sir, of the rev.
olution' And the boy applied himself &c
his task with an intensity that seemed in
tended to prevent any further interroga.
ton. The tenacious stranger, however
was not to be shaken off.
DO you live with your father?'
Certainly, sir
And where
The boy pointed in silence to a decayed
and miserable looking dwelling. Mr.
Courtney sighed. A keen November blast
which at the moment whstled around him
told him the inadequacy of such a shelter
"A soldier?' he mentally exclaimed: 'anc
perhaps his blood has been shed to secure
the ri hts of those who now rcvel in lux
ury.'
A few hours afterward he knocked al
the door of the shattered habitation. Ii
an interest in the father had been already
awakened by the son, it was at once con
firmed by the appearance of the old mar
now before him. He had raised his heaC
slowly from his staff on which he wa
leaning at the entrance of the stranger
and discovered countenance where the
lines of sorrow and suffering were dis
tinctly traced. Still there was something
in his high though furrowed brow, tha
told his affinity with the proud Avah
And the ravages of infrmty had not alto
gether robbed his wasted form of the dig
nity of the soldier.
will you pardon the intrusion of ;
strangerl said Mr. Courtney, Il have beer
led hither merely to chat an hour with
revolutionary veteran
He who comes to cheer the solitude o
darkness must be welcome said the ole
man; and Mr. Courtney now perceived
that he was utterly blind. The events o
the revolution afforded an easy clue t
conversation, and they chattcd without eff
fort.
Il would said Mr.. Courtney, that ever!
one who assisted in our glorious struggle
might individually share the prosperity i
has confirmed to our nation. fear, how
ever, that there are many whose blood ha
even cemented the proud fabric of on
independence, who are themselves left il
want and obscurity.'
True said the old man; the decayc,