New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-05


had given way beneath the maddening drink =
Would for his OWE sake that il might be SO Yes,
drunken anity and not ferocity seemed to be the
prevailing humor. How long 1t weuid endure de-
pended on his companion and antagonist. Fred
erick had grown loquacious, his voice was thick,
and il grew hoarse with exercise. There was
spleen in every word he uttered, and anger con-
tempt, and bitierness. Ferocity, too, sparkled in
his expressive eye, and corrupted every ether fea
ture. How he sat there, playing and trifing with
his trembling prey, conscious OF mis- power, and
sharpening his appetite for mischief with the con-
temptation of his sacrifice. So might the young
and bounding tiger, and so human being with
unbound passions, burning for revenge, and II
pened even for murder, by the hateful and melting
Juice Neither of the men was disturbed ct my
approach. Each was TOO busy with his own pc
cuher thoughts The chair of Frederick was
drawn close to that OF his father-his hand was
upon MS fathers arm-his blood-shot eye was
raised toward his fathers scottish face. remained
at the door, fixed to the position in which my en-
trance had FIRST placed me, and fearful of accele-
rating harm and evil by the progress of an inch.
Tell me what you preach, exclaimed Frede-
rick, laughing aloud and unmeaningly; :" which
side of the question do you espouse! They tell
me you are s-what is it a Calvinist. Who is
he7 Did he love wine-did he drink as JOLLY as
we do? Oh, you are rare old sinner, ha, ha,
ha ~: and he laughed on, and swallowed glass
ful in the midst of it.
''Do not talk 50 wildly" said his father, en-
deavoring to escape from his side.
And why not? answered Frederick, rudely
stopping him. "NVho are yeu to ORDER and to
say how man is to speak or behave?"
81 do not wish TO moiest."
''No, III take devilish good care you shan't, y
said my brother, interrupting him. g say, par
son, haven't you broken your heart in frstting af-
ter your son. Hasn't natural affection almost
killed you Why, what did you think had become
of me Do you believe in that black heart of
yours, thar YOU are really on the road to heaven
Come, no finching Answer like man
Here take your glass, I'll drink to our better ac-
ouaintance. We shall know one another better
for the future.
NV father writhcd under his infection. He
had character TO sustain which he had never
studicd-for which he was but i'll prepared. He
burned TO bnrst the chains by which he felt him
self enthraed The dread of consequences kept
him as submissive as beaten slave. Mine was
the cruel lot to observe in silence and in horror.
A bumper was quaEed in honor of the taunting
toast, and Frederick was again pursuing his
doomed victim.
Lock there" said he, pointing to me; that's
your daughter. | am tsld that you have behaved
most lovingly to her. Look at her, man." he
continued, seizng him by the wrist, "and see
what color your kindness has brought upon her
cheek. Look-she is paler than the lily, and that
we know is joys own color You'll go to heaven
for that too. Why, you are noble fellow to
preach and prny, and tell US what we ought to do !
Look me in the face e''
NV father shook with rising passion, and he
bit his lips, and drew his breath with difficulty
"Look M in the face" continued the infuriated
Frederick for he had lashed himself to rage
" and let me see q pious monster--a religious
fiend-a holy devil Now, hear me. have spent
many an hour of my most miserable lfe-nade
by you, in longing for this moment.
have looked forward to this interview till / have
almost gone mad in waiting for it. have walked
for half night listening to the wind screaming
among trees, bowling about tomb-stones, and over
green graves, trying to keep down the horrible
temptation that have felt for years, to be your
murderer. Hear, and understand me, | repeat it
be your murderer. | have seen the
blooming and the young, without crime, without
the feathery burthen of an unconscious fault, cut
down in beauty, and removed from the Garth
which they were Just beginning to adorn and dig
! kneao you-the tormentor OF your
kind the vilest of your race, in whose atmosphere
to live was to breathe pollution md to suffer death
Il knew you to be alive, glorying in your defile-
nent, pouring sorrow, distress and misery on all
who came within your reach, and rendering life a
curse to all who had connexion with you. Do you
think, ask, that | could deem it wrong to remove
for ever from the world the source OF endless woe
One blow could do it. One blow, and in an in
stant, there was peace for the most deserving.
could have struck yos down. | could have dealt
the blow without remorse-without one aching
thought. Why then came l not to give it? [
will not tell you-but there was good reason for
nv absence You were preserved not through my
forbearance. The cause that intelfered between
me and my strong desire exists no longer. Now,
| am free to act. Now | am here, and, monster
what prevents the accomplishment of what have
wished Sc long ~
"You dare not do it' cried my father, starting
from his chair, and euding by his suddenness the
gripping hand of Frederick.
''You lie!' impiously replied the drunken boy
and following him as he proceeded from his seat
1t was my time to act. No longer capable of
self.control, | placed myself between the angry
meH, and entreated the aggressor to desist. My
influence and power over the unfortunate man were
gone.
''S,ay you there" said he, placing me at dis
tance from them, ''or be gone, and do not inter-
meddle. | am tranquil, and am master of myself
We have a long account to settle; and it must be
called over item after item.
II do not fear you muttered my father, gnash-
ing his teeth, and looking hercey at his son. (" !
do not fear you, most unnatural villain!
"Wel said, unnatural fathern' cried Fredc-
rick, in laughing tone; then sit you down, and
we'll converse. You need not fear me. You say
I dare not punish you for all your guilt; and
say, You lie. l dare BUT l WILL NOT. The
time is past. You have me to thank for it.
Live die, and be detes,ed, when and where YOU
.1o,-a