Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-08-04
No. 4a--wHOLE No. 4Ss

oi the nature OCthe disease, used every
caJlon that prudence suggested, to
guard lhe Other mpmhers OF my iamilV
against II Bot ol this one. my eldest.
| had bur liie fear; he was 30 rOeged
and 50 goneraily healthy. SulI, BoweS'
ever kept a vgIlaOt eve upon him, and
especially forbade his gong TO pools and
docks near his school, which he vas
prone TO VISIT.
"Oue evening came homo wesriod
with a long days hard labor, and Vexed
al some little dissppoiniments, and found
that he siso had just come into the house
and hat he was wet, and covered with
dock mud taxed him with d,sobedi .
ence. and scoded him severely more
50 than hal ever had done before aud
then ordered him 10 his bed II open
ed his lips Tor sn excuIpa,ory reply as |
supposed, but slernjy checked him.
when with mute, sorrow(ul coun,e-
nance, and a swelling breast he turned
s~av and went slowly 10 his chamber.
NV heart smoin me- even al the rnomeDt
though felt conscious OF doing but a
fathers dO'y Bu how much ksene :
ID feel the pang when | vas informed
in the course of the evening By nelgh-
hor. that my boy had gone TO the dock
At Inc eafnes, solicitation of a young"r
and faVorile playmate, and by the espe'
rial permission OF bis schooma'ter, in
order to recover a cap belonging 10 lta
former. which had blown over the wharf.
Thus learned that what | had treated
with Unwonled seVerity as fault, was
boi the impulse OF a generous natur"
which, forgttfut Of self, had hazaFded
perhaps r'e for another II was but III"
quick prompting Of that manly spirit
which | had always endeasored TO en-
graft uprn his susceptible mind, and
winch. Young as he was, had already
manifested itself on more than one oc'
cason
"How bitterly now did ! 'egret nv
harshness. and resolved to make amends
to his grleved spirit in the moruing!-
Alas! that mornIning never came 10 him
in health. Before retiring for the night
however. crepl to his low cot, and bent
over him. A lear had stolen down upon
his cheek and rested there. ! kissed it
off; but he slept so swee;Iy and SO calm.
lv, that did not venture 10 disturb him!
The next day he awoke with a arsglng
| fever in his brain. and 10 -elgbt
hours was no more! He did not know
me when | was first called 10 his bed
side, nor al any moment alierwafo'
though in srlen, agony bent over him
unuI death and darkness closed the
scene. would have given worlds 10
have whispered one kind word 10 his ear
and have been answered; but ii was not
permitted. Oncs indeed a smile, tho't
Of recognition, lighted up his eye. and |
leaned eagerly forward. But it passed
quickly away.a- d vas succeeded by the
cold unmeanlng glare, and The wild tOs'
sing OF the (evered limbs, that lasted till
death came TO his relief.
EVERY thing now sec that belonged
to him reminds me OF The 'ost one. Yes.
terday found some rude pencil sketch
es, Ehich it was his delight to make for
the amusement OF his younger brother:
to day, in rumsging an old chest, came
across his boots, sill covered with dock
mud as he last wore them; and every
morning and every evening | pass the
ground where his voice rang The mer-
ries, among his playmates. All these
things speak TO me vlvidly Of his active
lie, but cannot, though often trv,
recall any other expression OF his. iaCs
than that mute mournful one with which
he turned from me on lhe night ] so
harshly repulsed him. Then my heart
beeds .airesh. Oh how careful shou d
we all be, that 10 our daily conduct to-
ward those little beings sent US BY a
kind Providence we are not laying up for
ourselves sources Of many luIurs
butter tear.
How caulious,ih that by neither ineonsid
ersre word or look we unjuslly grevs
their generous feeling! And how guard
edlv ought we to weigh every action a.
psinsr lis motives. lest in a moment OF
excitement we be led to mete out TO The
veniaI errors OF the heart the punish
ment due only to wilful crimes! Alas!
perhaps few parents suspect how often
the sudden blow. The fierce rebuke, is
answered in ;her children by the tears,
not Of passion. no, OF physical or mental
pain, but Of loving but grisVed or out.
ragged nature"
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