The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-09-19
Miscellaneous.
TIE DOOMED SON. OR
T A M lily FL ON OR.


This is the title of story of strange interest, which
copy from Douglass Jerrold's Illuminated Maya
zine The scene is laid in Canton de Vaud, in the
year 1928. The peasantry Of that part Of the Swiss
Highlands possess strong feeling of family PRIDE
They their lineage by authentic histories to
the first period of the christian era and many have
been the title deeds for the small farms which
they labor, engraved copper, of the time of the
ConsuIs-N Y. american.
Tho following is a domestic incident in the history
of one of these families, which consisted Of father
and mother, sons, the eldest of twenty FIVE, the
youngest but eighteen, and two daughters Of nterme
date ages. The youngest son, fair haired, well
formed boy, of those wild manageable
lads who at the bane and the favorte Of the
district His open, joyous handsome counenance,
his reckless courage, his untrable bilary and fun,
made his neighbors tolerate n series Of mschievous
and wicked pranks which would have brought down
condign punishment upon one ofgreatcr age and less
winning exterior. At last growing more reckless and
ungovernable, he one day galloped off with neigh
boris horse, gone a week, and making acquain-
with girl of loose character sold the horse TO
furnish the means Of debauchery. Deserted and rob-
he'd by his paramour the guilty young man, awakened
of his real situation, attempts reach home.
He wishes 10 his mother, and obtain from her
the means of escape to a neighborng province. He
is pursued is wounded in ehecng desperate escape
and is out by hunger and fatigue After the
narration Of his perous escape the story is thus told
When evening approached he commenced the last
and most perious portion Of his journey. He
now in a country where his face known to every
one, and the distance almost great to be pas
sed in the few hours o. darkness. With much labor
| however, he succeeded in reaching his home before
day light, cambered into a hay loft where his brother
was certain to come for fodder for the cae--cover-
ed over with the hay, and waited for his arrival.
Soon after day break he heard his brothers. step,
and his agitation almost beyond endurance. He
for the first time began to consider how he should
be received-a thing which had not yet entered into
his mind That he would be given up to justice
out ofthe question; would he be allowed the shelter
! of home' He at last summoned courage to leave
his hiding place, and found his worst fears confirmed
his brother, SO far from receiving him with affec
ton, started from him with expression OF horror,
and would not even allow him to come near. "You
| the first of your race that has committed
crime like this, and you have brought shame upon
family that has been without reproach since the birth
| Of our Saviour
! The boy could make no answer but tears--but
| faint with hunger he exclaimed
"For Gods sake give mo food, have not eaten
for forty hours' 20 The brothers. heart moved,
he abstained from reproaches, fetched him food and
wine, waited while he eat it, and then rising and as
suming a counenance Of severity to conceal his emo
tion, said, "Cone with me into the barn, and Will
pile the straw round you, and you will be save for
/ time, ill we can devise what is TO be done. If you
present yourself to your father in his present state
of mind, he will kin you. Leave me to make your
peace, it, indeed, that be possible, for your mother
also is deeply incensed and win require time to o.
vercome her re pugnance to intercede for you. 1t
must be attempted gradually, will assuredly fail
Of Success"
In this hiding pnce the youth remained dur
ing the day, and it not till past midnight that his
brother ventured near him. He without light.
and speaking in low said ''The officers Of JUS
tce have been here day, and have only just left
the house, on hearing the affair Of tho lamb which
has been found in the it is not doubted that
you are the culprit and they gone in that drcc-
ton to seek for you. have not ventured TO commu-
nicate the secret to your father mother. Only your
sister Julia yet knows it, and she i'll in bed. You
stay here for the present. In the morning will
break the affair to the family ...,... r......
With this promise ne was coIppelco 10 oe satsheo
the brother left him without food and departed. All
that night and the next day he remained alone but in
the evening the brother came as before with food
His countenance was sombre, his voice severe, and
his words were few and cold.
"May see my mother 20 said the youth.
"No,'' the stern reply
"Nor my sis:ers!''
"No, your father has forbidden it,"
ssThen, what am to 20
''You will know by and by, and shall be with
you again before midnight" and he suddenly LEFT
the barn withou, single word of kindness.
"God help mep' said the boy. "What will be-
come Of me'" and he put aside the food unlisted
Not till nearly in the morning did the brother
return; he brought with him dark lanhorn and ma
terias for writing. SIT is all arranged said he
'syour father will not you himself, but he con-