Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-09-22
THE DOOMED SON :
OR, FAMILY ONOR

This is the title of a story of strange inter-
est, which we copy from Douglass Jerold's
illuminated Magazine. The scene is laid in
the Canton dc Vaud, in the year 1885,
The peasantry Of that part of the Swiss High
lands possess a strong feeling of family pride.
They can trace their lineage by authentic
histories TO the first period of the christian
era, and many have even the title deeds for
the small farms on which they labor, engra-
we'd on copper, of the time of the Consuls.
The following is a domestic incident in
the history of one of these families, which
consisted Of a father and mother, two sons,
the eldest twenty five, the youngest but eieh-
teen, and two daughters Of intermediate ages.
The youngest son, a fair-haired, well formed
boy, was one of those wild, manageable
lads who are at once the bane and the favo-
rite of the district. His open, joyous, hand
some countenance, his reckless courage, his
untiIable hilarily and fun. made his neigh
bors tolerate a series Of m%ischievous and wick
ed pranks which would have brought down
condign punishment upon one of greater age
or less winning exterior. At last. growing
more reckless and ungovernable, he one day
galloped of with a neighbours horse, was
gone a week, and making acquaintance with
a girl of loose character, sold the horse to
furnish the means of debauchcry. Deserted
and robbed by his paramour, the guilty young
man, awakened 10 q sense of his real situa-
ton, attempts to reach home. He wishes to
see his mother, and obtain from her the means
of escape to a neighboring province. He is
pursued, is wounded in c~ffecting a desperate
escape, and is worn out by hunger and ia
ugue. After the narration of his perilous
escape the story is thus told:
When evening approached he commenced
the last and most perilous portion of his Jour.
ney. He was 10 in a country where his
face was known to every one, and the dis.
lance was almost too great to be passed in
the few hours of darkness. With much Ia.
Dor, however. he succeeded in reaching hi.
home before daylight, clambered into a hay
loft where his brother was certain to come fol
fodder Tor the caltle-covered over with tn.
hay, and waited for his arrival.
Soon after day break he heard his broth
er's step, and his agitation was almost bcyont
endurance. He now for the first time begal
to consider how he should be received,
thing which had not yet entered into his mind
That he would be given up to justice wa
out of the question but would he be allow
ed the shelter of home He al last sum
moned courage to leave his hiding place IAN,
found his worst fears CONFERENCE.-The brother
so far from receiving him with affection
started from him with an expression of hor
ror, and would not even allow him to com
near. you are the first of your race tina
has ever committed a crime like this, an
you havs brought shame on a family that ha
been without repfcach since the birth of GU
Saviour
The boy could make no answer but tear
J but faint with hunger he exclaimed:
'FoaGod's sake give me food, ] have no
eaten for forty.hours! = The brolhePs hear
was moved, he abstained from reproaches
fetched him food and wine, and then risin,
and assuming a countenancc Of severity L
conceal his emotion, said, 'Come with M
into the barn, and | will pile the straw roun
you, and you will be safe for a time, till W
can devise what is to be done. If you pre-
y sent yourself to your father in his presen
: : state of mind, he will kill you. Leave m
> to make your peace, If indeed, that be pc.
sible, for your mother also is deeply incen.
ed, and il will require time to overcome he
~rcpugnance TO intercede for you. 1t mu
be attempted gradually, o. il will assuredI
fail Of success