The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-07-11

there, in a little cross street, sa1 oo"n
upon log hot and weary.
al canno: carry this melon" said !,
opening the bag and looking IN with re-
morseful and troubled spirit. Il cannot
carry this poor melon" Out came The
melon and tossing il over fence, scam.
pered of with all the speed ! was master OIL
The day passed of YEARLY enough to
me. Bill Parsons called me coward
when he beheld no melon, and his bitter
,aun,s raukled ia my heart all day.
What wonder, what regrets, attended
the discovery OF The theft.
THAT beautiful melon stolen T exelaim.
! ed Eben, refusing to believe IT possible.
THAT you took such pains With !" SAID
Robert.
"What an ugly ;hiei!
al am very sorry, my son." and father
looked SO regreliully.
.You will have ano'her soon, Eben,
said our mother, encouraginsy.
"Bu, il will not be like that, mother J
did nurse It so carefully" Poor Eben'
cannot describe the misery, the tear, the
wre,chedness which tore my heart during
the DAYS which followed. Where was Inc
happy independence Of conscious integrity
[ c,inged before the alfec,iona,e cafesses
of my brothers. Appetite fled, aud my
snirits forsook me. When my mother,
with anxious look, feared tina, was sick, l
coldly answered, aud rudely fed from her
inquiries. Every object which beheId,
seemed 10 reflect bu, the one dreadful image
tina, was q thief. | bore II until
could bear i, no longer. IL was Saturday
afternoon, and, turning distasteiully away
from all Saturday afternoon irolics,
sought my fathers counting-room. "falh
or, are you alone ?" asked, the door 0e-
ing aiar.
Yes. nv son, walk in, | am happy to
see you }" and he pu, aside his newspaper
In went. and shu, The door firmly behlnd
me. Planting myself courageousy before
him, while the life. blood seemed oozIns iron
nv heart, " Father" began, and swal'
lowed hard 10 keep down the choking sen
sation IN nv throat father, il was whC
stole Eben's melon stole It IN the
night" shall never forget the grief ex
preston which came suddenly over my
fathers face as he looked at inc. foil OF
nv knees before him aud hid my face, bu
could no, crv. He laid his band upo'
nv head Ralph, did you forget tina
God behe!d you ~ The sad earncstnes
of the inquiry penetrated my inmost soul
With quick and broken utterance, re
hearsed the story Of my guilt. Father
father, can you forgive me Shall eve
be happy again! What shall | do !
we're the impe,uous ques,ioninss OF my he
and aching heart. He did no. speak for
= moment, and then his voice quivered. =
Had he s,ernly sent me from his presenc,
had he whipped me, | could have born
ANYTHING better than his sad, quIyeEin
voice. My futher hou | bless thy men
cry
Nv SON. he at length said, slowly az
ed distinctly, "you have broken grea, la
y. of your God. You have betrayed ii
nd trusting affection Of brother. You hav
be violated the confidence Of your family"
o. tel, as if | wanted 10 die then. bot m
or son, thank God you have confessed th
or grea, sin. /, shows you arc peni,en;; an
! a peniieni, you may be lorgiyen and restores
est nv child" How did nv aching, pent u
DO. feelings then find relief IL tears, as bitter
lat | wep, a, nv fa;i:ar's feet. Tell mot,
uld err, tell Eben," sobbed oui, g let them n
&c. cast ne off-ask them TO forgive me-
led Ny father lifted me up and sal ne on
rye knees, great boy that | was, bu, | Oar,
the not lock in bis face. " Yes, they uu
led know ibis Ralph painful story as il mu
|, be- " Nop lather," | exclaimed int
lad ruptng him, ",el them all, have been
- afraid 10 look them even ia tho face.
10 | would hide nothing any longer" The
ne was a long, snd pause. q VIZ you 90 al
, 10 tell mother ! asked. Yes, Ralph
air. he answered sorrouiuIly. then We
| /; away into lille closet adjoining the cuu,
,ar. ingroom, and sat down upon an old trul
lsh- Of papers, there, alone and uaobsorvcd,
les, wait my fathers return from the house.
In an hours time, and j, seemed ages,
Bill came back and unlolded TO me the result
D in his sad consultation with my mother,
the requirements Of which hnmbiy o
:. heartily acquiesced There remain
he, until supper time, when he took me BY |,
r, | hand ard led me home, without speakr
for but there was plying tenderness 10
manner, which wen, to my very heart.
We. cooid not appear al supper, bot sought :
solitude Of my fathers chamber. III
It, thankful did feel, Illuminating as was /,
ben situation, which the great wall Of partii
that guilt had made between me and r
.ha, family, was at last broken down, ard b
ees. no longer 10 bear in secrecy the dread
osts burden. Ia half an hours tine, my lath
heir called me 10 the sitting room. 1t was ,
- season for evening deyolions, and my moi
any or, sister and brothers, were already Sc
did ed at their accustomed places. Near T
oect father was an empty chair, in which
uotioned me TO sit. Tho doors were eli
aus, ed and The stiffness Of death pervaded ,
on, room. One has,y glance | stole iowa