The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-06-05
THE ELDEST SON.
A sKRTCH-BY MISS BREMER.

| youth OF a delicate constitution and irritable
temperament The mother dedicated TO him
the greatest attentions; not an elleminating, but
tenderly cherishng care, which makes strong
in love. BY the bed of the boy the quiet mother
often sat, and related to him, or read aloud of
men who have overcome the inimites of the
body by the strength Oft the soul and the will, and
who have become the glory Of the benefactors of
their nation. Especially dwelt upon the great
men OF his fatherland; the strong-minded and
pious men, who by the union of those qualities
laid the foundation of the Swedish people when
this is true to ITSELF
The boy listened inqusitively; his breast open
ed itself to great thoughts and the soul nourish-
ed by the marrow of heroism, soon raised up the
weaker body. This also was strengthened by
useful exercises. At the age of fifteen, Len
nartson excelled the greater number of his COM
panions in plancy and strength of body. The
mother soon saw the affectionate spirit of her
son break forth in its whole wealth, but with its
dangerous propensities likewise. The young
Lennartson had, like his father, a violent and in
flexible temper. His fathers severity towards
his mother, excited him in the highest degree :;
and this gave occasions to scenes between faith
er and son which unsettled the weak health of
the mother, but-strange enough--broke also
the rude power of the father. lie became, as it
were, afraid of his son; afraid, at least, in all
things which concerned the mother, and he no
longer dared to offend against her. This st.
John-like nature had brought up an eagle; and
this eagle now spread its wings detendingly over
!, her. Happy in the love of her son, but terrified
also at the almost fearful temper which she saw
break forth in him, she wished to teach this
young power TO govern itself; and sought to
strengthen him in that which alone give all pow
er its TRUTH its proportions, and its right direction
namely, in the true fear of God. Early had she
permitted the great figures of humanity to step
forward before the eye of the child. Now she
, ondeavored 10 let the inquring understanding of
the Young man ascend to a clear conception of
the reality of life and of the doctrine which had
, Graded i'll unconscious love the heart of the
child.
For this end she went to work in quite anoth-
er way to most parents and teachers. Instead
of removing books which are looked upon as
dangerous to pety, she brought those forward
; She read with her young son the works of the
most renowned atheists and doists, from the old
est times to the present day, and let his reason
, exercise itself with comparing their doctrines
with the doctrines in which personally revealed
God gives the most complete solution of the
; enigma of life, as we'll as in this revelation of
His will and His being, the only secure, fully
efficient guarantee for the ful6lment of mans
deepest longings, his hoIest hope on earth.
, She let him in this way surround himself with
perfect difficulties, and, as it were by his own
, strength, open the way to the innermost centre
Of life. She it was who brought forward objec-
: tons founded upon the doctrines of the Natural
lists; he it was who answered them. But the Joy
which beamod from the eyes of the mother at
, the happily solved difficulties, probably enlight-
ened the son secretly in his inQurings.
And whilst she thus conducted him to an in
dependent and firm point of mind, she taught
him to have esteem for his opponent, and to
value all honest inquiry and all sincere opinion,
and to acknowledge the sproutings of truth even
in immature doctrines.
Lennartson often spoke of this period of his
life, as of the happiest and richest. His mothers
r aiiectionate glance and approving word were his
dearest reward She caresscd him but very
rarely, although he often fell upon his knees be-
q fore her in fanatical reverence, and kissed her
and her dress. Only sometimes at those mo-
ments, in which she remarked that the young
heart was too violently consumed by desire for
: recprocation, did she allow his glowing cheek
to rcpOse on the breast which only beat for him,
but which already bore the seed of death in
cruel and generally incurable maIady.
Carefully concealed she fiom her son the
pangs by which she had been wasted for many
years. For the first time, when an operation
: was necessary, Lennarson became aware of the
suferings and the danger of his mother. She
wished him 10 be absent during the painful
hours, and sought by an innocent guile TO de-
ceivo him as 10 the time. But he allowed him
self not to be decoived-he allowed himself not
: to be sent away His arms sustained her in the
: painful hour; her eyes. rested, during it, upon
= his, and for his sake she bore all without the
: slightest complaint.
And she was able to live yet three years for
; his sake--yct three years to be happy through
him. Then broke out the malady incurably.
Whilst she spoke of Immortality and of the GER
. tainty of seeing him again, and besought of him
to have "patience with his father" she departed
in his arms.
An old divine in New England, asking bles-
: Sing upon his meals was wont TO name each sep