Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-16
AM EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

The anecdote with which shall conclude
the present paper, is one Of such tremen-
dous interest and Importance, that, with
every description torepress my natural ten
dency 70 "Parlare sempre in issimo," | do
not think il possible tc exaggerate its value
Lei parents read il with attention, before
they even moderate punishment on their
children. 'iaH i I1sn %
A gentleman engaged in the higher de-
partmehis Of trade--a good and enlightened
man, and an affeciionate parent-had two
sons, who at The time | begin their history,
were respectively Of the ages Of five aud
ten; the attachment between them was so
remark able as to be the common topic Of
conversation among all their friends and
acquaintance The children were inces-
sanity together; aud TO see them walk round
! the garden. with the arm Of the elder round
the neck Of the younger, while the other
who could not reach to his neck endeavored
TO clasp his waist--wiih their long auburn
hair in the fashion of the day hanging down
in rngleis, and las the elder stopped to kiss
his little brother) covering his face-those
who had seen them thus occupied, their
lovely features beaming with affection, would
have said, that nothing on earth could give
more vivid idea of angels Nla
The children, when separated for few
hours only, were miserable and when the
time arrived for sending the elder to school,
it was subject Of serious reflection among
the parents and friends, whether so intense
an affection should be checked or encour-
aged the former was decided on, and the
elder was sent to distance.
! Both children were so exceedingly unhap-
Ply, that sleepless nights, loss of appetite. in
cessant weeping, and rapid wasting of the
body, made every one fearful Of the conse-
quences Of prolonging the absence, and,
they were brought together again. Those
who witnessed the tumuliuous Joy OF their
meeting, describe It as inexpressbly ahec-
ting they soon recovered their health and
spirits, and their mutual affection seemed,
if possible, increased by the temporary sep
aration.
The experiment, after while, was again
made, and with similar results and it was
decided never to risk another. 5000 iN
| An arrangement was now entered into
with schoolmaster to receive both boys,
although contrary TO the regulations of his
establishment, which protested to admit
none under ten years Of age.
The two boys kept themselves almost en-
,ireiy aioof from ali the rest the elder help
ed the the younger in his education watch
ed him with kind of parental solicitude-
kept vigiiant eye upon the character ofthe
boys who sought his society. and admit
ted none TO intimacy with his brother OF whom
he did not entirely approve. The slightest
hint of his wish sufficed with the younger,
who would almost as soon have contemplated
deliberately breaking the commandments,
as opposing his wishes in the slightest de-
gree. Both made rapid progress in their
education, and their parents hearts were
i filled with thankfulness for the blessing.
4 In The midst of this happiness news az.
rived from the schoolmaster, that from some
unexplained, cause, the elder boy had be-
gun to exercise very unreasonable aud ".
rannica authority over the younger that
he had been repeatedly punished for it, but
although he always promised amendment
aud could assign no cause reasonable Of
unreasonable for his conduct, he soon re-
lapsed into his usual habits, and the school
master requested TO know what was to be
, done.
The father Immediately sent for both boys
and entered upon a heightened investigation
The little one was almost broken-hearted
and exclaimed, "He might beat me every
day, il he would but love me but he hate,
me, and shall never be happy again"
) The elder could assign no reason for hi.
, animosity and Entertainment, and the father
after many remonstrances, thought il figh
to infiict on him very severe corporeal chas
tisement and confined him TO his room fol
some days, with nothing but bread and wa
, ter Hef featrr nf
i The lad on his Liberation gave solemn
} promises of altered conduct, but showed
lille affection for his brother. although The
latter used a thousand innocent stratagem.
to inspire him with tenderness. h
They returned to school. In few day:
similar scenes, and worse occurred-lhe boy
b was again and again punished by the master
again and again promised amendment
but in vain, and he was at last taken away
from school by his father. m
A A repetition of severe punishment---lonl
incarceration, and rejection by all his re-
atives, had no effect in changing his dis
position--his dislike 10 his brother became
fixed animosity, and from anmosty degen
Grated into the most deadly hatred The
made an attempt on The chid's life, and if he
! saw him pass an open door, would throw the
carving knife at him with all the fury of Z
maniac. i tneH
The family now resorted to medical ad
, vice, and years passed in hopeless endeav
: ors to remove disposition obviously depend
| ing on diseased brain, Had they taker
this step earlier these aoggings and impris
| onments would have been spared, as well al
the notwithstanding remorse oft father.
Still the boy was not insane-on ever
ltopic but one lie was reasonable but tornit