Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE ONLY SON.
URANIA.
BY MRS. JANE WEAVER.

Mr.. Harcourt sat alone in his study. The
walls were crowded with bookcases filled
with the massive tones of the law; his table
was covered with papers Of importance; and
a pile of notes, which had Just been paid
him by a client, lay close at his elbow. The
costly lamp that hung above his head threw
its light full on the upper part of his face,
bringing the massey brow out into bold relief,
and giving additional sternness and promise
to his cold and inhexible features. All at
once he rang the bell.
is master James arrivedr he said sharp
ly when the servant entered.
Yes sir
In a few moments the door of the study a.
gain opened, and the lawyers only son stood
in the presence of his father. He was a
youth of about seventeen, fair and manly to
gaze upon, but with the look of dissipation
in his countenance which mars the noblest
beauty. An expression of feminine %soitness
and irresolution in his face, cOntrddlcted the
proud and selfwilled glance of dark glowing
eyes. He seemed indeed to Judge from his
look, to be wholly a creature of impulse.
so you have been in another scrape, sir!'
said the old man harshly.
The youth bowed his head and bit his lip.
1t cost me four hundred dollars to pay for
the carriage that was broken, and the horse
foundered in your drunken frolic. What
have you 10 say to that, sir!
The young mans eye wandered resolutely
around the room, without daring to meet his
fathers face. Nor did he make any reply.
How long is this to lastl' said his parent
in a more angry tone. Have J not told you
again and again, that would dlsown you If
these things went on? Your disgrace, Sir,
to me-a blot to my name. Thank God your
mother did not live to see you grow up!'
The youth had been evidently nerving him
self to hear his fathers rebukes with as much
GOODNESS and Indifference as possible, but at
the mention of his mothers name his lip
quivered, and he turned away his head to
hide the tears that gathered in his eyes. Had
that stern, irritable old man known how to
follow the chord he had struck, his son might
| yet have been saved; but he was a hard, cor
rect man, unaccustomed to make allowance
for difference OF character, and he resolved to
drive his son into obedience by the strong
arm Of parental authority.
you turn away to laugh, you rascal, do
you!' said he, enraged. you believe, be-
cause you are my child, | will not disinherit
| you. But | would cast you of if you were
ten times my son; and | made up my mind
to day TO tell you at once to go. There is a
pile of notes-fve hundred dollars, | believes;
take it, and tomorrow / will make it a thou
sand, before you depart. But remember, this
is the last night you shall pass under my
roof-the last cent of money you shall ever
touch
When his mother was alluded to, the youth
had almost made up his mind to step forward,
ask pardon for all his evil courses and prom
Use solemnly hereafter to live a life of strict
propriety; but the sharp and angry tone in
which MIR. Harcourt pursued the conyersa-
ton and the words of Punishment with which
it closed, seemed to make him irresolute. He
colored, turned pale, and parted his lips as if
to speak; then he clasped his hands in sup
plication, but the cold, contemptuous look
of his father checked him, and he remained
silent. The angry flush, however, lose a.
gain to his cheek, and became fixed there.
Not a word, sir said the father. 1T is
too late for pleading now. Don't be both a
BLACKBOARD and a coward. | told you if you
ever got into a discreditable difficulty | would
disown you. But warning did no good
You must reap as you have sown. Will
you go.
The youth seemed again about to speak,
but his words choked him. The spirit of
the son as well as that of the father, was a.
reused. He felt that the punishment was
disproportioned to the offence, even great as
it had been. He took the notes which his
parent held out to him, crumpled them hasti-
ly together, and flinging them scornfully
back, turned and left the room. The next
instant the street door closed with a heavy
clang.
He has not gone, %surelyl' said his father,
startled for a moment. But his brow darken-
ed as his eye fell on the notes. yet let him
go-the h~eartless villian-he is hereafter no
son of mine. Better die childless than have
an heir who is a disgrace to your name. Did
| not do my duty to him!'
James Harcourt went forth from his fathers
house in utter despair. Pride had supported
him during the last few moments of the inter
view, and he had met his stern parents male
diction with bitter defiance; but when the
door had closed upon him, and he turned to
take a last look at the window which was
once his mothers, the tears gushed again in
to his eyes, and covering his face in his
hands, he sat down on a neighboring step,
and sobbed convulsively. 20 if she had
been living he said, lit would never have
come to this. She would not have left me to
form associations with those who wished to
make a prey of me-she would not have
CALLED me by stern, and often undeserved re-
proaches-she would not have turned me from
my house with no place whittier to 90. and
the temptations around me on every side.-
Oh my mother he said; casting his eyes to
heaven, 'look down on me and pity your
poor boy
At that instant the door of his fathers
house opened as if some one was about to
come forth. A momentary hope shot through
him, that his parent had rulented. But no
it was only a servant who had been called to