Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-07-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE ONLY SON.

THE ONLY SON.
WEAVER.
Mr. Harcourt sat alone in his study The walls
were crowded with book cases filled with the massy
tones of the lapv; his table was covered with pa
pers of importance and pile Of notes, which had
Just been paid him by a'client, lay close at his ell
bow The costly lamp that hung above his head
threw its light full upon the upper part Of his face
bringing the massy brow out into bold relief, and
giving additional stenness and promise to his cold
and infexbe features. All at once he rang the
bell.
SIS master James arrived?" he said sharply
when the servant entered.
eyes sir"
Show him in, then"
In few minutes the door of the study opened
again.. and the lawyers only stood in the pres
ence of his father lie youth of about sew
enteen, fair and manly to gaze upon, but with that
look of dissipation in his countenance which mars
the noblest beauty. An expression Of feminine
soltness and rresolution in his face, contradictcd
the proud and sel-willed glance of his dark, glow
ing eye. lie seemed, indeed, to Judge from his
looks, to be wholly creature of impulses.
$50 you have been in another scrape, sir said
the man harshly.
The youth bowed his head and bit his lip.
at cost me four hundred dollars to pay for the
carriage that was broken, and the horse foundered
in your drunken frolic What have you to say to
that, sir?'
The young mans eye wandered irresolutely a.
round the room, without daring TO meet his fathers
face Nor did he make any reply.
How long is this to last" said his parent, in q
more angry tone. Have not told YOU again and
again, that would disown you if these things went
on? You are disgrace, sir to me-a blot on my
name. Thank God, your mother did not live tc
see you grow up"
The youth had been evidently nervng himself
to bear his fathers rebukes with much ndifler-
Il, Int Of ,o
of his mothers name his lip quvered, and he turn
ed away his head to hide tie tears that gathered in
his eyes, Had that stern, irritable old man known
how to follow up the chord he had struck, his son
might yet have been saved; but he was n hard
correct man, unaccusomed to making allowances
for difference of character and he resolved to drive
his son into obedience by the strong arm of paren.
tai Authority.
"You turn away to laugh, you rascal, do you p
said he, enraged. "You believe. because you are
my only child, ! will not dsinherit you. But
would cast you off if you were ten times my son
and made up my mind to-day to tell you, at once
to 90. There is pile Of notes five hundred dol
lars, believe: take it, and tomorrow will make
it thousand, before you depart But remember
this is the last night you shall spend under my roo
1.-The last cent OF my money you shall ever touch
When his mother was alluded to, the youth hat
almost made up his mind to step forward ask par.
don for all his evil courses and promise solemnly
sharp and angry tone in which Mr.. Harcourt pur
sued the conversation, and the words of banishmen
with which it closed, seemed TO make him irreso
lutte. lie colored, turned pale, and parted his lips
if about to speak; then he clasped his hands
half in application; hut the cold, contemptuou.
look Of his father checked him, and he remained
silent. The angry lush however, rose again tC
his check, and became fixed there.
"Not word, sir" said the father. at is too
late for pleading now. Don't be both blackguarC
and a coward. ! told you if you ever got into sucl
dscreditable difficulty would disown you. Blu
warning did no good. You must reap as you have
sown Will you go"
The youth seemed again about to speak but hi,
words choked him. The spirit of the son, as wei
that of the father was reused. He felt that The
punishment was disproportionate TO the offence
even great as it had been. He tool; the notes which
his parent held ont to him, crumpled them hastil,
together, and linging them scornfuly back, turned
and left the room. The next instant the street doc
closed with heavy cldng.
GO He has not gone, surely" said the father, star
tied for a moment. But his brow darkened as hi
eye fell on the notes. " Yet let him go-the grace
less villain-he is hereafter no son of NINE Bet
ter die childless, than have an heir who is a dis
grace to yourname. Did not do my duty to him
Ay old man, that is the question. Did you d
your duty to him? Were you not harsh when yo
should have been lenent- did you not neglect you
son for years after his mothers death, careless
what kind of associates he consorted with an
when he had been led astray, did you not, in totj
disregard Of his wilul character the result of you
own indulgence, did you not we say, attempt t
coerce him with threats, when you should hay
drawn him by the gentle chords Of love? Look il
to your own heart; see if you are not just as m
reasonable as your son. Can character be re
formed in day? Your profession should hay
taught you better, old man. But the boy has CON
from your roof forever, for well he knows how il
flexible is your stern, selfrighteous heart and il
deed, with Il portion of your own pride, he woul
sooner cut off his right arm than solicit acceI
your aid. Yes! take up that mass of compcate
papers, and endeavor to forget the past scene i
their absorbing details but yours must be a heaI
Of adamant If, IN despite Of your of-repeated reas
oning, you can justify your harshness to it. Re
member the words you have uttered They ma
apply to more than one,-".1s you hare so,cn s
shall yOu reap"
James Earcourt went forth from his fathers hons
in utter despair Pride had supported him durin
the last few moments of the interview and he ha
met his stern parents maledction with bitter def
ence; but when the door had closed upon him. an
he turned to take last look at the window whic
was once his mothers, the tears gushed again int
his eyes, and covering his face in his hands, he So
down on aneighboring step and sobbed convusive
ly. ooh! if she had been living" he said, g.
would never come to this. She would not bav
left me TO form associations with those who wishe
TO make prey of me-she would not have gale,