Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-12-05
THE FAITHFUL SON.
"My tale is simple, and of humble birth,
A trIbutp Of resDcCt to rp1l Worth "

tribute OF respect TO real WORTH"
You arc too parsimonous,' said Mr. Dana
to one Of his clerks, as they were together
in the counting house one morning-'give
me leave to say that you do not dress sufli.
GENTLY genieel to appear as clerk in fash
ionabe store.'
flenry's face was sullused with deem
blush, and tear trembed on his manly
cheek.
Did not know that your salary was
sufficient to provide more gcn'eel habit.
mcnts,' continued Mr. Dana, Il would in
crease it,
My salary is sufficient; amply sufficient,
SIR replied Henry, in a voice chokcd with
that proud Independence of feeling of which
poverty had not been able to divest him.
His employer noticed the agitation, and i'm
mediately changed The subject
Mr. Dana was man of immense wealth
and ample benevolence he was widower
and had bu, one child, daughter, who was
the pride of his declining years. She was
not as beautiful as an angel, or as perfect as
Venus but the goodness, the innocence.
the intelligence of her MUD shone in her
countenance, aud you had but to become
Such was Caroline Dana when Henry be-
came an inmate of her fathers abode.
No wonder, then, that lie soon loved her
with deep ard devoted affection; and read
err had you known him, you would not have
wondered that the love was soon returned,
for their souls were congenial: they were
cast in virtues purest moulJ-and although
their tongues never gave uterance TO what
they felt, yet the language of their eyes told
too plainly TO be mistaken. Henry was the
soul of honor. and although he perceived he
was not Indifferent TO Caroline, the passion
IN his bosom was stined. Il must not en-
deavor TO win her young and arless heart
| am penniess and cannot expect that her
father will ever consent to her union-he
has ever treated me with kindness, and ]
will not be ungra,elul.' Thus he reasoned
and thus he endeavored to subdue what he
called an Inflated passion. Caroline had
many suitors, and some who we're fully wOr.
thy of her but she refused all their over
lures with gentle but decisive firmness.-
Her father wondered at her conduct, yet
would not thwart her inclna!ions.
He WAS in the decline of life and wished
to see her happily settled before he left the
stage of existence. 1t was long ere he sus.
pecled that young Henry was the cause OF
her Indifference to others. The evident
pleasure she took in hearing him praised,
the blush on her cheek whenever their eyes
met, all served to convince the old gentle
man, who had not forgotten that he was once
Young himself, that they took more than
common nlrres; IL each others welfare.
Thus satisfied he forborc m,n,ng any re-
marks upon the subject, bu, was not dis
pleased a, the superstition, as the pennies
Henry wouid have imagined.
Henry had now been about a year in his
employ. Mr. Dana knew nothing of his fam
lily, but his strict integrity, his irreproacha-
BILE morals, his pleasing manners, all con-
spred to make him esteem him highly. lie
was proud of Henry, and wished him to APP
pear in dress as well as manners, as respec-
table as any one. He had often wondered
at the scantiness Of his wardrobe, for allho'
he dressed with the most scrupulons regard
to nealness. his clothes were almost thread
bare. Mr. Dana did not think this proceed
ed from niggardly disposition, and he de-
termined to breach the subject, and if pos
sibie, ascertain the real cause-this he did
in the manner we have related.
Soon after this conversation took place,
Mr. Dana left home on business. AS he was
returning and riding through beautiful vii
lage, he aighted at the door Of a cottage and
requested drink. The mistress with an
ease and polleness that convinced him that
she had not always been the humble Gotta
ger, invited him to walk in. He accepted
her invitation; and here a scene OF poverty
and nealness presented itself, such as he had
never before witnessed. The furniture
which consisted of no more tl,an was abso-
lute!y necessary, was SO exqulstcly clear
that il gave cl,ar",s ~ poverty, and cast al
! ar &c Comfort all around. A venerable
looking old man who had not seemed to no
lice the entrance of Mr. Dana. sat leaning
ON his staff; his clothes were clean ant
whole, but so patched tina, you could hav,
scarcely told which had been the orgina
piece.
That is your father presume p said Nj
Dana addressing the lady.
1T is SIR
He seems to be quite aged
He is in his eighiy-,hrd year-he has
survived all his children except myself
You have once seen better days.
i have. My husband was wealthy, bu
false friends have ruined hun he endorsed
; notes TO a great amount, which stripped us OF
nearly all our property, and one misfortune
: followed another, until we were reduced to
poverty. My husband did not long survive
: Ibis losses, and two Of my children soon fol-
T lowed him.
i Have you any remaining children!'
Il have one, and he is my only support
My health is so feeble | cannot do much
and my father, being blind, needs great at
tention. My son conceals from me the
amount Of his salary but l am convinced
he sends me nearly all, if not the whole
amount Of it,
Then he is not al home with you
No sir he is a clerk for wealthy mer.
chant in Philadelphia
pray what is your sons name
Henry Whitman
Henry Whitman = exclaimed Nj Dana
-'why he is my clerk ! | lei, him in my
house not fortnight smce.'
Here followed a succession Of enquiries
which evinced an anxiety and solicitudc
tha, mother alone can feel-to all Of which
Mr. ID. replied to her satisfaction.
.You know our Henry 2 SAID the old man
a raising his head from his staff; well sir
,hen Won know as worthy lad as ever lived;