Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-01
M E MORY;
Or, fHE OLD MANS DREAM.


\ The world, - that most ubiquitous and ON
niscenl of nondescripts' as quaint old writer
styles it,-regarded Mr.. Stephen hlelcombe az
one Of the happlcst Of men. lie was rich, and
in the enjoyment of an unsullied reputation
he lived IN one Of the largest houses in the city
drove the finest horses, rode In the most eiG-
giant carriage, and, to crown all, had an only
son, who, contrary to established custom IN
similar cases, was neither fool, a spcndthrft
nor ibertine. Indeed 1t was shrcwdly sus-
pected that proud as Mr. NelcOmbc was OF
his wealth and standing, (and there was no
doubt he had considerable portion of the
grandlOso IN his compOsltOn,) he was inf
nltcly more proud of his son. Fred MeicOmbc
was really SO noble fellow, that tbs gifts OF
Fortune seemed superhuously bestowed upon
a man, who possessed 50 much else by which
to secure success in life. lie was handsome
enough to have brought high price IN the
marrlagc-market talented enough 10 make a
very good living by his wits and amlablc
enough TO cross even the Slough of Dcspond
on stcpping-stoncs made of the hearts of hls
friends. In short, he was one of those lucky
beings who find a perfect harmony between
themselves and Their position; or, rs hnmor-
Gus friend has expressed it " who have found
the nght socket, ANA Ill IL exactly
Fred was the last survivor Of a iiumcrOus
family. Nearly all Mr.. Melcombc's children
had died in infancy, and two,-the only ones
excepting Fred who had ouil!yed their earliest
years, had been taken from him under pccu-
harly-palniul circumstances. George. the old
est son, possessed the dangerous glil Of cx-
cessi>c personal beauty, combined with bold
and ndOmtablc sprit Full of tenderness aud
affection, he could be guided like lamb by
those he loved, but he lacked the judgment
which should have directed his choice of as
sOcatcs. lle was early led astray by evil
companions, and his mother alone had power
10 check his career of vice and folly. 1hat
she dH check lt,-that she did delay the DOWN
ward course of her generous but crrlng boy,
was her only consolation in afler-llic. Butthc
father, proud, stern, uncomprOmslng with a
temperament that was proof against all such
temptations, and consequently Was utterly IN
capable of estimating their force the father,
wounded in his seli-loye by the misconduct Of
his son, could not wait the result Of patient and
enduring love, Ut was for the mother TO sow
the good seed by the wayside, and, when the
fowls Of the air deyoured II, her hand might
SOW IL again, perhaps as irultlessIy as before.
But the flther knew no such mission Of for
bearing tenderness. The cumbGrcr of the earth
mus, be removed, lest II should shame the
owner Of the vineyard The dellcately-nuf-
tured boy was driven from his father 5 house.
lie found refuge in a slip bound for distant
port, and never was heard Of again. The
ocean kept It's own secret (; but many VISION
Of that gallant bark, contcnding with mountain
waves, many a ghastly dream of that bright
faced boy tossed hielcssly upon the restless wa
tcrs. haunted the slumbcrs of the IcmOrsciul
father, and wore away the life OF the bcrcaycd
mother.
Ills daughter too, his sweet Anne, she who
had been the light and music OF ms home, -
she, ioo had fallen before the spoller Con-
sumption, aud with her pcrishct the HE OF
lic in the heart of the dcsolaIe mother. In a
little while she followed her child to the grave :;
and, al the moment when Mr.. Aelcombe found
himself at the summit of prosperity in his pc
cuniary affairs, he was left almost alone amid
hls riches But he was cold, reserved and
srlEsustained. lie asked no sympathy from
others, and shutting up his Gricis IN his own
bosom, appeared the mere mCclancal, mclho-
deal man of business. The world judged hIn
by It's own standard of success. ii could count
his accommodating thousands, but 1t could not
weigh the value of his domestic bereavements,
and. as years had passed away since these
events occurred, there had been sufficient time
for people 10 forget everything except his mcr-
camille success.
Soon after the death of his wife, Mr.. Mel
conbc having found himself III want OF house
Keeper, had kindly taken into his family one n'
those unlorlunatcs known To our English
brethren by the significant name of Z" Dtdycd
G,nihtcomaH.' Mrs. Gordon was the widow
of "a clergyman, and, moreover, had the honor
of being cousin-gorman to MIR. Melcombe, who,
with his usual spirit of calculation, was thus
enabled to provide home for his poor relation,
while at tho same time he benefited hlmseh.
This arrangement proved To be completely sue
ccsslul. for Mrs. Gordon was sensible, we'll
educated woman, whose early lie had made
her acquainted with the 0leganccs OF polished
society, while the circumstances OF her mar
rage had developed her energies as well rs
her kindly affections. She was, rs Mr.. Mel
combc said. " a most superior woman and,
rs has r,l0tirc. she presided at his table with a
degree of ease aud grace that exactly suited
HIM. sGcc 1t entirely obyated all suspicion of
her real position IN his family. He was viii
ling to pay his cousin the paltry plitancc of a
housekecpcr's wages, but lac was not dcsrous
that the world should know 1t, and therefore
sie was expected To play the lady on the IN
come of an uppcr-sertant
Mrs. Gordon had one child, a little shy,
palc-iaced girl, some twelve yeats of age, aud
as her salary did not admit of heI paying board
for the little creature, Mr.. Melcombe consented
to receive her under his roof as a dependent
upon his bounty But the shelter of his roof
aud the crumbs from his table were the extent
of his bcncyolcncc, for he rarely saw the child,
and certainly never paid her the sllghtes, at
tcn,ion Fred was then in college, and his
appreciation of learning taught him Ia be- more
consdcraic He had warm affection for
Mrs. Gordon, aud when he saw the Struggle
she was making 10 afford Alice scanty edu-
cation. he insisted on furnishing, out OF hls
own private allowance, the funds necessary Tor
her proper instruction. Mrs. Gordon grateful
ly accepted his kindness, and Alice was sent
away 10 a distant school, where she remained
during some years, only returning to VISIT her
mother during the summer vacations, when
MIR. Mclcombc and Fred were always absent
from home. l
Srycrd years had passed since either had
seen the little sickly-looking child, when Mrs.
Gordon announced TO Fred that Alice would
mo longer be- claimant on his boncyolcnce, as
her education was now completed, aud she was
fitted 10 earn her own support as governess