The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-06-13

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what his goodness gave: No, i prayed
without ceasing, but ! I,cboose the ables.
sing. Iprayed fora son, my prayers
Were ut tflaatf tfgranted, ayson was born to
us,--ai beautiful, healthy. boy. I thought
myself perfectly happy. My delight
was more than ever to live in the pleas.
ant retirement Of my own home, SO that
year after year passed away and only
settled me down more entirely in the
habits Of domestic life. My boy grew
up to be q tall and healthy lad; his intel
.lect was far beyond his years; aud
loved to make him my companion, as
mucl, from the charming freshness Of his
Thoughts, as from the warmth of my
attachment towards the child. Ilearn-
ed to wonder at the satisfaction. I had
once felt in more worldly society, as
studied the character Of my son. He
was not without the faults which all
children possess, which are rooted deep
in human nature; but in all his faults,
in his deceit--and what child is not
taught deceit by his own heart? there
was q charming awkwarkness, an ab.
sence fall worldly trick, which appear
ed tlien very new to mel used all my
efforts to prevent vice from becoming
habitual to him; I strove to teach him
the goyernn ent Of himself, by referring
not only every action, butevery thought
to. one high and holy principle ofthink-
iiEg and acting to God; and stroye to
build up consistent habits on the found
alton of holy principle. Twas so anx-
ious about my. son that I did not dare
to treat his faults with a foolish indul-
lgence. Taught him to know that I
could punish, ind that [ would be obey
ed yet he lived with me, / think, in
all confidence ofspeech and action, and
seemed never so happy as when he sat
at my feet, and asked me, lin the eager
ness ofhis happyffancies, more ques-5
tions than Icould, ,initrutli, answer ST
cannot 50 on speaking thus of those joy
GUS times which arc gone forever
will turn to darker subjectto myself.
While I gave up my time, my thoughts,
my SOULS best energies to my child, 1
neglected myself, the Improvement of
my own heart, and its dispositions.
This may seem strange and improbable
to some. 1t may be imagined that the
habits of strict virtue which ] taught.to
my son, would, in the the teaching, have
been learnt by myself; and that, in the
search after sound wisdom for him. I
must have turned up, as it were, many
treasures needed BY myself. It would
be SO in most instances percbance; twas
not SO in mine. The glory Of God had
not been my first wish whenI prayed
for son. I had imposed upon myself,
in thinking that Iacted in'the education
of my child upon that sacred principle.
1t was honor among men | looked for.
/ had sought to make my son every
thing that was excellent, but / had not
sought to make myself ft for the work
! undertook. My own natural faults
had been suffered By me to grow almost
unchecked, while I had been watchful
over the heart ofmy child. Above all,
the natural infrmity of my character
anger, violent, outrageous anger, was
at times the master, the tyrant of my
soul. Zoo frequently had / corrected
my child for the faults which he inheri.
ted from me; but how had I done so?
when passionately angry myself, I had
punished my boy for want of temper.
Could it be expected that Maurice would
profit by my instructions, when my cx.
ample too often belied my wordss But
| will pass onat once to my guilt. .iT
The Countess, MY mother, had given
to Maurice beautiful Arabian horse.
1 loved to encourage the boy in all man.
ly exercises. While a mere child he
rode with grace which Ihave seldom
seen surpassed by the best horsemen.
How nobly would hc bear himself, as
side by side on our fleet horses, we flew
over the open country! Often, often
do behold in memory, his clear spark
ling eyes glancing with intelligence: his
fair brow contracted with thatslight and
peculiar frown, which gives assurance
that the mind shares in the smile of tho
lips. Often do I see before me the pure