Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-18

to pick our baskets full of berries. And so
she was his mother remember now there
was something in his eye that seemed IA
miliar to me-"
Perhaps the mention of Marys beauty,
or the melting mood, so unusual with her
husband, might have excited vague feel
ing Of jealousy in Mrs. Barker Whatever
might have been the motive, she said, in
her demure way, without raising her eyes
from her knitting, "Wcll, it was natural
enough TO suppose the young man had a
mother; and other mothers are likely to
have hearts that can feel, as well as this
Mary Williams"
He only answered by shaking his head
slowly, and repeating, as if to himself
:" Poor Mary and so he was her son
Joseph came in, and the details of the
dreadful scene were repeated and dwelt up
on, as human beings are prone to dwell on
all that eXcites strong emotion. To him
the name of Mary Williams conjured up no
smiling visions of juvenile love; and he
strove to lortify his fathers relentng feel
ings, by placing in a strong light all the ar
guments in favor of the prisoners guilt
The juryman was glad to be thus fortified,
and replied in firm, treasured voice, " At
all events, did my duty" Yet for months
after, the pale young face looked at him de-
spairngly from the evening air, and came
between him and the sunshine. But time,
which soltens all things, drihed the dreary
spectre into dim distance; and Mr. Bark
er's faculties were again completely absorb
ed III making money for his son.
Joseph was called fine, promising young
h,,t Il. Al.
satisIactoryto his parents. He was fond of
dress and company, and his impetuous tenn
permanent not unirequently involved him in
quarrels. On two or three of these occa-
sons, they feared he had been little excl
ted by drink. Bat he was, in reality, a
good hearted fellow, and like his rough IA
Their had undeveoped germs of deep ten
derness within him. His fathers life was
bound up within his; his mother loved him
with all the energy Of which her sluggish
nature was capable; and Notwithstanding
the inequalities of his violent and caprcious
temper, the neighbors loved him also.
What then, was their CONSERVATION, when
1t was rumored that on his twenty-iourth
birthday, he had been arrested for murder !!
And alas it was too true that his passions
had thus far over-mastered his reason. He
wished to please young girl in the vicini-
ty, and she treated him coolly, because a
rival had informed her that he was seen in
toxicated, and in that state spoke over bold
ly of being sure of her love. He drank
again to drown his vexation, and while the
excitement of the draught was on him he
met the man who informed against him.
Unfortunately an axe was at hand, and, in
tIr Of al INK. hos MIL
with 1t again and again. One hour after
he would have given all he ever hoped to
possess, nay, would have gladly died, could
he have restored the life he had so wantonly
destroyed.
Thus, Mr.. Barker was again brought into
court Of justice, on an affair of life and
death. How differently all questions conl
nected with the subject presented themselves
now As he sat beside that darling son,
the pride Of his life, his only hope on earth,
oh, how he longed for words of fire, to plead
| that his young existence might be spared
for repentance and amendment How well
he remembered the juryman's plea for youth
and intoxication and with what an agony
Of self-reproach he recalled his own hard
answer With intense anxiety he watched
! the countenances of the jury for some CLEANS
OF compassion. But ever and anon, pale
young face loomed up between him and
them, and gazed at him with fixed despair
The vision of other years then returned tc
haunt him; and Joseph his best beloved
his only one, stood beside it, pale and hand
culled, as he had been. The voice thai
pronounced his son guilty sounded like an
awful echo of his own-and he seemed tc
hear Mary Williams whisper, "And my sor
also was very young"
That vigorous off-shoot from his own ex
istence, so full of life and feeling, and alas
OF passion, which misguides us all-ht
must die No earthly power can save him
, May the ALI MERcIrUL sustain that poo
father, as he watches the heavy sumber o
his only son in that dark prison. and while
: he clasps the cold hand remembers so wei
| the dlmpled fingers he used to hold in his
5 when little Joe sat upon his knee and prat
t tied childish love.
: And the ALL MERCIFuL wdS with him
, and sent influences to sustain him through
l that terrible agony. 1t did not break hi
heart; it melted and subdued him. The
CONCEALED sympathies of his nature howet
3 under this ordeal of fire and for the frs
time, he had aTealzing sense that ever
human being Is, or has been, somebody
j little Joe.
/ How kind you are to me-" said til
prisoner, in answer to his soothing word
and allectionate attentions.
a lie replied meekly," would had Away
been so" Then turning his face away
and earnestly pressing Joseph's hand, h
said, in an agitated voice, "Tell me truly
my son, does it ever occur to you, that
may have been to blame for this great mis-
: fortune that has belollen you!"
You, dear father" he exclaimed, 81 d
e not understand what you mean"
= Still keeping his face turned away, an
speaking with effort, Mr. Baker said, ID
n you remember once when | was beatn
;, my horse cruelty (you were boy oftwelv
v then,) neighbor Goodwin remarked to me
s that | was giving bad lesson to my son
l. was angry with him at the time; and pei
, haps that resentment helped to make m
G hard towards a poor young fellow who
4 dead and gone; but his words keep ring
= ing in my ears now. May God, in His mel
cy, forgive me, if | have ever done or sal
S any thing TO lead you into this great SIM
! Tell me, Joseph do YOU ever think it nigh