The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-07-25
TOUCHING STORY.

m'vc, IN the city Of boston. some ten
ycass ago. the history Of which will
commend itself TO the heart of every
father and mother who hiss any sympa.
thy with, or affection for their children.
] ~as convinced of this when I opened
the letter from l.. A. i. which an.
noanc~d IL, and in the detail of the C..
ven, which was subsequently, furnished
me.
a few weeks before he wrote, he had
buried his eldes, son. a fine, manly li,.
ue fellow, Of rme eight years Of age,
who had never. lac said, known a days
illness until tha, which finally moved
him hence TO be here no more. His
death occurred under oircumstan ces
which was peculiarly painful TO his pa
rents. A younger brother, delicate
sickly child from lis birth. next in age
TO him. had been down for nearly n
fortnight with an epidemic fever. In
consequence of the nature of the dis.
ease, every precau.ion had been adopt
cd that prudence suggested to guard
the other members Of the family agans,
it. But OF this one, the fathers eldest,
he said, had little fear. 50 rugged was
he and 70 gencraly healthy. Still, how
ever. lie kept a vigilant eye upon him.
and especially forbade his going into
pools and docks near his schools, M,ich
il was the custom sometimes TO visit |;
for he WAS but boy, and "boys will
be boys" and VIC ough: more frequent
ly TO think that il is their nature to be.
OF all natural things, reproach al
most TO childish frankness and inno-
ccnce, save me from "boy man ~
But 10 the story.
One evening this unhappy father
came home, wearicd with a long days
labor and vexcd at some little disap-
pointment. which had soured his na,u-
raj kind disposition, and rendered him
peculiarly susceptible to the smallest
annoyance. While he was sitting by the
fire in this unhappy mood Of mind.
his wife entered the apartment and
said:
Henry has Just come in, and he is
perfect fright; he is covered from
head TO foot with dock mud, and is as
wet rs "A drowned rat
Where is he ? asked the father stern
ly.
He is shivcrinc over the kitchen
fire. lie was afraid to come here,
when the girl told him you had come
home.
Tell Jane to tell him to come here
this instant was the brief reply to this
information.
Presently the boy entered, half per-
ishcd with alright and cold. His faith
cr Hanged at his sad plight, rcproach-
ed him bitterly with his disobcdicnce,
spoke Of the punishment: which await
ed linn in the morning as the penalty
/ for his offence, and i'll a harsh voice
concluded with
Now. sir, 20 10 your bed "
But. father, said the little fellow
i wan, to !ell you
Not "A word, sir, 20 to bed"
Il only wanted to say. father, that
With a percmp,ory stamp, an i'm
pcra.ivc wave of the hand towards the
door, and a frown upon his brow, dlo
that father, without another spcecl
again close the door Of explanation o.
eApostulation.
When his boy had gone suppcrless
aud sad T. bed, the father sat restless
and uneasy while supper was being
prepared and, at tea-table, ate but lit
tie. His wife saw the real cause or th'
additional cause Of his emotion, an'
in,crposed the rcmark-
think, my dear, you ought Mt leas
to have heard what Henry had 10 say
NV hear, ached for him when he turn
ed away. with his eyes full of tears
Henry IS good boy after all, if b
does sometimes do wrong. He is a GOO
hearted, aHec,ionate boy. lie aiway
was"
And therewi.hal the wafer stood i
the eyes Of that forgiving mother, eve
as i, stood in the eyes Of Mercy, -
: the house Of the Interpreter US rc
corded by Bunyan.
Alter tea, the evening paper was IA
ken up; but there was no news an
nothing Of interest for that father in ill
Journal Of that evening. lie sa, ft
some time in an evideally painful rev
+ cry, and then rose aud repaired TO Ia
; bed-chamber. As he passed the be
= room where the little boy slept, B
!, though, he would look in upon him b
, fore retiring to rest. A big tear hs
stolen down the boys check, and res
|. cd upon j, bu, lie was sleeping cain
y ly and swee,ly. The fathet deeply r
. grct,cd has harshness as he gazed up'
I his son he fell also, his sense Of duty
= yet, in the night, talking the malt
>. over With the lads mother, he resolv'
and promised, instead Of furnishing
!. be threatened, to make amends to d
= boys asgriesed spirit in the mornin
!. " for the manner in which be had rep
. led all explanation Of his eaeaee-
~ Bm thai morning never came
!. ,ha, poor child ia health. lie awo
the next morning ~ah rag.
., fever in he brain, and Wild with
"A Lriun. In forty eight hours he WAS
IA. k.z~ s.~ifhSF has