Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-09-19

icsteo uP"h u, out lie was sleeping calm
ly and sweetly. The father deeply re-
GREETED his harshness as he gazed upon his
son he felt also the "sen>e of duty ;"yet
in the night, talking the matter over with
the lads mother, he resolved, and prom
ised instead Of furnishing, as he had
threatened, TO make amends to the bows
aggravated spirit, in the morning, for the
manner in which he had repelled all ex-
planation Of his offence.
But that morning never came to the
poor child in health He awoke the next
morning with raging fever on his brain,
and with delirium. In forty-eight hours
he was in his shroud. He knew neither
his father or mother, when first called TO
his bedside, nor at any moment afterward
Waiting, watching, for one token of recog-
milton, hour after hour, in speeches. ag-
ony, did that unhappy father bend over
the couch of bis d lying son. Once indeed
he thong ht he saw smile Of recognition
light up his dying eye, and he leaned
eagerly forward, for he would have
given worlds to have whispered one kind
word in his ear, and have been ans >wered;
but that CLEAN OF apparent intelligence
passed quickly away, and was succeeded
by the cold unmeaning glare, and the wild
tossing Of the ievered limbs, which lasted
until death came TO his relief.
Two days after, the undertaken came
with the little coffin, and his little son a
play Of the deceased boy; bringing the
low stools on which it was to stand in the
entry-hall.
II was with Henry" said the lad,
"when he got into the water. We were
playing down on the Long Wharf, Henry
and Charles Munlord, and and the tide
was out very low and there was beam
run out from the wharf; and Charles got
out on il to get fish line and hook that
hung over where the water was deep,
and the first thing we saw, he had slipped,
and he was struggling in the water
Henry threw off his cap and jumped clear
from the wharf into the water. and after
a great deal of hard work, got Charles out;
and they waded up through the mud TO
where the wharf was not so wet and slip
perry and then helped them TO climb up
the side. Charles told Henry not TO say
any thing about it, for if he did, his father
would never let him go near the water
again. Henry was very sorry, and all
the way going home he kept saying
"What will father say when he sees me
tonight? | wish we had not gone to the
wharf,
Dear, brave boy :" exclaimed the be-
reaved father land this was the ex xplana-
ton which cruelty refused 10 hear!'
and hot and bitter tears rolled down his
cheeks.
Yes, that stern father now learned, and
! for the first time, that what he had treated
with unwonted severity as a fault, was
! but the impulse Of generous nature,
which, forgetul Of self, had hazarded life
for another. 1t was but the quick prompt
ing Of tina; manly spirit which he himself
had always endea, ored to graft upon his
susceptible mind, and which, yonng as he
was, had already manifested itself on NOR C
than one occasion.
Let me close this story in the very
words of that father, and let the lesson
sink deep into the heart of every parent
who shall pursue this sketch.
"Everything that now see, that ever
belonged to him, reminds me of my lost
boy. Yesterday found some rude pencil
sketches which was his delight to make
for the amusement Of his Younger brother.
To-day in rumaging an old closet, | came
across his boots, still covered with dock
mud, as when he last wore them. (You
may think it strange, but that which is
usually so unsightiy an object is now most
precious to me.) And every morning
and evening, pass the ground where my
sons voice rang the merriest among his
playmates.
GAN these things speak to me vividy
of his active life; but cannot-though |
have often tried-I cannot recall any other
expression of the dear boys face, than
that mute, mournful one with which he
turned from me on that night so har,hly
repulsed him. Then my heart bleeds
afresh.
"Oh, how carefel should we all be that
in our daily conduct towards those little
beings sent US by kind Providence, we
are not laying up for ourselves the sources
Of many, future bitter tear. How cau-
tious that neither by inconsidetate nor
cruel word or look. we unius'ly grieve
their generous feeling. And how grad
uallv ought we TO weigh every action
against It's motive, lest in IA moment of ex-
element, we be led to mete out TO ;he ve-
NAL errors of the head the punishment
due only to wilful crime.
ALAS perhaps few parents suspect
bow often the fierce reOuke, the sudden
blow is answered in their children by
the tears, not Of passion nor of physical or
mental pain, but of a loving, yet grieved
or outraged nature
| will add no word 10 reflections so
true no correla1ive incident 10 an expe-
rience so touching.
The following Imaginable anecdote Of
the funeral Of Bristol Alderman, is told
by Southey:
"As soon as he knew his case was des-
perate, he called together all the persons
to W HON he was indebted in his mercan-
tile concerns sGentlemen, said he, 4 am
going to die, and my death will be an in
convenience to you, because it will be
some time before you can get your ac-
connts settled with my executors; now,
if YOU will allow me handsome discount,
III settle them at once They came into