Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-05-08
Touching Narrative.

But L desire to narrate to YOU cir
cumstance which happened in the family
of friend and correspondent of mine in
the city Of Boston, some ten years ago,
the history Of which will commend itself
to the heart of every father and mother
who has any sympathy with, or affection
for, their children. | was convinced of
this when [ opened the letter from l.. II.
D., which announced it, and in the
detail of the event which was subsequent
ly furnished me.
A few weeks before he wrote, he had
buried his eldest son, fine, manly little
fellow, of some eight or ten years of age,
who had never, he said, known days
illness until that which finally removed
him hence to be here no more. His
death occurred undercircumstances, which
were peculiarly painful to his parents. A
younger brother, delicate, sickly child
from his birth, the next in age to him,
had been down for nearly fortnight with
an epidemic fever. In consequence of
the nature of the disease, every precau-
tion had been adopted that prudence sug-
gested to guard the other members of the
family against it. But ofthis one, the faith
er's eldest, he said he had little fear, so
rugged was he, and so generally healthy.
Still, however, he kept a vigilant eye u
pom him, and especially forbade his go
ing into the pools and docks near his
school, which it was his custom some
times to visit; for he was but boy, and
boys will be boys and We ought more
frequently to think it is their nature to
be. Of all natural things, reproach al
most to childish frankness and innocence,
save me from a boy man." But to the
story =
One evening this unhappy father came
home wcaried> with long days labor
and vexed at some little disappointment,
which had soured his naturally kind dis
position, 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 a
perfect fright; he is covered with dock
mud, and he is as wet as drowned rat.
where is he?' asked the father, sternly
He is shivering over the kitchen fire.
He was afraid to come here, when the
girl told him you had come home
Tell Jane to tell him to come here
instantly was the brief reply to this in
formation.
Presently the boy entered, half perish
ed with fright and cold. His father CLAN
ced at his sad plight, reproached him
bitterly with his disobedienee, spoke of
the punishment which awaited him in the
morning, as the penalty of his offence,
and in a harsh voice concluded with
Now sir, go to your bed ("
But, father said the little fellow, l
want to tell you
Not word, sir; 60 to bed
Il only wanted to say, father that
With peremptory stamp, and imper-
atiyc wave of his hand towards the door,
and a frown upon his brow, did that faith
er, without another speech, again close
the door of explanation or expostulation,
When his boy had gone supperless and
sad to bed, the father sat reckless and
uneasy while supper was being prepared;
and at tea table ate, but little. His wife
saw the real cause or the additional cause
of his emotion, and interposed the re-
mark:
Il think, my dear, you ought at least
to have heard to what Henry had to say.
My heart ached for him when he turned
away, with his eyes full of tears. Hen
ry is good boy after all, if he does some
times do wrong. Heis tender hearted,
affectionate boy
And therewithal the water stood IN the
eyes of that forgiving mother, even as it
stood in the eyes ofMercy, in the house