Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-04-03

4 TOUCHING NARRATIVE,
BY LOUIS GAYLORD CLARK.


have often wondered why it is that pa
rents and guardians do not more frequently
aud cordially reciprocate the confidence OF
children. How hard a thing it IS to con-
vince child that his father or mother can
do nothing wrong. Our litile people are
always our sturdlest defenders; they are
loyal to the maxim, that the king can do
no wrong" and all the monarchs they ever
know are their parents ! heard the other
day, from the lips of distinguished physi-
clan, formerly of New York, but now living
IN elegant retirement in beautiful country
town of Long Island, touching illustration
of the truth of this sentiment.
have had, said the Doctor, a good
deal of experience in the long practice of
my profession IN this city, that Is more re-
markable than any thing recorded in the
Diary of London Physician. Ii would
be impossible for me 20 detail to you the
nundreth part of the interesting aud excu-
ing things which | saw and heard. That
which affected me most, of late years, was
the case of boy, not, | think, over twelve
years of age. | first saw him at the hospi-
tai, whittier, being poor and without parents,
he had been brought to die. lie was the
most beautiful boy | ever beheld lie had
the peculiar cast of countenance and com
plexion which we notice in those who are
afflicted with frequent hemorrhage of the
lungs. He was Uery beautiful His brow
was broad, fair and intellectual his eyes
had the deep interior blue of the sky itself /;
his complexion was like the lilly, tinted Just
below the cheek bone, with hectic flush
As on cOnsump,ion's waning cheek,
mid ruin blooms the rose
And his hair, which was as soft as floss silk f.,
hung in luxuriant curls about his face
But, oh what an expression Of deep mel
ancholy his countenance wore so remark
able, that | felt certain that the fear of death
had nothing to do with it. And was right
Young as he was, he did not wish to live
He repeatedly said that death was what he
most desired and it was truly dreadful TO
hear one so young and so beautiful talk
like this. Oh, he would say, let me die !
let me die Don't try 10 save me; want
to die = Nevertheless, he was most affec-
tlonate, and was extremely grateful for eve
~ thing that could do for his relief
soon won his heart, but perceived with pain
that his disease of body was nothing to his
sickness of the soul which | could not
heal. lie leaned upon my bosom and wept,
while at the same time he prayed for death
| have never seen one of his years who
courted it SO sincerely. tried in every
way to elicit from him what it was that rem
dered him 90 uuhappy-but his lips were
sealed, aud lie was like one who tried to
turn his face from something which oppres-
sed his spirit.
g IL subsequently appeared that the father
of this child was hanged for murder, in B.
county, about two years befo.e. TWAS the
most coid blooded homicide that had ever
been known in that country. The excite
ment ragged high and | recollect that the
stake aud the gallows Wed with each other
for the victim. The mob Iabored hard to
get the man out of the jail, that they might
wreak summary vengeance upon him by
hanging him to the nearest tree. But law
trlumphed, and he was hanged. Justice
held up her equal scales with satisfaction,
and there was much trumpetlng forth oil
this consummation, in which even the wo.
men-merciiul, tendeT-hearled women-
seemed TO take delight.
Perceiylng the boys life to be waning
| endeayored one day to turn his mind to
religious subjects, experimenting no Difficult
ty in one so young but he always eyaded
the topic. | asked him if he said his pray
ers. He replied
Once always-now never
This answer surprised me very much
and endeavofed gently to impress him
with the fact that more deyoul frame OF
mind would be becoming in him, and with
the great necessity of his being prepared to
die; but he remained silent.
A few days aiterward | asked him il
he would permit me to send for the Rev.
DIR. b., most kind man in sickness, who
would be Of the utmost service to him in his
present situation. He declined firmly and
positively. Then determined to solve this
mystery, and to understand this strange
phase OF character in a mere child. My
dear boy, said !, Iimplore you not to acl