Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-04-26
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THE TIMELY WARNIN

NY father, after an absence Of three
years, returned 10 the home so dear to him.
He had made his last voyage, and rejoiced
to have reached haven of rest, from the
periIs of the sea During his absence !
had grown from a mere child and baby OF
my mother's-ior | was her youngest
into a rough, careless and headstrong boy.
Her gentle voice no longer restrained me.
/ was often wilful, and sometimes diSobe-
dient. / thought it indicated manly supe-
riority to be independent of woman's in
fluence. My fathers return was fortu-
nate circumstance for me. He soon per-
ceived the spirit of insubordination stirring
within me. l saw by his manner that it
displeased him, although for few days, he
said nothing to me about it.
1t was an afternoon in October, bright
and golden, that my father told me to get
my hat, and take a walk with him. We
turned down a narrow lane into fine
open feld-a iavorite play ground for the
children in the neighborhood. After talk
ing cheeriuly on different topics for
while, my father asked me il observed
that huge shadow, thrown by mass OF
rocks that stood in the middle of the field.
| replied that ! did. 'NIy father owned
this land,' said he. 'It was my play ground
when boy. That rock stood there then.
To me it was a beacon; and whenever l
look at it., recall dark spot in my life
an event so painful to dwell upon, that if
it was not as warning 10 you should not
speak of 1t. Listen, then, my boy, and
learn wisdom from your fathers errors.
NV father died when was mere child.
l was the only son my mother was a
gentle, loving woman, devoted to her chill
| dren, and beloved by every body. / re-
member her pale, beautiful face-her sweet
aflectionate smile-her kind and tender
voice. In my childhood loved her in
tensely; | was never happy apart from
her and she, fearing that was becoming
too much of baby, sent me TO the high
school in the village. Alter associating a
time with rude, rough boys, lost in a
measure, my fondness for home and my
reverence for my mother, and IT became
more and more difficult for her to restrain
my impetuous nature. thought it an in
dIcation OF manliness to resist her authority
and not appear TO feel penitent, although |
knew that my conduct panied her. The
epithet / most dreaded was girl boy,
could not bear to have it said by my COM
panons that j was tied to my mothers
apron strings. From quiet, home-loving
child, soon became wild, roistering boy
my dear mother used every persuasion &c
induce me to seek happiness within the
precincts OF home. She exerted herself tc
make our freside attractive, and my sister
following her seli-sacrificlng example
sought 10 entice me by planning games ant
diversions for my entertainment. saw
all this, but did not heed It.
'lt was on an afternoon like this, that a
| was about leaving the dinner table tt
spend the intermission between morning
and evening school in the street, as usual
{ my mother laid her hand upon my shoulde
l. and said mildly out firmly, son, i wisl
you to come with me- ] would have re
belled; but something in her manner awe
me. She put on her bonnet and said 4
me, Eve will take little walk together
l followed her in silence; and, as wen
out the door / observed one of my rud
). companions skulking about the house, an
: knew he was waiting for me. He sneer
d ed as / went past him. My pride wa
i wounded to the quick. He was yer
bad boy, but being some years older tha
myself, he exercised great influence owe
me, ] followed my mother sulkily till "