Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-06-05
The Timely Warnin.---A Thrill
fiuE Story.

nv father, after an absence of three years,
returned to the home so dear to him. He
had made his last voyage, and rejoiced to
have reached haven of rest from the perlls
Of the sea. During his absence had grown
from a mere child and baby of my mothers /;
(for was her youngesD into rough care
less, and headstrong boy. Her gentle voice
no longer restrained me. | Was often wiltul,
and sometimes disobediant. ! thought it in-
dicated manly superiority to be Independent
Of a woman's influence. My fathers return
was a fortunate circumstance for me. He
soon perceived the spirit Of insubordination
stirring within nc. | saw by bis manner
that it displeased him, although, for few
days, he said nothing to me about it.
Ii was an afternoon in October, bright and
golden, that NY father told me to get my hat,
and take walk with him. We turned down
a narrow lane into fine open ield-a favor
lite play ground for The children in the neigh
borhood. After talking cheerfully on differ
ent topics for while, my father asked me ifI
observed that huge shadow, thrown by mass
of rocks that stood in the middle of the field.
/ replied that did.
MY father owned this land said he. 1t
was my play ground when boy. That rock
stood there then. TO me it is beacon, and
whenever look at it, recall dark spot in
my life--an event so painful to dwell upon,
that if it were not as a warning to you
| should not speak Of it. Listen then, my
dear boy, and learn wisdom of your fathers
errors
my father died when was mere child.
was the only son. My mother was gen.
tie, loving woman, devoted to her children
and beloved by every body. l remember her
pale, beautiful face-her sweet, affectionate
smile-her kind and tender voice In my
childhood loved her intensely; 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. After associ-
ating a time with rude, rough boys, lost, in
4 measure my fondness for home, and my rev.
crence for my mother, and it became more
and more difficult for her to restrain my ini-
petuous nature. | thought it an indication OF
manliness to resist her authority, or to appear
to feel penitent, although | knew that my
conduct panied her. The epithet / most
dreaded was girl-boy. | could not bear to
hear it said by my companions that was tied
to my mothers apron strings From quiet,
home-loring child, soon became wild,
roisterous boy. My dear mother used every
persuation to induce me to seek happiness,
within the precincts ohome. She exerted
herself to make our freside attractive, and my
sister, following her self-sacrifcing example,
sought to entice me by planning games and
diversions for my entertainment saw all
this but did not heed it.
1T was on an afternoon like this, that, as
was about leaving the dinner table, to spend
the intermission between morning and even
ing the school in the street, as usual, my
mother laid her hand on my shoulder, and
said mildly, but firmly, My son, wish you to
come with me- would have rebelled, but
something in her manner awed me. She put
oa ner bonnet and said to me, we will take
little walk together followed her in si-
ience; and. as | was passing out the door
observed one of my rude companions skuik-
ing about tbe house. knew he was waiting
for me. lie sneered as went past him. nv
pride was wounded to the quick. He was a
very bad boy. but being some years older than
myself, he exercised a great influence over