Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-08-07
5}liscfllaneons,
A Touching Narrative.
BY LOUIS CLARK.

I have often wondered why it is that
parents and guardians do not more fire.
quentIy and cordially reciprocatc the con-
fidence of children. How hard it is to
convince a child that his father or mother
can do any wrong. Our little people are
always our sturdiest defenders; they arc
loyal to the maxim that =" the king can
do no wrong" and all the monarchs they
know are their parents. heard, the
other day, from the lips of a distinguished
physician, formerly Of New York, but
now living in elegant retirement in a
beautiful country town of Long Island, a
touching illustration Of the truth of this
sentiment.
81 have had," said the doctor, Z" a
good deal of experience in the long prac-
tice of my profession in this city, that it
is more remarkable than any thing re-
corded in the Diary of q London Physi-
seian. It wonld be impossible for; me TO;
al defsH Is 4yoa1he hundreth part Of the in.
teresting and exciting things which l saw
and heard. That which affected me
most, of late years, was the case of a
boy, not, think, over twelve years of
age. | first saw him at the hospital,
whittier, being poor and without parents,
he had been brought to die. He was the
most beautiful boy l ever bcheld. He
had that peculiar cast of countcnance
and complexion which we notice in those
who arc afflicted with frequent hemor-
rhagc Of the lungs. Ec was rery beau
tiful His brow was broad, fair and
Intellectual; his eyes had tue deep interior
blue of the sky itself; his complexion
was like the lily, tinted just below the
check bone, with a hectic flush
sAs on consumptions waning check,
Mid ruin blooms the rose
And his hair, which was as soft as floss
silk, hung in luxuriant curls about his
face. But, oh what an expression Of deep
melancholy his countenancc wore! so re-
markable,, 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 Sc
young and so beautiful talk like this
sOh,' he would say, let me die let me
die? Don't try 10 save me; want to
die! Nevertheless, he was most affec'
tionate, and was extremely grateful fol
every thing that could do for his relief
l soon won bis heart, but perceived witt
pain that his disease of body was nothing
to his sickness Of the SOUL which | coulc
not heal. He leaned upon my bosom anc
wept, while at the same time lie prayec
for death. have never seen one Of his
years who courted it so sincerely. | tried
in every way to elicit from him what il
was that rendered him so unhappy-bu
his lips were sealed, and he was like one
who tried to turn his face from something
which oppressed his spirit.
"It subsequently appeared that TIN
father of this child was hanged for mur
der, in b county, about two year
before 1t was the most cold.bloodet
homicide that had ever been known il
that country. The excitement ragged high
and I recollect that the stake and gallow
We'd with each other for the victim. Th
mob labored hard to get the man out o
the jail, that they might wrcak summar,
vengeance upon him by hanging him t
the nearest tree. But law triumphcd al,
he was hanged. Justice held up he
equal scales with satisfaction, and ther
was much trumpeting forth Of this con
summation, in which even the women
mereifll, tender.hcartcd womcn-sccme
to take delight.
Pe-ceiving the boys life to be wan
ing, l endeavored one day to turn hi
MUD to religious subjects apprehendin
no difficulty in one SO young; but he a
ways evaded the topic, | asked him
he had said his prayers. He replied:
"sOnce always-now never.
"This answer surprised me very much
and cndcayorcd gently to impress bir
with the fact that q more devout frame c
mind would be becoming in him, and wit