The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-31

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and killed him instantly mere accident ot
course, but vet dreadful casualty, which
drove reason from the throne Of the unhappy
, mother-when ] read this, thought OF what
had occurred in my own sanctum only week
1 or two before; and the lesson which received
was good one, and will remain with me tor-
? ever.
NY little boy, dark-eyed, ingenious, aud
- frank hearted child as ever breathed-thongh
nerhops {" saw it who ought not to say it.
$ still L do say it-had been playing about my
table, on leaving which for moment, found
l ON my return, that my long poreuplne-qnill
handled pen was gone ! asked the little fell
low what he had done with it. lie answered
at once that he had not seen it. Alter re-
newed search for it, charged him in the face
Of his declaration. with having taken aud mis-
laid or lost it. lie looked me earnestly III
the face, and said:
"No, | didat take It, father"
then took him upon my lap, enlarged mp
on the Nervousness OF telling an untruth; told
him that did not care so much about the
pen; and in short, by the manner in which
reasoned with him, almost offered him re-
ward for the confession-the reward, be 1t un-
derstood, IA dear one to him. Of standing
firm in his fathers love and regard. The
tears had welled up into his eyes, and he SEEM
ed about to ''tell me the whole truth. when
my eye caught the end of the pen protruding
from PORTFOLIO, where myself had placed
it, in returning sheet OF manuscript to one
Of the compartments. All this may seem
: mere trifle to you-and perhaps it is; yet
shall remember it for long time.
But desire now to narrate to you a clrcum-
, stance which happened in the family Of a
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 ev-
, cry father and mother who has cry sympathy
/ with, or affection for their children. That it
is entirely true, you may be well assured: ]
was convinced Of this when | opened the let
ter from i. IL. Is. which announced it, and in
! the detail OF the event which was subsequent
/, Iy furnished me.
. few weeks before he wrote, he had bu.
: ried his eldest sou, fine, manly little fellow,
of some eight years of age, who had never, he
. said known a DAYS illness until that which
' finally removed him hence to be here no more.
His death occurred under circumstances
which were peculiarly painful to his parents,
, A younger brother, a delicate, sickly child
= from its birth, the next in age to him, had
1 been down for nearly fortnight with an Gp-
. idemic fever. In consequence of the nature
y, Of the disease, every precaution had been
I adopted that prudence suggested to guard the
: other members Of the family against it. But
- of this one, the fathers eldest, he said he
- had little to fear, so rugged was he, and sc
u generally healthy. Still, however, he kept Q
vigiOnt eye upon him, aud especially forbade
|, his going into the pools and docks near hi
=, school, which it was his custom sometimes t.
u . visit for he was but a boy, and "boys riH bt
n boys" aud We ought more frequently to thiui
I that it is their HatHre to be. OF all unnatura
g things, rcproach almost to childish frank
or ness and innocence, save me from "G0l
:" maH!' But to the story.
o. One evening this unhappy father came hom
N wearied with long days hard labor, and vex
- cd at some little disapp0intmeQts which haD
80 soured his naturally Kind disposition, and ren
~ dCrGd him peculiarly sensible to the snalles
u annoyance. While he was sitting by the fire
No. in this unhappy mood of mind, his vile en-
tered the apartment and said:
or "lleury has Just come in, and he is perfeC
rs. fright! lie is covered from head to foot wit
,n5 dock mud, and is wet as drowned Tatl
~" "Where is he?' asked the father, sternly
~ Gle is shiyerng over the kitchen fire. ii
.e was afraid to comeup here wheL the girl tol
him you had come home"
80, "Tcll Jane to tell him to come here this in
If slant! was the brief reply to this informa
l. ton.
H. Presently the poor boy entered, half perish
az cd with alright and cold. His father CLAN
= ced at his sad plight reproached him bitterl,
with his disobcdience, spoke OF the punish
T. meGt which awaited him in the morning, a!
Y the penalty for his offence; and, in a harsl
nc voice. concluded with:
u Now, sir, 20 to bed.''
ID "But father" said the little fellow, "l
/ want to tell yOu-"
= Not aword, sir, go TO 6cd"
II 81 only wanted to say, father. that"
.e With pcremptory stamp, an imperative
wave of his hand towadS the door, and
J frown upon his brow, did that father, withou
Z other speech again close the door of explana
! tion or eTpostulation.
" When this boy had gone supperless aud sal
le to his bed; the father sat restless and uneas,
e while suppcrw being prepared; aud at tea
n table ate but little. His wife saw the rea
Il cause, or the additional cause Of his emotion
and intcrposed the remark:
81 think, my dear, you ought at least Il
have heard what Henry had to say. My hear
aChed for him when he turned away, with hi
" eyes full Of tears. Henry is a good boy aite
IL all, if he does sometimes do wrong. lie is
a tender-hcartCd, a!fectionate boy. lie alway
u was.
a And therewithal the water stood in the eye
to Of that forgiving mother, even rs lit stoo d il
ID in the eyes Of Mercy, I'm the house Of the in
n. tcrprctcr,' as recorded by Bunyan.
Nv After tea, the eTenng paper was taken up
but there was no news and nothing Of iute
Die rest or that father in the journal of that even
Mn ing. lie sat for some time in an cyidentl,
,gc painful revere, and then rose and repaired t
,ed his bed chamber. As he passed the bcd-rooI
her where his little boy slept, he thought he woul
he look in npOn him.
* A big tear had stolen down the boys chee
,as and rested upon it but he was sleeping calm
he ly and swectly. The father deeply regrette
it hr harshncss as he gazed upon bis son; be fe
? a also the "scnse Of duty" yet in the nigh
l- talking over the matter with the lads motbe
fl he resolved and promised, instead of punishin
IT. as he had threatened, to make amends to II
boys aggrieved spirit in the morning, for Il
he manner in which he had repelled all explani
IT, tiOn Of his offence.
lat Bnt that morning never came to the DO,
Of child in health. lie awoke the next mornia
he with a raging fever on his brain, and wild wit
r dClrium. In forty eight hours he was in h
be shroud. lie knew neither his father nor h
as mother, when they were first called to h
en- bedside nor any moment afterwards. Wal
ld ing, watching, for one token of recognition
nr hour after hour, in speechless agony, did thi
Il. unhappy father bend over the couch of his dy
ing son. Once indeed he thonght be saw
b. smile of recognition, light up his dying eyt
and he leaned eagerly forward, for he wOnl
r have given worlds to have whispered one kin
Ir word in his ear, and have been answered; bu
IN that CLEAN OF apparent intelligence passe
e quickly away, and was succeeded by the cold
j. unmeaning glare and the wild tossing of tn
/: feYered limbs, which lasted until death cam
1t to his relief.