The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-07-14
THE ONLY SON.

One fine summer evening, as L was II
ding with friend through handsome viii
lage in the central part of New York, and
admiring the beauties he pointed out to me
with all the pride and precision of the cold
est inhabitant," my attention was attract
ed by an aged couple, dressed in deep
mourning, who were walking slowly down
shaded avenue in front Of one of the most
beautiful residences in the place.
The feeble steps of the old lady, who
leaned heavily on the arm other companion,
and the expression OF deep and lasting sor
row which possessed her Thin and pallid fea-
lures contrasted with the firm tread, and
stern solmcn aspect of the old man, awoke
my curiosity, and l enquircd ii there was
not some domestic history of interest con-
nected with this venerable couple.
LH"There is indeed" replied my friend.
"You recall to my mind one of the most
singular incidents--the most startling trage-
dy, in short-which our goodly village ever
Witnessed"
"That old and sorrow stricken coaple."
pursued my friend, "may bee seen, twice or
thrice week. oftener when the weather is
fne-walklng down the avenue in just such
o manner-never any faster-neyer any
slower o..
you see them now getting into the car
riage, which had just rolled up to the gate
They will ride mile, when the carriage will
stop, and they will walk through another
gate, which is of iron, hanging between
posts of iron, all black as ebony. They
EnlJ hirI, CT
sweety these fine mornings; lonely field,
however, were their are no dwellings above
ground, yet there are great many inhabi-
tants-the rich and the poor interminged
and resting on the same level, about foul
feet beneath the soil!
This aged couple are going to visit the
grave of their only child.
1t was son. Twill tell the history if yor
willlisten. ...
The old man was once the most enter
prising, the boldest and most resoute mar
insthe vicinity. His name is Col. H
You have heard of him, for he distinguish
ed himself in the last war. People used to
say he was made of iron. Yet he has one
ofthemost upright generous hearts in the
world. a,.r ..l
The old lady, | remember, as lady o
great beauty, not more than twenty years
ago when she was about forty. Besides sh'
was quite as celebrated for genteness ant
benevolence, as the Col. for his iron will
She. had soft, affectionate heart, whicl
shone beni6cially on all, until its warmtl
was concentrated in an only child.
He was wild, handsome, p,ssionate boy
generous at times, but oftene tyrannical an
wilful. ID We were schoolmates, and we a
ways played together untilhe was sent ava
to an academy, when our intimacy ceased
Isaw him rarely afterwards, until havin
been expelled from college for striking pre-
fessor, lin fit of passion, he returned to h
fathers house.
Morgan. in his childhood, had been Ell
dulged and icaressed by his fond mothe
and his father treated him with undue 81
verify. The Colonel loved his boy, but !
believed in the necessity ofdiscipline to cul
his passions, while Mrs. Fl weeping ov
the stern treatment other darling, endea
ored to make up for it in indulgence The
the boy grew up to fear his father, and I
feel acontempt for the authority OF his mot
er.,a.-- = ,ts,sss .,flfs. e
Well, on Morgan's return from college
disgrace, he wasso changed that you wouI
hardly have known him, not so much in h
personal appearance, for he was still ham
some. butin his reputation Of being the mo
reckless and dissipated fellow in college.
Col. H. was terribly enraged at the di
grace his wild son had brought on hims'
and family. He treated him with greater S
verify than ever, refusing to CRAFTY his 10
ofpleasure BY furnishing him With funds, a.
subjecting him to the most rigid diciplir
The sresultwas, father and son had ter
rible quarrel, in which the latter, bold
facing the thunders Of the Colonel's wrat
proved himself to have inherited his ir