Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-12-22

1
and here were his parents dependent upon
him for their all.
Three times he heard his mother open their
door, and murmur, as she stood at the head
Of the forlorn old staircase, wouder what
Keeps Herman SO long2' but be could not
.As6nafon courage TO meet ter !; he know that
his excited manner would send foreboding
to her gentle heart, and it was like The pangs
of death to reveal the truth to her,
But this supineness does not help the
matter, at last he said, reSolutcly rising,
sitting in the Geld and shiverlng, or shed
ding foolish tears, will not obtain me anoth-
er Office, most surely; so be threw off his
shabby cloak, smoothed back his curling
hair, then relaxing his features into what
might seem Ike his accustomed smile, he
marched boldly into the room.
Truly some metamorphoSis had taken place
the wand of conjuver had been there, or
fairy times had come again /; for never since
his remembrance of better days, when he liv-
ed in splendor, had he seen so cheerful an
apartment. Two candies were burning
not tallow, but shining wax-on tie narrow
mantle; a coal irs sparkled in the CRATE,
throwing its grateful heat and ruddy light
all over the room, and most layishly was tue
anthracite heaped on. There was honey up
on the table white. warm biscuit smoked
before him. and q luscious steak occupied
he cssttre Of tlle-liGen cIeeh.s tEiaesealy-rsl-
&c OF olden times, a small but massive silver
pitcher, which the good mother had religious
ly preserved, was filled with milk whose
creamy froth faxed lis FURNISHED sides
And there, too, was hot tea luxury that
only his father had enjoyed oflate; and bro
ken crystals Of loaf sugar what did itmean?
Herman gazed around bewildefsd; his moth
er seemed nervous, yet happy, and grim
smile slowly crept over his fathers features,
broadening and deepening, till with start
ling Ha, ha y be exclaimed.
Sit down, boy, to your supper; no,
say wrong; to your repast drink nectar
and feed upon ambroSia, rs you used to read
in your school days eat your allowance, egad
your old father has cot 4 tale TO TELL
story that has made cur withered hearts
young again don't stare SO boy, ha ha, ha !
sit down, | say, and feast to your fill,' and
the old man rubbed his hands briskly.
Herman eye fell upon brown package,
tied with red tape. ii laid costly beside his
father. Anxious as he was, the sight restor-
eo ms esiu1HrS,-1-s4-s, o. - i1E&vfsrss.7.'
tended good from the official look of tie mys-
terious envelope.
Now, boy chuckled the old man, pla-
cling paper in the hand of his son, after he
had satisfied his hunger, read that, and my
word for it, your eyes will stand out it's
Godsend certain, complete Godsend.
Herman glanced over the letter. and his
face grew red with pleasure it was mailed
in the West Indies, six months previous to
the present date; it announced the demise
Of the merchants widowed sister, also that
she had left the latter life annuity Of three
hundred pounds
Herman's eyes lighted up with JOY and
hope as he continued TO read:
i Let your son come out to me- concluded
the letter, there is no better place to make
q fortune. One finy vessels, the L. stat
ford, viii set sail from Europe Oh the 10Th Of
December, or thoreabouts. II your son APP
plies for supereargo's berth, he can have it
have made arrangements with the Captain
SO his voyage n9ed be no expense but fine
profit to him. Your cousin,
HAIRY STANTON
Just like Harry used to call him the
old Harry when he came from the West In
dies first; he was as yellow as birch bark,
just like him, short and sweet. l forgive
him his neglect in not writing to me this FIVE
years, though swore l wouldn't. Three
hundred pounds, eh you dog? keep US
quite comfortable, won't it? Send you to
India; make man Of you; get your for
tune, tho eh! Herman, marry some rich
Indian to the tune of a round million or
two; come home esquire By Jupiter, and
!; the old man snapped his fingers gleefully.
: But to leave you and mother
But me +; no butts, you handsome, black
eyed, curly head you are old enough now
: 10 fight your way in the world; shouldn't [
= be ashamed Of myself to keep you tied up
. in London chimney smoky old
/ hole; wish | could @ to India-fooI that
$ | didn't long ago, shouldn't be an Old bro
: ken down fellow at sixty. No; we moth
! er and |, will take care Of oursoiyes-such
l rare chance comes TO but one ia thousand
-egad we shall miss you, though and
) wonderful though it was, two tears actually
: stood in the old mans little gray eyes.
/ while the tender spirited mother bent almost
; double over her knitting, to conceal the
n streaming channels in her cheeks.
Had no idea that sister would ever re-
J member. us; calculated the old man BY jerks,
We parted angry as blazes, didn't like her
husband-couldn't sanction the match, any
/ way; went off to India and got rich, eh
g husband dead some time ago-well, hope
: they're both in heaven. do. Get your old
1t father into better lodgings tomorrow, young
man, eh Make your fortune, Isay, make
: your fortune let law go to the shades
II tosay nothing worse-money boy money
y anything for gold only wish these poor
ie limbs Of mine had some lie in 'em, warrant
1t they would bear me on change tomorrow
le Herman, Herman be said, soiemnly fxinf
eF his twinkiing eyes as steadily as he coulC
IN upon his face, God bless you, Herman
~ TO BIZ CoN TIEUED.