The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-02-18
MISCELLA N E O U S.
,.. From the Southern Literary Messenger.
THE HEIR OF Auburn HOUSE
BY PAUL cREYToN.

Bv the death of his father, Percival
Album came into the possession OF very
large fortune. Hitherto the young heir had
been subjected to the discipline Of teachers
who curbed his restive propensities, and
kent him under continual restraint, but now
he resolved to throw off the yoke, and in
gaining his liberty, devote himself to the
pursuit of pleasure.
Percival did not neglect to pay proper
respect to the memory of his father, who was
one of the best of men; as soon, however, as
the DAYS of mourning were over, he gathered
about him number Of gay companions, whom
he chose for their pleasantly, and their de-
votion to the enjoyment of the moment
For short time, in the absence of all care
and reflection, the young heir was very
happy. Field sports by day and drevellng by
night occupied his time. Percivul Album
prided himself in keeping the best horses, the
best dogs, the best guns and the choicest
liquors which were anywhere to be obtained
His table was the wonder of the country,
and his no use was Hospitality thrown open to
all his friends. The old country seat of the
Albums appeared to have undergone strange
met amorphosis so wildly did the hilarity of
the heir contrast with the sobriety of his
father.
Percival was the moving spirit of the
whole. and he was as l have said, very
happy for time. But the gayest life soon
becomes monotonous; the young heir wearied
at last of the excitements which were no
longer novel or pleasing to his taste.
Perciyal desired a change.
.J. ,,o.,, pl,n said he. yaWninp
when he should have been gay, ''a man
cannot enjoy himself in the country, where
there is no novelty.
The CITY is the only place worthy to be-
come the residence of a man OF leisure and
means. Let us get away from this dull spot
as soon as possible"
Another change came over the old country
house of the Albums. The jewellers had all
departed, and only the servants remained.
The davs were once more quiet, and the
glare Of light and the sounds of mirth no
longer invaded the darkness and stiffness OF
night.
Percival mixed with the gay throngs OF the
METROPOLIS. In seeking the enjoyments of life,
he suffered no scruples of conscience to deter
him; he drank deep Of every fancied source
of happiness-exhausted the old pleasures
and invented new.
At the end OF year, Percival was more
thoroughly disgusted with the city than he
had been with the country. He even con-
sidered tn monotony of the latter preferable
10 the selfshness, vanity and deceit which
corrupt the former. But the thought OF re-
turning to the home of his fathers was repug-
nant to him, and he resolved to travel.
"Complete happiness" said he, sis not to
he found in any one spot. 1t must be sought
in a variety of places; it must be obtained
through knowledge Of the world"
Young Album selected few travelling
companions, noted fortheir eirgayety,'nteiligence
and wit, and set out on his pilgrimage. he
sought for happiness in Paris, but he found
only a glittering counterfeit, which proved 10
be hollow. He sought for it then amid
Alpine scenes, bat it was not there-nor in
in luxurious Italy, nor sunny Spain, Neither
the North nor the South, nor the Feast nor
the West, nor the old world nor the new'
afforded him the gem he coveted. Sure' ne
often saw it in the possession OF others, out IL
was not for him; and whenever he fiattered
himself that he had seized it at last, it van
ished in his grasp.
At length, weary Of his frutless pilgrimage
and signing for repose, Perc;Val Alourn
bethought him that he had never been SO
near the enjoyment of what he desired as
when he entertained his friends in the Album
House.
81 will return to IT," he said, bitterly re-
membering the waste of life he had made
during his voluntary exile; 81 will make sthe
most of what happiness remains Tor me
there"
Ten wears from the day of his departure,
the heir of Album House returned to the
mansion of his father, disappointed,
melancholy man, The old servants scarcely
and cold, piercing eye of the traveller, the
features Of the once careless and hilarious heir.
And now Album felt that he had entered
adreury wilderness, so cheerless seemed the
hall. oT his fathers. To live alone in such