Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-06


portraying the pleasures they would en-
JOY together, yet he came not. and Bit
terly would she weep at these 1isappoint
men;s. But he wrote to her often and
affec ctionately, and also to his father. but
never to his mother, nor did he ever al
ude TO her in any manner whatever.
All at once rumors reached Mr.. Mer-
rill tha I his son was not doing we'll at the
University; that be was going the down
ward path to ruin; that bad associates
were holding to his lip the wine-cup,
leading him to the gambling table; in
truth, that he was fast becoming, if not
already, an rrevocable victim to reckless
dissipation. And the father feared and
trembed when he heard these things, but
could not believe them. Still, when he
recollocted the many large demands Har-
ry had of late made upon him for money.
though he had not before given thought
as to how his son could be appropriating
such large sums, yet. now the question
arose in his mind. and he wondered he
had not before thought Of and inquired
into it. instead of always supplying such
demands without inquiry.
His first impulse was to write imme-
diately to his son, tell him the cruel ru-
mors, and to implore him 10 assure him
of .her falsity. But then, he said, mo
will not, for if he should be innocent.
1t would break his heart to think that
could entertain doubt Of his being 9th
erwise. will wait ill have more rea-
son to fear, believe"
And SO he wrote as ailectionately and
kindly as ever TO the absent one, and ut
tered no word of the fears that were de-
stroying his peace. And Harry, he wrote
in return, but not as "of old" By de
grees change came over the tone of his
letters. First. they were little less af-
(ectionate. then short and strangely care
less, at last quite cold and reckless. con-
tanning little save the desire expressed
to be supplied with money. money, mon
ey. no word of love fox the children or
Louise. He had long since ceased to write
to poor Louise those letters she priced so
much. saying as az excuse that the duties
of his senior year were so numerous that
he could find time only to write TO papa.
and she must be contented TO have him
send her word or two in papa's. And
so for time he sent her, in each letter
TO his father. some word of brotherly re-
gard; and she tried to be contented; and
to satisfy herself that his excuse was the
real one. But now this was all over; no
word ever came for her in the rude, cold,
careless missives.
Then it was that the cloud settled up
on the fathers brow. the dark cloud Of
trouble and crushing grief. For he could
no longer doubt; he knew. he fclt that his
body was altered. and he wrote-he told
his son his fears; he besoughl him to come
home, to tell him ALL to pause ere it
might be forever too late. And the son
returned disrespectful. cruel reply,
which ended with another order fer mon
ey. This filled Mr.. Merrill's cup of an
guish TO overlooking.
"Oh! | could have forgiven him all he
may have done. all he may have sinned;
could have forgiven, forgotten all, but
these words. But to think that he, my
own Harry, could have written thus to
me. Oh, it is 100 much, too bitter"
He wrote not to him again. but loeat-
for he could stay from him no longer, and
be the victim of such terrible doubts and
fears. He must see his child, and lure
him back, for he could not think that this
was impossible. And so he went. And
he found his worst fears realized. Aye,
more than realized; for he had not dream
ed of half the wretchedness to which his
once innocent boy had fallen, and it well
nigh killed the fond d0ating parent. He,
the innocent boy who three years and a
half ago had left his arms so pure and no.
BILE, was nov-the inebriate, the gamb-
Ter. Oh, how that heart broken parent
expostulated. reasoned, and prayed with
that misguided, erring one! How he be-
sought him, in the memory of that saint
ed mother. to reform. How he wept on
his kneeS-ayc, bOlred the knee to his
child. But in vain. The once innocent.
beautiful. noble boy, was degraded. and
his heart was turned to adamant.
Then the father said, ''well, lie; it be
even so: do as seems to you best. But
from this time forth, you are no son OF
mine. Apply to me not again for aid
in any manner. Come not TO us again:
disown you, now and forever"
Thus the father spoke, and though it
broke his aged heart, he meant it should
be so; he meant never to recall those
words. He returned to that home; he
told the anxious ones there that they must
nnvar AGAIN think of uarrv &C ono of
them. mention him not, think of him
not, for he is no longer son or brother
to US. He has sinned against God and
me. He has broken my heart and he is
no longer son of mine"
And poor Louise-with what agony
did she hear these words. '.Her darling
Harry. her beloved brother, who. ever
~, L.. L 1 l.