The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-07-28


completed face which had much Of
the old Apollo in it, much of the morn
ing star hurled down from its height
but still conscious of its lus tre.
"Why don't you shave ?" said /
/" there are my razors; and then Wei
90 out for walk and the cool air will
revive you"
"Ha ha is this hand to shave
with Is it steady enough-is the
brain steady would you desire coro-
ner's inquest in your room, or suicide
committed before your face : No, no
come across the square to my rooms-l
have not been there for week and
then l will finish my toilette, and &C
down to the Office with you"
We went and found his table covered
with a pile of letters an aged clerk
who sat at a small table in the outer
office, fairly wept for joy when " Master
Frederic" returned. He had been in
Carson's service for some years, as |
afterwards learned; and, indeed, had
spent the better portion of his life in the
service of the uncle by whom Frederic
had been reared.
Turning to the pile of papers which
lay on the desk, Carson glanced hastily
over them, either flinging aside the let
ters or handing them to the clerk tc
attend to. At last, about half way
down the heap, he came to a small note
deeply bordered with black, and directed
in an old-fashioned female hand.
"My God ~ he exclaimed, from
my mother; but cannot bear to read
lit now. Time was" said he, sinking
back into chair, when 1 watched for
the post, and laid in my stock of seven
days. comfort from this weekly letter
but now," and his voice died away in
hysteric sol S, as he covered his face with
his hands.
"What folly :" said he, starting up
/" you are but half hours acquaintance,
and have already seen my tears But
you are gentleman" he added more
slowly, taking my hand as he saw my
own tears fall like rain "you have a
mother whom you love, and you can re-
spect my grief"
l could only answer him by pressing
his hand. There was an image before
me-a foreboding-the wreck ofintellec'
and domestic peace-a shadow thrown
upon my own path by the darkness which
had already encircled his.
Ispoke some hasty consolation though
with choked and imperfect utterance
and with an earnestness, vouched by my
tears, I besought him to refrain from
drinking any more.
90, come, come !" said he, my
poor boy, you take this triae too much
at heart. Come, let's dress, and take
a walk I'll read it in the fields, and
perhaps it may do something for me,
though l fear it comes too late"
He returned from the bedroom in a
few minutes, elegantly dressed, and every
trace of agitation gone but had heard
the gurgle of the decanter, and could
judge the source of his mirth. Leaving
some money with the clerk, and telling
him that he would return and resume
his business regularly in the morning,
he accompanied me into Fleet street.
We called on several friends in the
Temple, and everywhere l could see
how highly he was esteemed-how little
they knew his real state-how noble a
prospect his folly, his desperate madness
had effaced.
Passing up the Strand to Charing
Gross, we called a cab, and drove to the
Regents Park he there threw himself
down into the long grass, at the foot Of
Primrose Hill, and read the letter aloud.
1t was one of those which can only
come from fond, proud mothers pen ;
she spoke of his sister, and their hope
to come up to town in few weeks and
sec him, or that he would 60 down TO
them. It spoke Of the pride she took
in hearing Of his fair fame, and antici-
pating the happiness and advantages Of
his future career. It was one Of those
letters which they are happy TO receive
and blessed who merit-a letter to
touch the rock Of sel6shness, and draw