The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-10
4 Selelteb Gale.
TEE ONLX son.
BY MRS. JANE EAVER.

Mr. Harcourt sat alone i'll his study. The
walls were crowded with book cases, tiled with
the massv tones of the law; his table was GOV
cred with papers of importance; ard a pile OF
notes, which had Just been paid by client, lay
close at his elbow. The costly lamp that hung
above h S head threw its full light on the upper
part of his face, bringing the massy brow out IN
to bold relief and giving additional sternnesS to
his cold and inhexible features. All at once he
rang the bell
"ls master James arrivcd!" he said, abruptly,
when the servant entered.
"Yes, sir"
"Show him in then"
In few minutes the door of the study open
ed again, and the lawyers only son stood in the
presence of his father Hewas youth of about
seventeen, fair and manly to gaze upon, but with
that look of dissipation in his countenance which
mars even the nobiest beauty. An expression
of feminine softness and lrrcsouion in his face,
coutradicted the proud and selt-wlng g lance of
his dark eye. He seemed, indeed, to jud &c from
his looks, to be wholly creature of impulse.
$50 YOU have been III another scrape, sr," said
the old man, harShly.
The youth bowed his head aud bil his lip.
1T cost me four hundr d dollars to pay for
the carriage that was broken, and the horses
foundered in your drunken frolic. What have
you to say to that sir?"
The young mans eye wandered irresoutey
around the room without daring to meet his
fathers face Nor did he make anv reply.
How long is this to last!" said his parent
in more angry tone. Have not told you
again and again, that would disown you if
these things went on You are Disgrace sir,
to mc-a blot on my name. Thank God, your
mother did not live to see you grow up"
The youth had been evidently uervng himself
to bear his fathers rebukes with as much ind!f-
ference and cooncss as possible; hut at the nell
ton of his mothers name, his lip quvcred and
he turned away his head to hide the tears gath
cred in liseyes. Had the stern, irritating old
man known how to follow up the chord he had
struck, his son might Yet have been saved but
he was hard, and correct man, unaccusto'ncd
to make allowances for difference OF character.
and he resolved to drive his son into obedience
b. the strong arm Of parental authority.
"You turn away to laugh YOU rascal, do yoG!'
said Ire, cnraged. '.Iou believe because you
are my only child, will not di>inherit you.-
But would cast YOU otf If yOu were ten times
my only son and | made up my mind, to-day
to tell you, at ouce to 90. There is a parcel OF
notes, five hundred dollars, believe: take it :;
and tomorrow will make it thousand, before
YOU depart But remember, this is the last night
YOU shall spend under my roof-the last cent Of
my money you shall ever touch"
When the mother was alluded to, the youth
had almost made up his mind TO step forward,
ask pardon for his evil course and promise So
emnly hereafter to live life Of strict proricty :;
but the sharp and angry tone in which Mr.. Har-
court pursued the conversation, and the words
of bani>hment with which it closed, tended to
make him irrcsolute. He coored, turned pale,
and parted his lips as if about to speak; then
he claspcd his hands half in supplication; but
the cold contemptuous look Of his father checked
him, and he remained silent. The angry flush
however rose again to his cheek, and became
fixed there.
Not q word sir" said the father, at is too
late pleading, now. Don't be both a blockhcad
and coward. | told you if You ever got into
such !; diScrcditable difficulty would di>own
YOU. But the warning did no good. You must
reap as YOU have sown. Will you go?'
The youth seemed again about to speak; but
his words choked him. The spirit Of the son, as
we'll as that of the father, was reused. He felt
the punishment WIS di>proportioncd to the Of
fence, even great as it had been. He took the
notes which his parent held out to him, crum-
pied them hastily together, and flinging them
scornfully back, turned and left the room. The
next instant, the street door closed with heavy
clang.
ale has not gone, surely!" said the father,
startled Tor moment. But his brow darkcned
as his eye fell on the notes. ayes let him GO:
the graceless villain; he is hcreriter no son Of
mine. Better die childlcss than have an heir
who is a curse and disgrace to your name-
Did not do my duty to him."
Ay! old man, that is the question. Did you
do your duty to him? Were you not harsh
when you should have beca lcnicnt-did you
not neglect your son for years after his mothers
death, careless Of what kind of associates he con-
sorted with-and when he had been led astrav,
did you not in total disregard of his wful char
acter, the result Of your own indulgence, did you
not. We say, attempt to cocrce him By threats
when YOU should have drawn him by the gentle
cords of Iove2 Look into your own heart and
see if YOU are not just as unreasonable as your
son. Can character be reformed in day I?
Your profession should have taught you better
old man. But the boy has gone from your roof
forever, for we'll he knows how intlcxibIe is your
stern, scfrighteous heart; and indeed with a
portion Of your own pride he would sooner cut
off his right arm than solicit your aid. Yes !
take up that mass Of complicated paper and en-