The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1854-12-01
NUMBER 85


as be was hurrying away from yonr house,
\ "You did,, Mr.. Lotion started at Jen-
ny's unexpected reply. go es
.aYas, SIR 90. q s 4
"Didhe. speak to you? s,.' X
Yes; he stopped and caught hold of
my hand saying, God bless you, Jenny.
We may never meet again. They have
driven me away; because they ihoughsI
meant to harm you But he said dncthingi
wrong was in his heart, and asked me to-
pray for him, as ho would need my pray
ers.'
At this part of her narrative, Jenncy
|wept bitterly, and hei auditors eyes be.a
came dim also. sis. s8s, ss Il aa
Satisfied that Jenney's story was true IN
evry particular, Mr.. Lotion spoke kindly to,
her and sent her home.
A week after Mr.. Clifford left Faifyiew.
word came that he had enlisted in theU.
s. service aud gone to sea as common
Esaiior; accompanying this intelligence was
an indignant ayowal of his father that he
would have nothing more to do with hirn.
To old Mr.: Lotion this was d serious blow.
In Mark he had hoped to see realized some
OF his ambitious desires. His drughter
Jenney had been happy in her marriage,
but the union never gave him much salts.
faction. She was to have been the wiFe
of one more distinguished than a mere
plodding money making merchant
Painful was the shock that accompanied
the prostration Of old Mr.. Lotions anibi-
tious hopes touching his grandson, Of
whom he had always been exceedingly
fond. To him he had intended leaving
the bulk of his property when he died
But now anger and resentment arose IN
his mind against him as unworthy such a
preference, and in the warmth of the mo-
ment's impulse, he corrected his will and
cut him off with dollar. This was no
sooner done than better emotions stirred
I in the old mans bosom, and he regretted
the has;y act; but pride Of consistency pre-.
vented his recalling it.
From that time old Mr.. Lotion broke
down rapidly. Insix months he seemed
| to have added ten years to his life. Dur
ing that period no news had come from
Mark; who was notonly angry with both
his father and grandfather, but felt that in
doing what he had done, he had offended
them bevond tna hone of forg;vsnesse-.
He therefore having taken ! rasb stsn
moved on in the way he had chosen, in a
spirit of recklessness and defiance. The
ties Of blood which had bound him to his
fore him and bo 'no,st ,,.Ia h;s ,war -
alone The life Of : con,raon s.;,a, ~ -
( government shin he found to he snmo,h;ng
difYerent from what he had ;rao;nad Tha5
(actinu under a momeutary excitement, Ia
was 80 mad as to enlis. In the service 3.
II Unused to work or ready obedience. he
/ soon discovered that his LIE. was to be one
not only Of bodily sojjl p9shed SOMETHING'S
to the extreme Of fatigue, but one Of the
most perfect subordination to the will Of
Others, under pain of corporal punishment
The first insolent word OF authority passed
s. to him by new fedged mJshipnan, his
juuior by at least thee years, stiing him SO
deeply that it was only by a-most violent
effort that he could master the impulse
that prompted him to.seize and throw him
! overheard. He did not regret this suc-
cessful effort at seifcontrol, when..a "a few
hours afterwards, he was compelled to Wit
ness the punishment Of the cat inflicted
on sailor for the offence Of insolence to
. an officer. Tho sight Of the peor man,
writing under the br utality Of the lash,
made an impression on him that nothing
could efface. 1t absorbed his mind, and
brought it into healthier state of refec.
ton than it had yet been.
II have placed myselfin this position by
rash act,' he said to himself, ashe turned;
sick at heart, awry from tie painful and
disgusting sight "And all rebellion a.
gainst the authority around me will but
make palmer my own weakness. have
degraded myself; but there Is a lower deg
/ relation still and that must avoid
Drag me to the gangway and ! am lost!'
Strict obedience and submission was
from that time selfcompelled on the part
, OF Mark Clifford. 1t was not without
, strong effort; however, that he kept down
the fiery spirit within him. A word Of in
solent command--and certain of the young
midshipmen on board could not speak to
sailor al. even II ne were oid as 'heir iather.
II T. wos % agi, | h. 81, o norromost e,ao. .hoao..,
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