Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-02-15
in his dark eyes. and visible agitation in his

:. FatEeri s.
:. Son p, as
After fifteen years of separator their whole
greeting was comprised in this - - s
The word fell coldly on the yonng uan's
heart, and he paused as if to nerve hlIDeef to
proceed, but words came not. and he stood
irresolute 8
aWell r' choked the parent, q what brirgs
you here?s The SON took courage Afec-
ton would have brought him to his knees =
Hardness hardened him the more. ssls
ssI have come,'' said he, g to- seek en-
pIoyment was starving where I was. and
now appeal to you@ / ask no charity, nor
plead tie your heart owns not ?
S z You are right, 2 was the hard responsc. =:
- Ingratitude washes out innumcrable debts z
:. I" Ingratitude Y' faltcred the son
{. Yes, ingratitudc; did not educate and
rear you !? did / not love you once and did
you not betray my love, squander my sub
stance, and now you come to burthen me Z
q No not burthen; / sought pleasure too
eagerly, and have wasted the means you gave.
have been self-wilIed, but have been pun
ished. Years have passed ever me, and have
seen me grovelling in poverty, living with
criminals, and when / had most need of COM
fort, my wife and child laid low, starved
Father, starved sat and saw them, as day
by day their flesh wasted and their voices grew
weak, and could not help them, could only
share their wants, my soul thirstcth, but for
one word of kindness =
q Which you shall never have" Numbered
the old man; g heir of my name, but traitor
to nv hearth, end in the folly which you have
begun. You have done without me for fifteen
years; good q / will do without yoa for life /;
f2rf1 L c1yrS
you--go % with a bitter earncstness words
cannot, express the miser Kissed out these
words, and drawing his wrapper more closely
round his form, stalked sternly and hastily
out of the room.
His son sat for some minutes with his face
hidden in his hands. Then heaving deep
sigh that sounded of despair, he staggered
forth into the silent streets! Thus they part
ed, and the last words they were destined to
exchange,were words of bitterness and strife.
Oh, evil hour! Oh terrible truth truth he
could not evade Of all his accusers, con-
science was the worst Brought up by his
father, even then stern and infexible, he be-
came acquainted with set of choice spirits
that haunted the corner of the street, scribbled
profane language upon the walls and shouted
it to the passers-by; spirits who lived in per-
spetual atmosphere of smoke, and did their
little best to appear like spirits from below
All this was in secret Thus hypocrisy was
added to guilt. At length his excesses ran
him into debt, and his creditors attacked his
father, who, furious at his sons delinquencies,
forbade him to see him more. He was then
forced to seek precarous existence in aneigh-
boring town There he married, and brought
upon himself increased burdens. But toll
and penury did the work of time; premature
age crept upon him. Bereft of home, hope
and family, he threw himself upon mercy
that never existed, upon an affeetion that
never was. It had ended in this
And return we to the miser What words
can paint the struggle within his breast? A
last faint spark of natural feeling strove with
the mist Of seifshness. The hope Of having
one to care for him amongst the thousands that
cursed his name tempted him to forgive. The
hate he had cherished for SO long strove as
furiously.
Suddenly were heard along the passage steps
and voices, Who lives in this dismal house?''
said one. ssThe miser," replied another, and
they passed Away A black saosl gathered
over his face, sneer curled his lip, his better
feelings were blotted oat for ever in the storm
of hate these words called up. He had taken
to himself seven other devils worse than the
first.
Whilst thus he sat full of evil thoughts, the
townspeople, excited by want and ill-adyice,
were In open r;et, and tkeif hoarse cries went
up to heaven, mingled with the smoke of the
buildings they had fred. In their midst, Q
man of middle age was the most eager In ur-
ging them on Some said he was a govern
ment spy, some starving weaver. and others
some &end IN hrman shape, so impervious te
danger did he seem Few could have recog-
nized in his matted locks and smoke stained
lineaments the miser's son, who seemed te
seek refuge from his misery in extraordinary
exertions-
A great fame. shooting high into the air,
and from ts eleyating position illuminating
the country round about, told that the castle
was attacked The miser started at the glare
hastened out and beheld the devouring ele-
ment as it swiftly darted up the noble pile.
and crowned it with brief but dreadful glory.
The ftful flashing of the fire gave a terror tc
the scene, which the uproar of the mob In
creased.
Hark, high above the din ssTo the miser's
Ito the miser's;" Barnett stood transfxed
be had known that there Was much misery in
the town, and that the people were almost des-
perate but this he had never counted on He
had watched the misfortunes Of others Will
indifference and even joy, for the scene chimed
in with the tumult of his own soul; but now,
when the blow was about to fall upon his own
head, when his darling riches for which he had
sinned so many years. which had become his
friend. wife, child. his other self, his God -
when these were thrcatfned by the lawless
mob hls frenzy was fearful to see. He swore
with an awful energy. and tore his wiry locks
in handfuls from his head .:.',s.' -.
! Yes he would save tbo, d.. - -.