The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-11-29

AhCh ~ may Oc COnSOs1ItOn, tuOurvn 4
poor one, that YOU have found one in this
solemn hour. However mnrh men are gwen
to fal>eh"od. there are very few who lie IN the
hour OF death, within sight of eternity Blu,
for me. have neve- told falsrhood IN NV
life. and ] would not for ANYTHING in the world
enter upon the dark road with lie upon INV
lips: aud therefore. when | tell Won that
am not a william. As YOU seem to think me. bnt /
an honest and upright man. am telling vou
the s'mple. unvarnishea truth"
Indeed that is interesting And sol
must meet the only honest man ever | saw in !.
II, and IN b,s owl compa~3.
let me 90 alone. and do YOU remain here.
Believe me-. there are mary good and honest
people who could render life charming for
Won. Seek them, aud y ou are sure To find
them
Well the first one have found already.
But if te presents itsclfto YOU in hnrs so
bright am surprised you should wish to
leave it."
oh. am only poor old sickl y man. un-
able to earn an, thing. aud who can endure
no longer that his only child, an angel "f
daughter should work day and nj ,ht TO nam
iuxuri..s. No. SIT. to allow this longer.
must t." tyrant. a barbarian.
What. sir ~ exclaimed the other. almost
terrified. "yon have an only daughter sacri-
fcing herss: for Your sake :"
"A"d with what patience. what sweetness.
what love. what perseverance see her sink
inc under her toil and her deprivst.oIs. and
not word Of complaint escapes IRON her
paiiid lips. She works and starveS and sti!
has alwavsa word "f love, ali aiiectonale
smile for her father"
! SIR and YOU want 10 commi, suicide \ =
Won mad :"
Dare murder that angel =? The thon.l.'
perce> my hear; ike dagger" SAID the O.li
man sO:,biny.
">ir, Won must have bottle of wine with
me 4; see a tavern open yonoe-. Come. YOU
must tell me ,our history: and, IT vou have
no objection, will then tell vou mine. But
this much NAV saw at onre-thcre is no oc-
ca>ion for YOU TO leap into the river. | an
a rich, a very rirh man and It things really
are as vou represent. YOUR daughter will M
longer have TO work and YOU shall not siarve
The old man allowed himself to be dragged
dtbIlU ~ HIS tDtifltiHOu. III u tt" uitttf'
thrv were seated at table in the tavern
with full glasses trfDre them, and each ex
aiming lou>lv the features of the oh IT
Refreshed aud con'orted bv the tfF.cts Of
the wine. the old man began thus -
M, history is soon told am amercan'il,
man but fortune never favored me. ] ha,
no money mvscli. and loved and married
poor GIRL could never begin business o,
nv own account ! took situation As book
keeper. which he. until became use,.s
from age. and Younger men were pretrrre,
10 me. Thus NV circumstances were alwav
crcumscrhrd. hut INV domestic hap,,n..s
was complete Nv wife was an angel o. low
I Kindness. and fondncss. good and v,ious activ
and alrctionste and NV daughter is III
true image OF her mother. But age and iii
ness have brought nr 10 the last extremity
and my conscience revots against the idea OF
the best child in the world sacrit,ns her Inf
Tor an old useless fellow. | cannot hav
, much longer 10 live: and hope the Lor,
6 will pardon me- Tor cutting of .,'w days o
weeks trcm nv life. in order to preserve o
prolonc that of my dear Bertha
"Ion are fortunate man. NV friend" cx
Nit'iuNb 'uV soh'c nn't iItNFi Sft
morr fortunate one. What Won call YOU
misfortune is sheer nonsense. and can b
cured at once. Tomorrow | will make M
\ will. and Won shall be the heir OF all INV 20.
sessions. and tomorrow night will take H.
leap from the Main Bru-kc alone Bur bs
. fore leave this world must sre YOUR Il, rths
for am ANXIOUS 10 look upon one who
worth, the name OF human being"
g But, sir. what can have made you go ur
( happy at this early age :" SAID the old ma
: moved with compassion.
e IL believe it was nv fathers wealth al
= the only son OF one OF the richest bankers o
Frankfort I: when mention my nam. vo
J. vii! be at once convinced of the truth OF u,
II assertion NJ, father died five wears a-o an
II left me the heir TO an immense fortune
= F,on that mom"nt. every one tha. has com
: in contact with me has endeavOred TO drceiN
z and h-traud me. was a child in innoccnc,
{ trusting and cnnti'iinC: my education had n,
been neglected. and possessed my mother
i loving heart. cnlravored to a>soriate NY
self in union OF love and friendship wit
n good aud generous people. but found onl
hvrorri:rs and im;'o>tcrS. who prctcnd-
o friendship FOR no other purpose than TO pa
take OF my wealth, and ENJOY themselves
K my expense.
5. Nv friends. or rather the villains whom
z mi>took for friends. and to whom | Opcne
p nv heart. t-trav pd me. and then laughed
y INV simplicity but in time ] gathered exp
o rirnrp. and INV h.art was filled with distru>
r | was hrtrothed TO rich heiress. pos>p>se
q of all fashionable accomplishments adore
her with enthusiasm her love, | tho'a'.
r would repay me for every disappointment
= But soon saw that she was notiiing mc'
e than yrond fool. who wished TO make n
e her slave. and woke all other men beside.
e her triumphal chariot. | broke off the CT
% gagement. and selected poor but charmn
girl-a sweet, innocent being, as | though
!: who would be my lite's own angel. Ala,
d found her one 'lay bidding adieu with tea
n and kisses TO youth whom she loved: >f
is accepted me Tor my wealth only. My Pea'
n of mind vanished: Isousht diversion in tra'
It el everywhere found the same hoilownes
the same treatcherv. the same misery.
n short became disguised with life. and r.
n solved to put an end this night to the Pitii
l. ble farce"
Unfortunate vonn2 man" said the othe
e with tears Of sympathy. ''how deeply p'l
l. Won. confess have been more io,tana
r than yon. possessed wife and a 'iau:h'e
u who came forth pure and immaculate fro
is the hand Of the Creator. The one has r.
h turned to Him in the whiteness of her sou
e and 50 will the other"
Twill yon give me yonr address, old ma
l. and permit m- to visit your daughter tom"
d row! But you must also give me your VOL
of honor that yon will rot inform her, or IL
AZ sinuate to her in any manner whatever, III
u am a rich man." The cid man held out b