The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-08-07


election was on the tapis, and we had got
news that morning, that a reverend Senator
belonging to our side, had sold out and gone
over to the enemy. talked with one and
another, till the case of the poor boy was
driven out of my head. Before / returned
from the capital, and what with talking to
interested friends and writing for the morn
ing's paper, quite forgot the pale faced boy
and his dying mother.
At seven o'clock he came. My heart
smote me when saw him., for / had neg.
lected and forgotten my promises. But
told him-God forgive me-not so much Tor
the deception as the neglect-that could
not see the man that | thought would en-
ploy him, but if he would come the next
day at two o'clock l would get him the situ-
alton, and pay him the first months salary
in advance. Detected he turned upon his heel
and left the office. The next morning
went to my friends store; he was out for
few minutes. While | was standing in his
door an acquaintance with fine horse and
buggy came along and asked me to ride with
him to the Mission. at once consented,
thinking to call as came in. We went to
the Mission, and from there to the race
course. Time flew swiftly, and before was
aware of it, two O'Clock had passed, and
came home to find that the boy had been to
see me and gone away. | did not suppose
I would see him again that night and would
put of the mutter--so important to hm-till
the next morning, But he came again in the
evening, and had to tell him had been a
way. The next day, at II, however, shou Id
see him in his new place.
1t was nearly twelve Of the next day when
bethought myself OF my promise. l has,
tened down to see my friend, and found that
I was too late; the vacancy bad been filed
an hour before. ConscnCe smitten, | re.
turned to my Office, and Imet the boys anx'
ous look as | entered the door. told him
had just been to see about the promised
situation, and it was taken. Yet thought
could get him place soon. He thanked
me, hut his heart was bursting. saw that
an anxiety, terrible for one SO young, was
wearing his life away.
The next day found hima place and en-
gagged it for him. sat in my Office writing,
when the door softly opened and he entered.
He was pale, but calmer than had before
seen him.
"Well, my fine fellow" spid I, 81 have
got you place at last. You are to have
twenty five dollars a week, and you shall
have whole months salary in advance if
you like"
He came toward me and handed me slip
of paper. 1t was notice for the newspa-
per, and announced the death of his mother.
| have had many severe crosses, my dear
JIM have felt that all was lost, ahd that
my life was not worth rush. have seen
my fondest hopes chrushed by one fell blow,
and have felt to cry out in agony at the
cruel fate that pursued me. But in all that
| ever suffered was nothing to what felt
when LOT oked on that pale, calm, intellect
ual boy, with his bright big blue eye, gazing
supernaturally into mine, and thought how
that, perhaps, but for my neglect, his moth
er might then have been alive. know not
how looked, or how acted, but know
that man never suffered more in a short
space of time than | did. have never got
over it yet, and never shall. You may not
be able to rellize the full force of it, but 81
would not have the same touch of heart
break again, no, not for all the lands ever
owned by McGregor."
After that, tried to do what could to
drive away the deep melancholy that SEEM
ed to have settled upon him. But he would
not be coniorted. He seemed to be impress
sed with the idea that here in San Francis
co where SO many live in extravaganza and
splendor, his only friend his beloved and af-
fectionate mother had been allowed to per.
ish in abject poverty and neglect. l attend
ed the funeral, and interested. some of my
friends in the case, so that she had decent
burial. But the boy thanked me not. How
could he! Could he feel gratitude, ,thatI had
shown an interest in the dead. which had
denied to the living! He seemed disinclined
to receive any favor from me, and his clear,
calm, mild eye, was too much for me to look
at. Tquailed before it as never quailad
before. That he might not suppose that it
was who was acting in his behalf,I got
friend to offer him situation, where he could
earn more than his support. But he did not
keep it long. He grew paler and paler each
day, and soon was too weak to attend to his
duties at all. l watched him with more
than fraternal interest, and | often went to
see him at his room. 1t was evident that he
would soon die. procured watcher for
him, for my own presenceseemed to troub-
lie him, and when l went to see him the
next day, l found that he was dead. He
died as he had lived, cursing me believe
in his heart. Felt, while he lived, that his
curse was justly upon me and | have often
recalled the terrible lines of Colridge:
sAn orphans curse would drag to hell
A spirit from on high;
But on, more terrible than that
Isa curse in dead mans eyer"
He is dead now, dear Jim, but this lesson
l have learned; ;--never again to put of the