Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-02-06

forehead, ana me sHHnt shllle lhN llHgeIeu !
upon her lip. told that che possessed that truest
OF all slrenglh--sireugth of mind aud heart.
There was something in the face Of Andrew
Gurdcn that, to close observer, was not ex.
actly pleasing; and yet you could not have
denied that it was very handsome face-
quite sufficiently so TO warrant the unms'ak'
able look of admiration that his wife occasions.
| oily csst upon it, Intellect was there-cour
age was lhere---hrnness Of purpose, and a
resoIule will; aud there was depth of aifec.
/ tion in his eve whenever it dwelt uron the
group around him ,hatproved him the Possessor
of kindly heart. Perhaps ii was SONS early
uppointmep;-so real or funcLed wrong
--some ncver-to be.forgouen act Of harshness
or injustice on the par, of another that, once
in while, cast such a shadow over his fine
face. aud gave such bitter expression TO his
well formed mouth.
For half an hour they rem,ined as we have
pictured them above E; and then the mother
ienderly placed her little one upon the bed rha,
stood in one corner of the room--cradIes were
luxury unknown in those duys-und glsnring
at the clock that pointed to the hour of eight,
said,
"Come, Frederick, put away your cobs, dear,
1t is bedtime for little boys"
"Oh,'I wsh Il Wouldn't be eight o'clock so
soon when am making cobhouses," replied
the child "jnst wait one minute, mamma,
until make a chimuey-ihen my house will,
he done. There, now--isn't it nice one o.
! So say ing, Freddy gave the finishing touch to
4 his ediice-looded at it admirngly for a
moment, then giving it light pressure with
his hand. his evenings wnrk was demolished
in an instant. Laughing heartily al the hsioc
he had made he hastily gathered the cobsin
basket near him, and sprang to his mothers
side.
An. Freddy, Freddy! how like you are to
rany 'child Of larger growth" who tolls,
month after month, year after year, building a
temple, it may be to love or wealth. or fame :;
and then, when it is nearly or quite completed.
by a single false step, or single ill-regulated
action destroys the shrine he has been rearing
with SO much care and labor! But here the
similirude ceases. You laugh aud clap your
hands in childish glee at the downfall of your
house, he sits down desolate and alone BY the
ruin he has made, and mourns over hopes and
prospects buried beneath it,
Thoughts somewhat like these may have
passed through the mind of Andrew Gordon,
for there was ciond upon his brow, as he
watched his wife while she undrcssed the pay-
ful child and smoohed his dark curls pre-
puralory to the nights repose. Then kneelng
by her side, and folding his little prayer-a
child's prayer of love and faith. asking Gods
blessing upon those dearest TO him-his father,
mother, and little sister, and Ris care and
protection through the night. .e-s
"Now must kiss papa goodnight" ," said the
| little boy; "Lnd then, mamma. wont you
please to sit BY me, and tell me pretty little
story ! | will shut my eyes up, end go right to
sleep so quick if you will.
The goodnight kisses were exchanged !;
Frederick soon nestled closely in his soft,
warm pillow, and true to his promise. closed
his eyes, lie his mother, in low. soothing
voice, told him story of The birds and lambs
and flowers. Presently he was fast asleep,
and pressing the tenderest of kisses upon his
rosy cheek, Amy returned to her seat by the
irPside.
Dear little fellow how sweetly he sleeps
said she. moving her cAnir as she spoke nearer
to her husband al wonder what the future
hath laid up in store for him" she continued,
musingly. with her eyes fixed upon the bright
blaze that went roaring and cracking up tire
broad chimney. "And yei if the book of fate
were laid omen before me, should fear to turn
to the page on which his destiny is Inscribed y
II hope, AT any rate, that the word wealth
Is written there" said Andrew Gordon, speak
ing-for the frst time since he rad taken his
wonted seat by the fire that evening. 81 Om
not very great believer in books offate or in
irrevocable destiny. Man makes his own
destiny, wi h some little help from others
; and Frederick shall be rich man before he
: dies, if my exertinn5 are of any avail
: "He NAV be taken from US, even 10 child
4 hood, Andrew and The mothers eye turned
9 apxiously towards the little bed, as If the bare
a thought Of death was enough to awaken hel
, ksoliciude. 81 would rather he would be grea
= than ,ich - and good than either"
: "ile will he greet IL he Is Tich that 10, hi
8 will have infuenSe and be looked up to; AM
X as for goodness -pshnw who ever heard OF
rich mans doing ong!" he continued, will
y that bitter smile, of which we have belor'
n spoken, curling his thin llp "If a man pos
y sesses wealth, he may oPpress the poor, stri
the widow and the d,herless of their las
e penny, cheat his neighbors, and rob his owl
v broiher--but il is sIl rightF fs
e Then may God grant that our boy ma
If never be a rich man, Andrew" said his wife
hilinrlu han