Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-11-05
MI s c l. LII A n Y.
THE TIMELY WARNING.
A TnRILLiNG STORY.


Ny father, after an absence Of three year.
returned to the house 80 dear 20 him. lie
had made his last voyage, and rcjoiced to
have reached haven of rest from perils Of
the sea. During his absence had grown
from a child and baby Of my mother's-ior
was her youngcst-into rough. careless
aud hcads,rong boy. Her gentle voice no
longer restrained me. was often wiliul.
and sometimes disobcdieut. thought II
indicated manly superiority TO be ind-pend.
ont OF = woman's inadcnce. Ny fathers
return was iortunate circumstance Tor me.
he soon perceived the spirit OF in'uoordlna-
ton stirring within me. law by his man
ncr that it di.pl,asci hin, although Tor
few days he said nothing % the about It.
II was an afternoon In October, bright
aud golden, that my father told me TO get
my hat aud take walk with him. We
turned down a narrow lane into fne open
hcli-a favorite playground Tor the child
rem in the neighborhood Af,rr talking
chccrfully on different topic. fora while,
nv father asked mo II observed that huge
shadow thrown bya mas Of rocks that
stood in the middle Of the field. replied
that | lid.
My father ownol tai. land" sad be.
"It was my playground when boy.
That rock stood there then. To me IL il q
beacon. and whenever ! look at /, recall a
dark sp1: IN nv lic--an event - painful
to dvell upon, that II i. werc no, a' a
wnmiug % you should not 'pa,k Of IL.
/ '',n, then, my dear boy. and learn wis.
dom from your ia,bsr's errors.
Nv father died when ! was mere chil.
was the only .on. My mother was gem
tls loving woman. devoted 10 her children
and beloved by everybody. remember her
pale. beautiful face. her sweet, aGce,iona,e
smile. her kind and tender voice. In my
childhood ! loved her intensely. | was
never happy apart from her aud she, fear
ing was becoming too much OF baby
cent mc to the high school in the village.
Afisr as.pciatins time with rude rough
boys. lost. IN a measure, my fondness Tor
home and my rcyercncr for my mother
and it became more and more difficult for
her to restrain my .imp"tuou. raturc. |
thought IL indicated a want II manllness 20
yield to her authority or TO appear peni,en,
although knew tha, my conduc, PANIED
her. The epi,het mos, dreaded was grri
boy could not bear To hear /, .aid hy my
companions that was tied 10 ny mothers
apron strings. From quiet homc.loving
child, | soon became q wild, bo.'erinr boy.
nv dear mother u."d every persuasion %
induce me 70 seek happiness within the pre-.
cincts OF home. Shc cIeried herself 10
make our hrc.iIo t,ractivc, and my sister.
following herself sacrificing example, sought
TO en,i,S me by planning game aui diver
sions Tor my entertainment. .aw all this,
5u, diI not he'd It.
IL was one afternoon like this, that was
about leaving the dining table, 70 .peni the
ln,crmis.ion b,,w--n morning and evening
school Ia the streets a. usual, my mother
laid hsr hand on my shoulder, and said
mildly but firmly, My son, | wish you
TO come with me-" would hay' rebellcd,
but something in her manner awel me.
She put on her bonnet, and -aid - me.
" We will take li,:lc walk together -
followed her in silence aud a. was pas.
sing out oi thr door. Observed on, OF my
rude comp niuns .kulking about the house
ani knew b. was waiting for me. lie
.nrcr-i ~ ! vent pas, him. My pride was
woundcd o. the quick. lie was very had
boy. hut being some years older than my.
u, b. exercised great influence over ms.
| followed NY mother 'ulkIly, till We reach.
the spot where we now sand, beneath the
shadow of this huge rock. ., my boy
could that hour b. blottcd from my mem
ory which has cast shadow over my whole
life, glnlly would exchange all that the
world can Offer me- fOr the quiet peace Of
mind | should enjoy. Ba, no! like this
huge, unsIghtly pile stands tue monument
Of my guilt .1re,er!
Ny mother, being feeble in health, sat
down, and beckoned mo ~ sit beside her.
Her look 50 full OF tender sorrow, is present
to me now would not at but continued
standing sullenly beside her Alfred, my
dear son said she. " have you lost all lOye
for your mo,her?" ! did not reply. "I
fear you have" she continued "and may
God help you to see your own heart, and
me to do my duty" :" She then talked 10
me Of my mislccds-of the dreadful cOnse-
qucnces Of the course was pursuing. BY
tears and cntreaties, and prayers, she tried
to make an impression on me. She placed
before me tho lives and examples Of great
and good men she sought TO stimulate my
ambition. ! was moved but too proud To
show IL, and remained standing in doggcG
silence beside her. ! thought +" wha, will
ny companion. say, II. after all my boast
Ing, | should yield a, last, and submi, to
be lei by woman?'
wha, agony was visible on my mothers
face when she saw that all she said and suf-
fcred failed TO move me She rose to 60
home and followed at distance. She
spoke no more to me ill we reached our
own door.
Ill is school time now" said she. $50