Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-01
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
THE LOST RECLAIMED.

Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
THE LOST RECLAIMED.
1t seems curious that fiction should be
considered by so large portion of readers, las
better medium for truth, than unvarnish-
cd, unimaginative fact; but from the days
Of A1sop to the present, fable, parable and
tale have been resorted to, to convey the
clearest images of the mind. AS the wri-
tor OF the following simple narrative, how
ever, has no preteutions to fanciful ideas or
vivid imagination, You will excuse the sim
plicity of the style, trust, nor regard it
the less interesting because it is clothed in
the homespun language of truth.
In one Of the Counties of Western n
Carolina, in the year 1S-, there resided
a widow lady, and she had an only SON.
Her husband had many years since been
consigned to the grave, victim to intem-
perauce. An only child, darling boy,
was all that was left TO remind his worse
than widowed wife Of his youthful noble
ness of soul, and to admonish her of his
melancholy and untimely end. Henry
Herbert was the picture of his lamented
father. He possessed in an eminent de-
gree that nobleness Of soul and frankness
Of character that had won for his father the
affection Of Ellen Trisdale, and whom Hen
ry bad now the pride to call-MoTHER.
So rapid had been the downfall of her
husband, that, at his death, Mrs. Herbert
did not find herself entirely stript Of the
affluence and wealth which in happier days
had been gathered around her. Enough
was left of that princely fortune, to ena-
bic her to promise for her boy those intel
lectual attainments which would ensure
him respectable standing in society, and
influence and character among those with
whom, in after life, he should become asso-
ciated.
At the time of his fathers death, Henry
Herbert was only ten years Of age. His
mother was in the prime Of life and
though the corroding tooth Of care and
trial had left tinge of melancholy upon
her lovely features, yet there was that
sweet pensiyeness Of soul beaming from
her intelligent countenance, which would
have entitled her to be pronounced beduti
ful. All thoughts of SELF, however, were
forgotten by the fond mother, and heI
whole soul seemed to be absorbed in tht
culture and welfare of her darling boy.
Henry Herbert grew fast in intellectual
attainments, and the heart of the fonc
mother swelled with all the pride of a pa
rent when he returned home from his Col
lege pursuits, crowned with the first honor
of large graduating Glass. He had no,
reached his twentieth year. The most in
innate friends aud neighbors of Mrs. Hel
bert were invited to a gay and brilliar
party at her residence, to congratulate hel
self and Henry upon his success in hi
Collegiate pursuits. Among that gay an
happy throug none appeared more delight
cd than Harriet Winslow. Between he
and Henry there had ever existed a fre
pure, disintercsted friendship. In the
childish sports they had rambled togethC
in playful innocence over their native hill
assuaged each others griefs, and shared
each others joys. After two or three yea
absence, they now met for the first time
Henry with an erect manly form an
twenty years upon his heaG-and Harrie
the beautiful, the accomplished young lad
Of sweet seventeen.
Il was soon discoverable that there VIZ
,nugeniality of sentiment and feeling b
t~een this youthful couple. But the hea
ot the anxious mother smote her reproac
fully as she witnessed the evident delgl
which they pledged to each other in Il
rosy wine cup the remembrances of pa
days. Mrs. Herbert trembled for the sa
ty Of her darling boy, the idol of her hea
She knew, alas, too well the rock up
which his noble father was wrecked, a
bitterly did she reproach herself for havi
placed to his lips that which might Ill
wise prove his ruin.
The Autumn was spent by Henry III
bert in hunting over the hills Of his bc
hood aud reforming the acquaintance
those from whom he had been estrang
by three years absence at College. |
with no one did the time pass halfso sw
ly or sweetly as when in the company
the lovely Harriet Winslow. Frequent
tercourse had warmed up the latent spa
of affection and sympathy, which had ]
smouldering in the ashes of absence
four long years-and they were recogni
through all the neighborhooi now, as
ers betrothcd! Many of the young be;
envied him the hand of one so amiable
beautiful and accomplished, while the
ones congratulated Harriet upon hay
received the favor and attention of
noble, the gifted, the generous Henry
bert.
The science of Medicine had been
termined on by Henry and his mother
the profession in which he was to eng
Accordingly, early in the month of q
Der he sat out for the village Of -
where an old friend Of Mrs. H., pr
toner Of great cmineuce, was located,
under whose directions Henry commcI