Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-04-28
ynterfsting Storg,
MY GRAND ATHER'S RING.
BY T..

BY T.
Truth guarded by Honor |" is the
curious inscription On my grandfather's
ring, which l have worn for many years,
as an heir loom of one of the purest' and
noblest gentlemen who aver lived. l do
not say that he was not above vice, but
he was unconscious Of it and know
that his heart was too proud, his nature
too lofty. to permit him TO descend to any
frailty that would cause others a pang of
pain. The ring of my grandfather is one
Of those old fashioned relies which are
occasionally found at pawnbroker's sales,
reaching there from the necessities Of
their owners, but are seldom seen in the
windows of our Broadway jewelers.
They are becoming fashionable lately,
under the name OF antiques and | am
rather proud of my jewel, as it is not only
fashionable, but carries q history with it..
1t is of red gold, cautiously worked into
what once must have been translatable
h~ieroglyphics, and ornamenting a pure
cornelian stone, on which is exquisitely
cut a head of some ancient Roman phi,
losopher or warrior.
| have always had an especial fondness
for this, the only legacy left me by my
grandfather for he was poor, though a
gentleman born, and the younger son of
a once wealthy family. Be that as it may
| am just as proud of him, poor as he was,
even if he died penniless, and left only a
good name behind him, as | would be if
he had bequeathed me a fortune. But |
am wandering from my story o. my
grandtather's ring.
AS | before stated, there is a history
connected with this ring. which l wear
for ornament merely, OIL the ribbon which
Constitutes my watch guard. My grand.
father told 1t to me many years ago, after
lustructlng me never to part with the
ring under any circumstances. To keep
a correct thread 10 my sketch, it will be
as well for me to trauscribe, as nearly as
| can now remember them, the exact
words of the old gentleman's narrative.
1t ran as follows
Before | had attained my maiority
my dear Coy, | was a graduate of Trinity
College, Dublin, and had carried off the
honofs OF my class, after a hard tussle
with many more clever fellows than nv.
self, who were better entitled to the DO.
sition Of Senior W~rangler." | went
home OF course. in high spirits at ms
good fortune, and for a time was quite a
lion at my fathers house, and was looked
patronlzlngly ON by the surrounding
gentry.
My only trouble was to select a pro.
fession to lei life with /; my father
suggested law, but | looked upon LAWYERS
as little better than pirates-an unnerci.
tul, crew Of sharpers, who grow iocund
over the misery they created. l could
not assume the study OF the law. The
church was contrary to my taste, and |
would make a poor figure as a preacher,
IRON an awkward bashfulness in large
assemblages, which to this day l have
been unable to overcome.
The army was what [ would Fave
most desired, but that place was already
occupied by my younger brother, aud my
tather was In too straitencd circumstan-
ces to purchase another commission. In
this state OF things | lounged about the
country until j became OF age, doing
nothing and thinking less of what | was
to do to maintain my share Of the family
dignity. Like all young men Of my class,
| was p~assionately fond of the wild sports
Of my country. and h~orse-racing with its
attendant dissipation was my particular
pleasure. In the immediate vicinity of
my fathers residence was the race
ground, which during the sporting season
was the scene of confusion, and | may
add pleasure, to the immense crowds
which attended during the racing week.
"1he amnsements consisted not in rae.
ing alone but the evenings were EN-
ployed In the usual racing balls given by
the gentry OF the surrounding country, or
The managers OF the races. 1t was at one
Of these displays of the beauty and fash
ion OF Ireland land | assure you. nv dear
boy, that nowhere upon this planet can
woman be found in all Her purity and
gentleness to exceed the blue eyed yir.
gins of the emerald Isle,l-I saw magnii
cent among the fascinating creatures who
shone IN gentle grandeur at the pubic
ball, the daughter of one of my fathers
oldest friends, who was not only well en-.
dowed with worldly goods, but held a
position OF honor and influence under the
crown.
"Ihad in my ramblings with rod or
gun on several occasions met with tie
fair Alice Lawton, but our acquaintance
was nothing moro than the ceremonious
ciyilities between friends who see but
little of each other. On the occasion OF
the race ball she was more than lovely
in appearance, and to my ideal was tile
perfection Of feminine grace and lowell
ness.
IAN opportunity was afforded me dur.
ing the evening of becoming her partner