Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-04-11
Around the walls stood library of books

Inan InlR0C enVy-DuC InOSLly composer OI
poetical works Of rare and indecent nature,
interspersed with many cmanations from the
pens of noveists, or dissertations upon false
and nonsensical philosophy or atheism. Of
this latter selection, Aubrey Bolton was
convert He was an Atheist, one of that class
of men who can look upon Nature and declare
her to be the work of fortunate chance; one
who could understand the admirable mechan
ism of the starry canopy and declare that their
movings and regular journeys were not decl-
ded by some Master Spirit
Seated thoughtfully in chair by the old
man, sat youth of not more than seventeen,
whose handsome features and manly proper
tions were rare and perfect. His beautiful
classic forehead, ornamented by dark, beauti-
full hair, oyershadowed eyes not of the efemi-
nate nature, but large, black and full of
expression A sad look rested upon his
whole face, and he seemed pensive, unob-.
trusive boy, whose mind forever run upon
the superhuman. This was Frank Bolton,
the son of the avaricious wretch who sat near
him. As to his nature, it was as different to
his fathers, as is the nature of the wolf to
the lamb. His was kind and benevolent
one, and among his associates he bore the
reputation of being an honest, conscientious
and noble youth. He sat now in intense
thought, his eye fixed upon the heavy carpet
silence impressive in the extreme, had per-
vaded the room for some time, when Bolton
at last broke it by abruptly exclaiming,
"Oh! boy, this terrible oath with which
you have bound me! 1t preys upon my
heart-upon my very soul"
"Ahl father, and so you confess that you
have a soul!' calmly interrupted the young
man, lifting his eyes.
"What do you mean ?' and the gaze of the
father was sternly riveted upon his son.
''This!" he replied, rising from his seat,
while his face glowed with an expression it
would be impossible to describe, "that by
this oath which you have sworn to me, l
thank God l am able to keep you within
bounds-within the bounds of rationality.-
Your sordid love for gold has robbed you Of
all those manly feelings which should make
for your aged head downy pillow upon
which you might die in peace. That when
you, some day, may repent the unlawful man.
ner in which you have obtained this deed,
you can remedy it by seeking out the right
one who should possess it, and thus ease your
conscience aud partly atone for your past life.
| speak with reverence, sir, as | should ad
dress you but oh l implore you, sink not
your family and your name to deeper degra-
dation by Withholding the rightful property
from the truthful heir"
ssWhat know We of this matter? Harkye
boy, knew ye the history of my life and the
life of her who gave you birth, you would fly
far from the haunts of men and raise not
your head unless to curse the whole human
race"
"Why this hatred? And why do you with
hold from me the history of your life p
Because you ase not old enough to bear
| it."
"Bear iti' the voice of the young man
grew tremulous as he spoke, although his lip
curled in scorn, s'sir, what have not borne
have seen with terror your thirst for gold
which is dragging you to perdition, not only
in the eyes Of man, but beyond the grave,
where there"
'There is no beyond the grave" pettish-
ly interrupted the father. You can never
make me believe it, and this is my author
ity :" said he pointing to massive volume Of
Voltaires writings.
81 shall not discuss that question with you,
sir; but let me tell you, that as every sun
sinks to his bed you drive me one step towards
that hellish feeling which makes me loath
and even hate my own father / demand
that you deliver me that deed | demand
you to let me search for this helpless woman
who owns-and who should ten years age
have possessed-the gold upon which yor
live. If not, l go myself and find her, re
gardless of ties that bind me to you"
'Hnnt for the wind, then," diabolically
laughed Aubrey Bolton. Search the deser
over for the deathly simoom. Ha! hal ant
when you have found the philosophers stone
too, you may come to me and preach of you
, God, whom you never saw, and your re
ligion."
Have you no conscience?
"No!"
> 'Ah! really, indeed, do believe it,
) ''Boy, listen to me now !; l will talk to yo
, quietly and within the limits of reason. LIE
me destroy this detestable deed, let me bur
i it now. Release me from this OATH by which
d for three long years have been bound, an
: made to suffer it to repose in its confinement
+; Let me destroy it, and when these totterin
S limbs shall be laid in the grave, mines an
4 possessions which shall elevate you TO th
: highest pinnacle of society shall be yours
You shall command the world, for gold ca
e do it; contemplate sycophants will do yor
d bidding well, you may make willing tools
e men, aye, of men whose power is extensi,
! and whose influence is great Gold is the a
o in all of our existence, without it we cam
live, and this-my son-shall be one of II
l. last counselling words to you-never give I
IS the search, and never relinquish an opport
v nifty for gain, let your heart be steeled, ay
5, steeled to everything but Gold Gold! GOLD
: The father stopped, but the son calm
IL smiled
IS ''Yes, l have felt the stinging taunts whi,
ID poverty brings. Frank, my son, I've be-
y poor. I've suffered from the peiting bla
b. without, and known the cold offices of cha
o. ty. Amid the loathsome mud cabins of Wal
IN l have toiled and toiled for the miserable p
We tance that gained my crust and pallet of stra
d. l have been almost famished gnawing wol
nd was cankering my inmost heart-and ike
lis Unsuitable demon preyed upon my vitals, t
r. til l was almost driven to frenzy. Cold, hr
IT. CRY, feyerish, have lain for days neglect
nd in my lonely cabin, with none to press Il
head, whose caverns of reason were neal
D. emptied, whose mind stood lingering ON t
he threshold of the brain, and whose veins see
,o ed bursting with worse than Tartarian he
i'd Then l have known, oh boy, the CHART
m, of this world how often my neighbors
ey their happy circle to minister to my wants
u how often they gave me drop Of water
Ii, moisten my burning tongue-how they str
ITS to keep this poor mind within its sacred tt
So pie! Yes, how often did they all this {?
an once! no, they spurned me like worthl
an hound from their presence, and left me to
IN. like rotten refuse. Oh! how hate manki
by To them-to all, both rich and poor, g
we and bad. nv heart has ever been and c