Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-16
w. d. WALLACH.
IN Loco PARENTS.
From Temple Bari

Educated ut one of those "sacred nurseries of
growing youth, I" where to detain a voter for
ten minutes in conversation till the close Of
the poll disfranchises him as efectually as If
he had been a rotten borough, Is considered a
stroke Of the highest art, he naturally followed
the stream; but how account for his subsea
quent conversion? I never heard him speak
of Ignstius Loyola, or Father Liguori indeed
! believe him profoundly ignorant Of their ex-
istence, or at least of their doctrines; nor do /
IFS writings Perhaps il have the honor Of
addressing any gentleman who is q cssuist, he
will let me have his opinisn on the case.
1t shall be stated plainly and briefly for his
guidance. Mr.. Carter was squire. or rather
a country gentleman. His money was invest
ed in other ways than in land; and he had
taken o small house for a summer when twen-
ty-three, which he had kept ever since, mar
rying having a son, losing his wife, sending
his son to school, having him home for the
holidays, DO, and ever doubling where to
move when the proprietor of the house gives
him warning. This the proprietor is not like
ly TO do, seeing that he gets q good rent, paid
punctually, and that the village is so out of
the way that he may wait a century for an
other tenant. Mr.. Carter's son lives with him.
Village life is well enough for those who
have out-lived action, but ii is the worst thing
any hopes Of his future. You may consider
country life the best for all, on the grounds
adopted by a leading article writer as an apol-
ogy for writing on fields when requested TO
write on gas-works, that "God made the coun-
try, and man made the town" If, however,
you examine this aphorism, which of course
you don't, before uttering it, you will find
that, like the thousand and one evasions of
reasoning, ii Is Of some merit as a popular
saying, but Totally destitute Of philosophical
accuracy. If man made towns, so did man
make villages, and still more, country houses
= Al
not live alone, but villages are attempt at
uniting the hermitage to the social circle, and
90 give you the disadvantages Of both. 1t is
sort Of excuse, not that one was needed, for
the love into which Mr.. Carters son fell as
soon as he came to reside with his father.
Why excuse it His father did Just the same
when be first came to the same village. He
might have done worse, as many young men
Of his age would have done. Whether or no
he might have done batter is point not to be
considered by a pract3sal historian, like the
present one.
Although Tom Carter's love was not violent,
IL led nevertheless to many desperate musings,
occasional attempts at poetic composition, and
moonlight walks, and daylight pacings One
Of these latter, chosen, as the best means of
secret and quiet thought, under his fathers
window, was being noticed by that sstute gen.
tlemsn. His sons love having been the talk
Of half the village for three weeks, had Just
come to his ears, and thus to his eyes. So
strange he had never noticed il before, At
all events, DR.. Bibber had never noticed it,
though his (Bibber'9 daughters return of
his (Carter's) sons love was equally patent.
1t was now evident that mutual modesty, shy
nessrather, prevented both youth and maiden
from ccnfessing their own or detecting the
others love. 1t seemed true love; why should
he not lend hand to falsify the poets hasty
expression, and make il run smooth, by taking
all obstacles out Of the way! He had known
nm ufnaf of fha Of fAak,
osition taking place-true love running with
remarkable smoothness. Sc as his son paced
past the window for the thirteenth time ire
member the number y he flung the sash up
and called him.
"Ars you particularly engaged, Tom '''
I" No." replied Tom, after some deliberation.
He never answered hastily, this good young
man, and he was afraid the numerous avoca-
tions Of his life in an English village might
suffer if he accepted another too rashly.
4" I have q favor to ask you" resumed the
father, leaning out of the window, and looking
almost confused. "You may have noticed /
seem preoocupied Of late, disturbed, anxious -
" / did not notice It, F" replied Tom, think
ing be would keep sharper eye on his father
in future.
The fact is, my dear bOy-yOu will not ac-
me selfish" The actor, not TO be ashamed by
his sons cordial grasp Of the hand what
do you ILink. Tom, Of the family near Us
DR.. Bibber,-if be only drank wine you might
call him Wine Bibber-hs, ha!-do you like
him."
Tom had pressed DR.. Bibber mentally to his
heart sixteen times . day; but he merely re-
piled in vague terms something about a warm
friend, &c.-true enough, il noise was warmth.
A very friendly man, indeed; agree with
you there. But what do you think of bis
daughter ?"
Tom was quite as practiced dissembler as
his fafhar What "a ha kaH a.ad
himself for the question ever since he fell in
love, and had learned an answer to il by heart.
Il think her very lady-iiks and accom-
plished person"
I am glad to hear 80 favorable an opin-
ion, replied the father, who had expected
hesitation and bushes ''Pretty, too 20
"Ye-e-s, for some tastes"
g You have not lost your heart to her, then,
Ii seems2"
If Tom had but spoken the truth-why didn't
he? IL ever / write my proposed Essay on
Truth, will examine bis motives for doing
what be never would have done had the mat
ter regarded aught else but his personal feel
ings. He said plainly and fatty % No." which
was ss good ss ten yes's.
The fathers brow cleared at once, and the
sons clouded ov8 at the sight. You reas-
sure me, my dear son." he said. "Had there
been the slightest inclination on your part as
might well have been, and as could not but
suspect, could never have spoken. As 1t is,
will you 90 TO Miss Bibber and ask her TO mar.
~ me2" And then, his feelings not allowing
him to wait the answer, be shut down the win
dow desperately, and hid himself from the
eyes Of men.
He vss recalled in q moment by the shout of
his SON., Ny dear father, will 20 willingly
for you. But would il not be better to 20
yourself? If you feel 50 deeply, would she
not be more moved by your feelings than by q
mere message from your
My dear son, II was your age would 20
myself. But you must remember the differ
ence between my age aAd hers which would
make q personal offer almost ridiculous. You
will oblige me, wont you2"
The son thought it hard, but how could he
excuse himself? He lad professed utter in
difference for the lady Eve minutes before;
how could be 90 At once into the opposite ex-
IRENE? So be walked there, with Q new idea
OF the relentless destiny personiHed BY the
Greek poets, in whom he had not yet. believed.
But By the time he got to Dr. Bibber's neat
cottage, he had made up bis mind to sacrifice
himself, second Iphigenis, differing only In
CAROLINA Uuoa 49, a. liz.