The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-06-18
THE FIRST WRONG.

ny story opens 10 new Lngianu sittihg.
room.
There we're three persons present. Let me
introduce them in order. First, there was Dea-
con HoibrOok, an old man, not far from seventy
now. with Witty hair. a tall spare form. and de-
cid.d features. Next, his wife, mOtherly old
lady, with all expression of such calm benevO-
leIce on her face as 10 charm all who knew her
Yet, at this moment, anxiety, grief and entreaiy
struggled tor the mastery. The third figure iu
lhe takleau was young man with frank, hand
some face, Of years not exceeding twenty. who
stood in the middle Of the floor with downcas,
look, shrinking from the angry words which his
isther uttered.
''Henry," said the deacon sternly, ''you have
disgraced yourself and me, deacon Of the
church. You have embttered the declining
years Of your parents"
"Don't be too hard with him, Deacon Hol,
brook" in,erposed bis wife. Remember it i.
his FIRST fault"
''lt it were nything else." said his father still
unappessed; "but to think a son OF mine should
become gambler! Ny son, who has been
50 carefully trained in the way that he should
go!'
ut is only once" urged the wife, with all a
mothers instincts.
There are some crimes which cannot be
committed once without sinking a soul deep in
sir" returned the father with nnahafed ss.-n
All this while the young man had remained si.
| lent, though bis VARYING colors showed that he
felt deeply the harshuess of his fathers words.
At length he spoke:
Father" said he, firmly, "you will one day
repent Your severity. No sooner had sinned
than ,epented. and made immediate confession
to you and my mother. Instead Of encouraging
me in my rep. .ntaDce, you load me with reproach
rs which my own conscience had anticipated, ano
which, heaven knows, did NOT need"
Deacon Holbrook was about to lspeak, bu,
Henry rapidly continued:
| You tell me have disgraced you. will re-
move myself and my disgrace from your pres
ence."
As he vas about to leave the room, his mother
asked AL xiously:
"Where would you 60 to. Henry?-
''Stsy him hot, Hannah :" said the deacon
-ternly. ut is we'll that be should leave
place where he can no longer look an hones
man in the face.
Deacon Holbrook, he is our son," said the
wife. reproacbfully.
Il would that could forget it," was the un
relenting reply.
These last words reached the ears of the youDe
man "a he stood upon the Threshold, and ali ex
preston half OF pain, half Of Indignation, swep
over his face. He knew that he had done wrong
hut he felt that he bad not forfeited forgiveness
With one farewell glance at his mother. full o
unspok-n gratitude and love. he lett the hous,
which bad been so long to him q home.
This was the fault Of which Henry Holbrool
rad been guilty: He bad been sent to New
York BY his father to collect sum OF money du,
h'm, and had been ailured to gaming house b,
La
not Till after much persuasion. Having lost
part OF The money ia his charge, he kept OF
playing In the hope of recovering HE losses
But, as might have been expected, instesd o
this he lost all that remsined Then thorous h
ashamed, and bitterly upbraiding himself for hi
breach OF trust, he vent home and confessed oil
his confession was received, a. We have seei
10 such way a. to chill his confidence and ca
cite his indignation. And nov be had gone forl
from home, q wanderer. he knew not whittier
With not one effort on his fathers part to sta
him.
Let me do Deacon Holbrook IN. jn..ic. ta aa,
that it was not bis own personal loss that excite,
hS rigor. The sum, though not large-a hun
dred dollsrs-~as yet Of importance to him
Still, he could overlook that. but not bis eou'
weakness and crime, as be termed it, by whic
it vas lost.
After Henry's departure, the old house becam
quirter than before. Deacon Holbrook hmse
Was Ran OF few words, and his taciturnity be-
abated his wif-'s social tendencies. Very long
. very quiet, and very tedious we're the evening
, ~hich they spent together. On one side Of tn
fireplace sat the deacon, gravely reading throug
his spectscles the agricultural papers xhic
came weekly. Opposite him sat his vile, her FL
gers actively engaged in knitting. her mind il
tent upon her absent boy. Ali vas staid, quie
-ubdued. There vas not even a kitten to enl
ven the scene. Mrs. HoIbrook had once ventu
ed to introduce one into the house, bu. the de,
con speedily minated bis dislike of cats, an
puss had been banished.
One night deacon Holbrook brought lett,
for bis wife. Ii vas such an unusual circun
stance for the good woman to receive . lette
that she took it eagerly and tore ir open with uI
J, wonted haste.
D Wha, was it that made her eyes sparkle vi,
s Joy: The familiar ndvrising had not deceive
|. her. She knew At once, by the peculiar Aouris
l. on the top of the b, that it vas from Henry.
She read i, through With grateful joy. Ii a
:. pears that Henry had worked bis passage, havir
= no money; and leaving the vessel 1t San Fra
!, , cisco, had proceeded at once 70 the mine
where be Vas nov working. He had not BET
there long enough to form an ides Of what we
his chances Of success. He Wished his moth
10 write, and promised to keep her advised
: his movements. There Vas only one referen
= o is father. II vas this: II am afraid faith
. still retains bis bitterness towards NE. II this
,, The case, do not trouble him With any message
bas If Otherwise, you may give him my dutd