The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-11-07
The First Wrong.
BY PAULINE FORESTER.

Ny story opens in the sitting room of a
New England dwelling.
There were three persons present. Let
me Introduce them in order FIRST, there
was Deacon Ho,brook. an old man not far
from seventy now, with white hair, tall,
spare FORM, and decided features. Next,
his wife, motheily OLD lady, with an ex
preston of such calm bcncvolence on her
lace, as to charm ali who knew her. Yet
at Tins moment, ANXIETY, grief and en-
treaty struggled for the mastery. The
third figure in the tableuu was a Young
msn with a frank, handsome face of wears
not exceeding twenty, who stood in the
middle Of the floor with downcast look
shrinking from the angry words which his
/ father uttered.
Henry" said the Deacon, sternIv.
! you have di,graced yourself and me,
deacon OF the church. You have embt.
tered the declining years of your parents"
"l)on't be too hard with him, Deacon
lIoIbloob," nterposed his wife. ere.
member it is his first fault"
"lt 1t were anything else" said his
father, sGll unappeased "but 20 ,hink
that my son shonld become gambler -
My son, who has been so carefully trained
in the way he should cop'
at is or Y once" urged the wife, with
all mothers instincts.
"Ihere are some crimes which cannot
be committed once, without sinking the
soul deep in sin, returned the father, with
unabated slelnness.
All this time the young man had re-
mained silent. though his varying colors
showed that he felt deeply the harshness
OF his fathers words. AT length he
SPOKE.
Father" said he, firmly, "vou will
one day repent your severity. No sooner
had ! Sinned than | repcnled, aud made
immediate confession TO you and mother.
Instead OF encouraging me in my repen.
tance, you load me with reproaches which
my own conscience had anticipated, and
which, heaven, knows, did not need"
Deacon Ilolbrook was about TO speak
but Henry rapidly continued
"4ou tell me that have disgraced you
| will remove myself and my disgrace
from you presence"
As he was about to leave the room his
mother asked anXiously: "Where would
you so to- Henry ?"
"Sray him not, Hannah" said the
Deacon sternly. at is we'll that he
should leave place where he can no
longer look an honest man in the face"
Deacon Hoibrook lie is our son." said
the wife eproachfully.
81 would that could forget it," was
the unrelenting reply.
These last words reached the ears of
the young man as he stood upon the
Threshold and an expression hall of pain,
! half ol Indignation, swept over his Il ce
He knew that he had done wrong, but he
felt that he had not forfeited forgiveness.
With one farewell glance at his mother
full of unspoken gratitude and love, he
left the house which had been so long to
him home.
THIS was the fault of Which Henry
Holbrook had been guilty Having been
sent 10 New York by his father to collect
sum Of money due him, he had been al
ured to gaming house by cump1nion
and there induced to play, though not till
after much persuasion. Having lost a
part oI the money in his charge, he Rep,
on playing in the hope ol recovering his
losses. But,as might have been expected.
instead Of this he lost all that remained
Then thoroughly ashamed, and bitterly
upbraidng himself Tor his breach of trust,
he went home and confessed all. This
confession was received, as we have seen,
in such way as 10 chill his confidence and
excite his indignation. And now he had
gone forth from home, a wanderer, be
know not whittier, with not one effort on
his fathers part to stay him.
Let me do Deacon Holbrook the justice
to say that it was not his personal loss
that excited his rigor. The sum, though
not large-a hundred dolars-was ye Of
Importance 10 him. Sill, he could over.
look that, but not his sons weakness and
crime,a he termed it.by which it was lost
After HenrV's departure, the old house
became quieter than before. All the life
had gone out OF it. Deacon Holbrook
himself was a man OF few words, and his
tacilurnity had sbated his wife's social
tendencies. Very long, very quiet and
very tedious were the evenings which
they spent together. On one aide OF the
fireplace sat the Deacon, grayeIy Teadinu