North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-10-15
}f(iistdlaneous,
THE FIRST WRONG.

My story opens in New England setting
room.
There were three persons present. Let
me introduce them in in order.-Filst there
was Deacon Holbrook, an old man, not far
from seventy now, with white hair, a tall
spare form. and decided features. Next, his
wife, motherfy old lady, with an expression
fsuch calm benevolence on her face as to
charm all who knew her. Yet, at this mo-
ment. anxiety, grief, and entreaty, struggled
for the mastery. The third figure in the ia
bleauX was a young man, with frank, hand
some face. Of years not exceeding twenty,
who stood in the middle of the floor with a
downcast look, shrinking from the angry
words which his father uttered.
Henry" said the deacon sternly, you
nave disgraced yourself and me, deacon of
the church. You have embttered the de-
cljning years of your parents"
Don't be to hard with him, Deacon lIoll-
brook" nterposed his wife. Remember it
is bis first fall"
"Ifhe were anything else" said his father
still urappeased; " out to think my son
should become gambler my son who has
been so carefully trained in the way he should
CO."
"It's only once" urged his wife, with all a
mothers instincts.
"There are some crimes which cannot be
committed once without sinking the soul
deep in sim" returned the father with una
b4ted severity.
All this while the young man had remain
ed silent, although his varying colors showed
that he felt deeply the harshness of his ia
theirs words. At length he spoke:
"Father," said he, firmly, "you will one
day repent our severity. No sooner had
sinned than | repented, and made immediate
confession to you and my mother. Instead
of encouraging me in my repentance, you
loaded me with .reproaches, which my con-
science had anticipated, and which Heaven
knows did not need"
Dsacon Holbrook was about to speak, but
henry FapIOig COHliHueu.
"You tell me | have disgraced you.
will remove myself and disgrace from your
presence"
As he was about to leave the room, his
mother asked anxiously:
"Where would YOU go to, Henry 2"
"Stay him not, Hannah 2" said the dea-
con, sternly. 1t is we'll that he should
leave place where he cannot look an honest
man in the face"
deacon Hollbrook, he is our son. said
his wife, reproachfully.
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 of pain, half of Indignation
swept over his face. He knew that he had
done wrong, but he felt that he had not fer
feited forgiveness. With but one farewell
glance at his mother, full of unspoken graft
tude and love, he left the house which had
been to him so long home.
This was the fault of which Henry Holl-
brook had been guilty.: Having been sent
to New York by his father to collect sum
of money due him, he had been allured to
gaming house by companion, and there in
duced to play, though not until after much
persuasion. Having lost part of the money
in his charge, he kept on playing in the hope
of recovering his losses, But. as might have
been expected, he lost all that remained Of
the money. Then thoroughly ashamed, and
bitterly upbraiding himself for his breach o.
trust, he went home and confessed all. This
confession was received, as we have seen, in
| such a way as to chill his confidence, and ex
cite his indignation. And now he had gone