The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-04-15


they had English relatives.
Gotieb Protz was confirmed old bache.
lor. lie had been jilted in his youth by q
girl to whom he was much attached. and
though the native goodness of his heart
kept him from railing at all her seN--as SO
many under like circumstances have done
yet he never again thought of marrying
His family. though humble had suffered
much during the Revolutionary War from
tho British They had subsequently re-
moved from New York, where he was born
to Kentucky, and where, by listening 10 his
fathers and grandfather's tales of English
cruelty and oppression, he had imbibed al
most an hatred to the namc of an English
man. On the declaration of war with Great
Britain, he had Joined Hull's ill-fated army
as rifleman. The early part of his lie
had been passed in seclusion, and. being
much alone, he had acquired a habit of talk
ing to himself, which, after he had entered
the army, frequently caused much amuse-
ment to his companions, who were not slow
in discovering it.
We will now leave Gotlieb to his medi-
tations. and in the mean while. introduce
the "Captin" TO our readers. Howell Mer-
edith was the only son of a wealthy mcr-
chant Of New York who had taken the
greatest care that his son should receive a
good education--an education not only of
the mind but heart Yes, an education of
of the heart for it is assuredly true that,
although the mind be adorned with all the
lore and accomplishments of the present
and past ages. yet, il the heart be void of
truth, honor, virtue. and charity for our
felow-creatures if there be no moral or re-
e., #
duty. even though that path be bcset with
difficulties and hardships, no restraining
voice to bid us pause in the pursuit of pleas
uro and list to the hiss of the serpent hid
den mid the tlowers-alas! such mind but
resembles the apple of Sodom, beautiful to
the eve, but filled with ashes and bitterness.
Such was not the case with Howell Mere
dith. lie had grown to manhood, all that
| his fond parents could wish he had finished
his collegiate course i'll Germany, at the
! University of Gottingen; and had after
wards made two years tour on the Conti-
nont, accompanied by his tutor, Mr.. Harvey.
Mr.. Meredith, Notwithstanding his immense
wealth, thought it necessary his son should
have profession and Howell was pursu-
ing the study of the law in New York at
the time of the rupture between America
and England, which, however, with his
fathers consent, he then relinquished, and
repaired to the camp of General Hull, who
was preparing to enter Canada.
Mr.. Meredith had, some years previously,
purchased a place on the Niagara, situated
in romantic and beautiful valley, about a
mile above Lewistown. Here he built II
princely mansion, and embellished it with
works of art and all the elegances and lux
uries which wealth can procure, and here he
had resided, in happiness and content, with
his much loved and still lovely wife. Col.
| Seton, his nearest ueighbor, lived about
half a mile above, on Il hill commanding Il
magnificent view for miles. Lowistown
| and Queenstown appeared To lie at the foot
of it. The Cataract Of Niagara. few miles
distant. rushing and leaping over it's high
rocky bed into the fearful abyss below, like
a sea of molten silver, and the many bright
ranbows blending their gorgeous colors in
the mist, with the noble Lakes i'll their calm
repose the vast extent OF forest land and
fruitful valleys, and the blue hills OF Cam
ada i'll the distance, all, all combined to
make the scene from "Setton llill-as 1t
was caled-on bright morning, almost
one of enchantment. 1t was here that How
ell Meredith spent many happy hours with
Henry Seton and his sister Florence, on
his visits homo during his college vaca-
! tiOnS.
| Colonel Seton was born in England his
parents had emigrated to America while he
was yet boy and he had many OF the
prejudices of an Englishman, which wery
derived chiefly from his mother, who was
a niece of General Sir Isaac BrocR, who
had Just Joined the British forces at Maiden
at the time our story commences. lhe
reader may suppose, from the title OF colonel,
that Gerald Seton was III the army but
such was not the case. a long time before
war had been declared, when he was still
young, a number of the neighboring gentle
men about his own age had united to raise
a regiment of cavalry i'll Lewistown and its
environs, and had chosen him for the colonel.
AT first the young men were delighted to
show themselves in their military costume,
on parade days and in sham fights to the
fair ladies of the place but they soon began
to tire of the play, SO one by one the volun-
teers dropped off, until, at last, the regi-
ment was "out of service But Seton
still retained the title of Colonel by cour-
tesy. He had married an amiablc and ac-
complished American lady. and Henry and
Florence were their only children. How
ell was two years older than Henry, whom
he looked upon as u younger brother. As
for Florence she was the household pet a
lovely, prattling child of six summers when
the Merediths came to the ValIey-to which
they had given the name of Arcadia. How
ell, fine manly boy Of ten, loved, when he
and Henry went fishing, to take the little
Florence with them aud see her open wide
those deep blue eyes with wonder, not un-
mixed with fear, when she saw the poor
fish dangling from the hook.
And when Mrs. Seton brought her, as
she often did, to the valley, on visit to
his mother-ior the two families were on
terms of the closest intimacy--he delighted
to place her before him on his Shetland
pony, aud so ride up and down the avenue
with her.
But time passed on and Howell, during
his visits 10 Seton Hill, which were almost
daily during the vacation time, frequently
found himself disappointed in his plans Of
walking boating, ard fishing 10y being told
that "Miss Florence is with her governess,
engaged at her studies And although
Henry, who was his classmate in college,
and his almost inseparable companion ont
Of it, was always ready to accompany him
he would generally say on such occasions,
:" Let us put off our excursion until Flor
ence is at liberty, Henry; she will be dis
appointed if we go without her besides,
it viii be so dM' And Henry, who dearly
loved his sister, seldom demurred.
Sometimes, when her pupil had been
particularly diligent, Miss Manvers would
accompany them, if the evening was fine
few miles down the Niagara, in a small
yacht belonging to Howell; and while he
and Henry rowed with ease their light yes,
sell she would amuse them with Indian
legends concerning the caves or the whr-
pool in the river between Lewistown and
the Falls or, joining her rich, full voice
with the sweet, girlish one of Florence, ac-