The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-02-17

general favorte, liked even by those who
could not but look with sorrow upon the per-
version Of so many rare gifts. Indeed, these
very qualities, together with his tompermept,
wese the stumbling block in his way. nsiW
He formed sudden attachment for the
daughter of respectable citizen, who, alarm
ed at her evident sondness for the society Of a
man so ilcalculated to render her hapy, for
bade their intercourse. a5.,s 3, y.aoi.nn, n'
Influenced as much by revenge as love,
Henry pursuaded the weak, infatuated girl to
leave her fathers home, and runaway match
was the result. q y.. na0 HaiaJ
Mr.. Gerald loved his child, and, as is oftsp
the case, after few weeks Of alienation, be-
came reconsilec' to the young couple. 1al lo
Perhaps he might have had faint hope
that bic marriage would bring about some
change in his son in law. Ifso, be was doom
ed to disappointment. He pursued the same
wild and reckless course, until the pale, sad
face of his young wife showed that she was
suffsring the punishment due TO her filial In
gratitude. aau adi
But at last he was arrested in his mad ca
reer by violent attack Of fever, that brought
him to the brink of the grave, and from which
be was some month in recovering Whether
il was Lis reflections upon bed Of sickness,
or that, at this time, his first born son was
laid 10 his arms, arousing in his heart bis first
realization of the responsibilities of hfe, there
was decided alteration in bis feelings and
habits. He accepted the liberal offer of his
falher.in-aw, who was at the head of fiour-
ishntf business, and applied himself faithfully
and steadily 10 the duties of his office.
He had many secret struggle with old
habits and associations, but be preserved, and
possessing more than usual business fact and
enterprise, was soon regarded as a raising man.
As time moved on, he become a active
membor of tho church, and held various Of
fees of public trust and honor. Liberal and
spirited his name was upon the lips of multi
tude in praise and blessing. .,.a
Among all these tokens Of popular favor,
the sins of bis youth were forgotten, or If re'
membered at all, it was only as an additional
confirmation of the trite saying. "That wild
boys make the steadiest men, a.ra -
They judged, as mankind in general do,
from the outward appearance. Let us look
deeper, q d3 -. !,
When Mr.. Armstrong arose from that bel
of sickness it was with broken. constitution
The doctors patched it up as well as they
could, careful regimen and regular habi Is
repaired it in measure, but its stamina and
elasticity were gone. And often, amid the
cares of an increasing family and extended
business, did he sigh for the health and
strength he had wasted. p t
He was passionately fond of his children: /:
yet, among FIVE, only two survived their child
hood, the oldest ani youngest The Others
idea, one after another, jnst as he was begin
ming to feo how iuexpressibly dear they wero.
richard, the olcest, was wilful, wayard
hoy; subject from his boyhool to strange
moods and furious bursts of passion, which
made him terror TO the whole household
He was carefully trained and educated, and
the Influences brought TO bear upon him were
OF an eleva,ing and restraining nature, but his
seemed TO be Que of those instances of early
deprayitv into whose moral darkness no ray
of light can penetrate. There seems to be no
conscience to appeal to, no principle TO build
upon. He possessed nothing of the frank
generosity, aud kindness of feeling which were
the redeeming qualities OF his father IN early
life, every instinct of his nature appeared TO
be prevented and depraved. ei ~
AS he approached the age OF manhood, his
evil passions received and additional impetus
and before he was twenty his dissolute con-
duct was the subject of public comment.
1t was in vain that his father end d.avored TO
restrain him; he either turned deaf ear TO
bis remonstrances, or retorted by reminding
him Of the prohigacy of his own youth.
And when Mr. Armstrong recalled to mind
the fearful entreaties of his own father, whose
last days his conduct had embittered, he could
not but acknowledge that he was reapiug as
be bad sowed. 'H' ll'I ..n"'
A, last after helping himself literally to
money to bis fathers desk, Richard suddenly
disappeared aud though Mr.. Armstrong
made every cxerton TO find him, no traces oi
him could be discovered.
A few months later letter reached Mr..
Armstrong from a neighboring City, stating
that his son, in some drunken carousal, had
mor,ally wounded one of bis companions, and
was in Jail, awaiting his trial. " ae
Before he could put into execution bis In
stanty formed determination TO 60 to him al
once, he received the additional intelligence
that hc had been found dead in bis cell the
morning after his arrest, having hung himself
to one of the gratings.
Would TO Col that had died for thee !
o, Richard. my son, my son!' moaned th'
wretched father, as be bent in fearless agony
over the disbonored body Of the child in spite
of all bis waywardness, so well beloved
The murderer and the self fmurder! .''.'
One of the officers Of the jail was standing
by him, to whom Mr.. Armstrong was wei
known by reputation,
"How strange" hs said to himself, "tha
so good and upright man should have sucl
q son!
Was IL strapgel That unhappy younl
man was type Of what his father was whel
the first faint throbbipgs, Of his little life be
gan. He inherited all the evil passions o
that reckless period of bis life; intensified by
transmission, and a more feeble organization
which gave him less power Of resistance ant
self f.coptrtl. And all the sin and suffering
which were in strict accordance with one q
the prime laws Of nature, ordained for good
but perverted to evil.
Mr.. Armstrong; heart turned, now, will
peculiar tenderness toward his daughter, hi
only remaining child. To give her life, hi
wife, whose constitution was naturally delicat
yielded up her own, which made her double
dear to him. 1