St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-05-18
NO. O.43.

+. - No. 43.
ticu'ar'y when boys are 1aywardly In !.
clined, it j. the.vorst Of oil systens.-
When I went to college, at the age OF
nineteen, | hal seen nothing Of the
world. I found myself suddenly eman-
cipated from parental control, in the
midst Of dangerous pleasures which had
all the charm Of novelty, and associa-
ting with companions whose example
no experience h,d taught me to avoid.
Naturally impulsive in my temperament
I was soon led away, step by step, iato
follies and vices which I had never
learnt to see IN their proper light I
soon became deeply involved in debt,
and, much to my fathers disappoint-
ment, left Oxford without taking 4 de-
gree. ..,:..>s -, s. - -'...s -, -.
""He received me with coldness, and
even severity, aid told me that if I ever
hoped to establish myself in his favor,
I must speedily reform my habits, and
enter at once on the study Of the pro-
fession which he had chosen for me-
It was his wish that l should qualify
myself for the bar; and With this end
in view, was placed in = solicitors Of
II can eonscientiously say that At
thi. period Of my life my habits were
steady, and that looked forward With
earpestDess to taking that position in
the world which my birth and educa-
ton ought to have given me. l had,
moreover, an additional incentive to in
dustry. I became attached 10 the
daughter Of gentleman who bad been
one Of my fathers oldest friends. She
had been left an orphan, and in charge
Of the lawyers family With whom had
become professionally connected. As
we were both extremely young, her
guardian, although he knew that my
affections were returned, would moi hear
of any formal engagement until had
shown, by an altered course Of lite, that
l deserved her. In due time 1 came
w to London to read law +; aud had
scarcely been called to the bar when
my father died. Deeply as I then felt
h,s loss, it is some satisfaction 1t least
f.r me to think that 1 was with him in
his last moments that he freely for
gave me the pain l had caused him;
and-grieved as I an, to say it-that
he did not survive to see the subsequent
misery Of which I still seemed doomed
TO be the author.
"F.ndins that was now in the posses
sion of small Inheritance, determine
ed not to leave Il until could as
cure myself Of the prospect Of speedy
union With her for whose sake I had
labored long and steadily, and without
whose gentle influence I felt I might
soon relapse into former habits. I had
kept my promise. I had rel;nquisbed
all thoughts OF pleasure until / had at
taiued qualified position ; and now 7
came to claim my reward. Her guard
ian admitted the justice Of my plea;
the dear girl herself blushingly arowed
her affection, and within twelve months
after my fathers death We were mar
ried. .@~s ,,. 4. 49,. %9..~s9 ~.Er
| II found my wife everything that I
had pictured her. Kind aud gentle u
she was lovely, she had ever q sympa-
thizing word for me in trouble or anx-
lety and though her husband was IL
ways her first consideration, she gained
the admiration Of al our friends BY her
sweet and winning manner. I look
back upon the FIRST few years Of our
marriage as the happiest in my fife. I
had already begun to practice At the
bar With some prospect Of success,
when an unforeseen calamity occurred,
which, combined With my own selfish
conduct, completely turned the tide Of
our good fortune. ~ ~
at was soon after the birth Of our
6rst-our ouly-child, that my poor
wife Was sei.ed with . dangerous III
ness, on recovering Of which she WAS
ordered change Of air. The vaters- of
: celebrated German spa were mention
ed as likely 70 suit her case; !; aud hop
ling to compensate BY economy for what
l might lose in professional practice, I
determined to accompany her on tho
Continent. f
"The little Watering plaee 70 which
We had been recommended was BY no
means expensive. We hired furnished
lodgings in good situation !; my vito
soon found the benefit cf the cir, md
was on fair road to recovery, when
81 -r- =. Z