Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-14
The Man who never was Young

The Man VINO never was Young
The following is sad picture of a
mothers error-a mother who, in striving
to make her child good, went too far and
made him a wretched misauthrope. He
tells his own story, thus:
Was born in Frankfort. Ny parents
had several children, all of which died in
infancy except me. was the youngest,
nud lived through the periods whom had
proved so fatal to the rest. The exIraor-
binary care of my mother, who watched
me with melancholy tenderness, no doubt
cOnlrlbu ed to save q lie which, in boy
hood, aud indeed, to mature age, was at
beet, PrecariOus one.
My parents we're respectable people, in
easy circumstances. grew up selfish and
efeminaIe in consequence ofbeiDg SO much
INDUCED. exhibited early q studions
disposition, aud it was decided TO give me
au accomplished education, with reference
to my occupying, could attain it at IA
tuTe day, a chair in some university. My
mother WAS a very religious woman. From
the first, she had morbid sense OF the re.
sDousibilIy OF bringing up q boy. She
believed my way to manhood was beset BY
iunumtrabls temptations, almost imposH-
Bile 10 escape, difficult 10 be resisted, and
absolutely ruinous to my soul, If yielded to.
She preached to me necessarily. She
kept me from the society of boys OF my
own sge, tor fear l should be cOntamina>
tee; aud from the approach of any of the
other sex, lest my mind should be diverted
from serious matters and led into Wanton.
ness and folly. She would have made q
priest OF me had it not been for nv father:
he objected. His brother, after whom
was named, was a distinguished profes.
soru TO whom bore, as he thought, re-
semblnncs, and he desired shOuldimitate
him IN my pnEsuits. had good abilities,
aud WAS uelther inefficient nor wantiBg IN
energy or Industry.
At first i lODged for natural life and
society; but, by degrees, habit helped me
to endure, auG finally to CONQUER, In fact,
was taught chat was doing God service
IN cultivAuug an ascellc life. Ny studies
were pursued with success. rapidly mas
tered what was placed before me, and my
RELATIONS were proud Of my progress.
AT the usual period abe ordinary CRAVING
for female society became strong in me
Ny mother took great painsto impress Of
me that here commenced my first stIuggl
with Satan, aOd, if yielded, should Ger
taiuiy, and beyond all peradveuture, be
come "a CHILD OF the Devil. l Was in a deRrt
conscientious. was ambitious /
attain holy Iife.- l believed Win
my mother had from my infanc
lAbo'ed so hard to inCulcste, and i ,ro
down with IN iron step every fresh risib
emotion Of my heart. every genuine pas
sion OF NY nature. But l suffered muot
The Imagination could not Rlways be sub
du'dr aud there were periods when IL
that The "suong man armed" had posss:
sion OF me. Nevertheless, his time was nj
come, and u length the struggle was owe
1t was not Ihat1 had gained a laudabl
control Of myself; but, having crucifk
every rebelliGus thought, there was nolhib
LETT lor control. had marked my victor
by exietminatiOn. To live was no 10,
neither vast sPeCiallyIhs rtverse--ai lou
tnono'ohous, chaugeltss plauIude-yet
ues'Ee TO qsit the terrible uniformity. t