The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-04-11

appearance.
He died the day after he gave n
this, and was buried by the side of h
brother in the old family ground.
The following is a true copy of tn
manuscript:
any mother died when I was tlirtee
years of age. was left the only con
fort to my father, being the only chill
living out of a family of five. For
long time after my mothers death m
father seemed perfectly broken-h hearted
his BUSINESS offered no attractions what
ever and had it not been that he ha
a most excellent partner, his pecuniar,
losses must have been heavy. The ol
homestead had its Sad mementoes-ih
vacant chair; the idle piano; the un
strung harp; the light and life of tn
house gone so father determined tt
sell all, and travel for a year or so. l
cost me many bitter pang to SEE thes
old associates torn away from lne spot
hallowed by my sanity mothers trea'
were now to pass into the HANDS o
strangers; one by one they were sold
until there was naught left to US bu
fond recollection.
My father then started off on busi
ness trip through the Western States
as he was large grain dealer, taking
me with him, We stopped at most O
the principal cities, but not long enough
to form more than business acquaintan
ces. After about twelve month spent
in travelling, We returned to NJ, anc
took rooms at the principal hotel in the
city. was sent off to boarding school
preparatory to my entrance into college
| soon became favorite in the school
and made rapid progress, far out-strip.
ping all my competitors Days, months
and years passed by, when at the end
Of the third year, as was ready to ell
ter the Sophomore class, I received a
letter from my father, calling me home
to attend his marriage. I could scarce
ly believe the words: I am to be mar
ried on the first of July to the woman
! first loved. She is widow, with a
son some three years your senior, but
one in whom you will find an equable
companion and kind brother
From that day my troubles began.
1t did not take ne long to pack up my
books and the little baggage that
school,boy has, and the neat day I start
ed for home-no longer home for me.
The marriage came off, and it was one
of the grandest affairs that ever happen
ed in N. both parties being very
wealthy. Of course I was present, and
L heard my father call her his wife,
and | saw my own sanity mother i'm
ploring me not to call he" mother, and |
swore | would not. Ever yshing seemed
to pass off pleasantly. Two or three
weeks were spent in the pleasures that
generally attend a wealthy honeymoon;
parties and receptions; but 1 could tn
joy none of them. had not forgotten
my own mother, My kind brother was
not long in showing his acts of kind
ness. He was purse proud, ignorant
fop, and no kind OF companion for me.
l | cared nothing for his pleasures; and
he was not competent erougrs appre.
ciate mine. On account of M retiring
he used to always call me
Stupid Bill and finally began to look
upon me as a kind of servant, insulting
ne by his sneering taunts, and on ore
occasion going SO far as to strike me for
not obeying some impe'ious command
given in the presence of some of his
'rofigate associates. I had brooked |
lis insults long enough, and now I de-
ermined TO stand them no longer.
swore [ would be avenged sooner
r later. Ny fathers wife was about
S kind to ME as my 'kind broth
r. She first used persuasive means to
ct me to call her mother, but finding
hese would not do, she began to use
arsh measures, called me ungrateful,
rond, impudent, and finally would have
othing at all TO do with me. Her son
ontinued to taunt and insult me, until
last my cup was filled to OVERLOOKING;
could stand it no longer. / had brooked
" last, and had my revenge.
Shortly after my father married, he
ought a large residence as a present
'r his wife. It was one of those old
ashloned, roomy, square mansions, with
,nr rooms On the first floor, and spa
lous hall. running through from the
'ont porch, to verahdah, which ex-
ended the whole width of the back of
ne house, and which rendered an en-.
'ance into our (my Brothers and mine)
ed room, which was the back room over
le. parlor, an easy thing do. Father
ad given us a room together, thereby I
oping to make us learn to love each s
her; but in this he failed. The bed {
which We slept. was parallel with the t
ar wall of the room, and about FIVE t
ct distant from it, allowing room for a {
lreau to be placed between the bed I
I'd wall on which my brother used tal J.
ace his vdiamonds1a T. (lllll i! /
here were g I46Ws in the back Of
Q ra eaeh q which opened on the t
p of the verandah. IL. .a4 It
1t was Ia this room and this bed Q
at ! had my vengeance. II
!" II was pleasant evening in the t
tier part Of June, thatlmy brother un- d
rtook to cnrTec.3 me for not obeying r
: command. He had ordered me to b
ing him q glass Of water, and on my /
tusIng, he dashed ID my face some 9
at,ssas in the glass, II resen, ed the
suit by telling him that I would have a
7 revenge yet, and left the room to i,
ed,tate i,aa upon my position. n
That night I went to my room a. b
at 70 90 o'clock 10 but could moi. sleep. 7
there tossing about on tie bed with a
= brain on fire. Demons were Kissing 4
reRge IN my ears. was wild !; burn. il