The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-05-01

ndNt DCCn NOIH ny Ills IT,
and it was ludicerous enough to COM
pare their dimentions with the present
dilsted condition of Mr.. Richardson's
feet and legs.
However, the resolute old fellow
seized one of the boots, and with Pom
pey's assistance, succeeded in getting
/ his five toes into the top of it ; but, all
his Juggling, and Pompey's pushing,
could effect no more, and after several
severe struggles, which seemed to be in
earnest, Mr.. Richardson was compelled
/ to abandon the enterprise. The straps
gave way with snap, and the old fell
low fell back in his seat putting for
breath.
His lady, who had stood watching
the experiment with a sarcastic smile,
ordered POmpey to take the boots away,
and then very coolly remarked 10 her
spouse:
Really, Mr.. Richardson, the growth
of your intellect does not keep pace with
the enlargement of your bond. You
think of joining the army, Ell =? But
pray, what is the cause of all this COM
motion ?'
Her lord scowled at her, but made no
answer, and she turned to Mr.. Carville,
as If expecting him to give the desired
Information.
must confess, madam" remarked
CsrFilc. i'that Alfred has amazed me.
cannot believe that he is serious To
refuse Il commission in his majesty's
service. Ii is past my comprehension
entirely"
HE has no flesh and blood Of mine, =
growled old Richardson"
You might spare him little Of your
81 l. Il 8 "a - r II
Mrs. Richardson.
Il have resolved, said Alfred ,grimly
''to give you my reasons Tor this refusal
Father, mother, Mr. Carville and Lee
titia, consider that each of you are en-
titled 70 the explanation / am about to
make. have weighed all the cOnse-
quences-I have lamented the pain |
may give yOu-I have sorrowed to think
Of the change feeling towards me which
this disclosure may produce, but con-
cealment on my part would be base
Know, then, at once, that my affections
are with the patriot cause. | am an
American, and cannot see my country
haTassed by foreigners without desiring
to strike blow in her behalf. | have
this day enlisted under the banner Of
liberty, and | have the authority of
General Marion for saying that if you,
father, and Mr. Caryiile will no longer
take part with the British, you shall be
protected in person and property
4 dead silence prevailed in the room
for some minutes Alfred's declaration
fairly Supplied the whole group. Car
Vile and the elder Richardson sat star
ing at the youth, as if they had recog-
nized him as a visible appearance Of the
arch enemy. Mrs Richardson was in
expressibly shocked and dismayed, and
Letitia, with clasped hands, and a cOun-
tenance full Of fear and agony, awaited
the issue of this most unexpected scene.
Caryille first broke the silence;
After the declaration you have made,
sir, ! suppose it is needless TO tell you
that your alliance with my family j. out
OF the question
call in the servants and have the vii
lain secured cried old Richardson.
"As | hope for bliss, he shall this night
be deliveredup To Colonel Tarleton, with
a request from me to make an example
of him. | will have no traitor in my
family.
sir, y said Alfred. lit is not my iu
tentiOn to remain here; and your ser
wants know me too well To attempt to
bar my way when wish 10 90 ! take
III AiAf Z VI .NbA fi4Af AANiAAA- tAAN AitAAN
mas come when your own conduct and
mine Will appear 10 you in different
light
stop him. Knock him down, Car
vifiet Make sure of him, dead or alive,'
cried Richardson.
But Carville evidently did not relish
this undertaking. He rose to his feet,
however, but meeting the determined
LOOK of Alfred, he shrank back, and the
young man left the room without mo
lestation. Who shall describe or imag
inc the bitterness of that moment TO the
exile from home, kindred, the object of
his love, from all that could be consola-
tory 10 the soul of man, except the hope
of liberty and the proud consciousness
of fulfilling sacred duty? Here was
all the comfort that remained TO Alfred
in this dark hour Of adversely, but he
felt himself well sustained.
Before he had proceeded many PAGES
from the outer door Of the dwelling, he
heard himself called. and, on turning,
beheld his mother and Letitia making
eloquent gestures 70 him, a. if to entreat
him to return. He hesitated, they adj
vaneed towards him, and he met them
halfway.
"My son, " said Mrs. Richardson, the
teals streaming down her venerable
checks, "have | ever given YOU such
mortal offence that you should seek to
murder me in my old age -
NO, my dear mother answered Al
fred, deeply affected you have been
the kindest and best of parents. muir
der you As heaven Is my judge, ]
would die this moment to save you from
the slightest uneasiness.
Then 90 back with us, and let this
sad affair be arranged by reconciling
yourself to your father Now that the
frs burst of anger is over, he l. over
whelmed with grief, and will forgive
everything
Mother" answered Alfred, Il have
done nothing of which | should repent.
/ have not committed a fault, and of
course | have no forgiveness to ask
ooh, Alfred, under what infatuation
do YOU labor? Is rebellion no fault :?
Do YOU speak treason and purpose to
commit it, and yet say that there Is no
room for repentance Do YOU embitter
thelives, and perhaps hasten the death
of YOUR parents, and easily find a justiti-
cation for your acts ? VIII you break
the heart of this poor girl, your be-
trothed wife, to crafty romantic and
guilty phantasy? VIII you make your
self the tool and victim of these heart
less men. who have brought ali the hor-
rors of war to our doors, and who are, at
this very moment, painting for the blood
of our best friends? Will you abandon
aii who love you TO follow in the foot
steps of that cruel, blood-stained mon
ster, whom you call General Marion"
ooh, mother, how little do you know
of that man. answered Alfred, land
how much you wrong him. 1t Is by his
kindness that / am not now bloody
corpse. / was detected, this morning, in
an act which, by the laws of war, would
have justified him in putting me to
death. They who were to be my eXecu-
TONERS were posted on the road, short
distance before me, ndmy death would
have been most certain, had not that
good man, being advised Ofmy approach,
met me on the way, made me acquaint-
ed with my danger, and preserved me
from it.
"Ah, my son, your life was saved in
vain, if you persist in the resolution to
Join yourself to those rebels. You are
thus as much lost to us as if you were
dead; the difference is that we must now
| be deprived of the consolation which we
might have felt, had you persisted this
morning-the consolation OF believing
that you died worthy of our love. But
| cannot believe that you, my son, who
never disobeyeda command OF mine, VIII
now be deaf to my prayers. Youwillg 60
| hack with us ~