The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1868-01-23
UNCLE RoLAND'sr TALE,

i
that I then held-a lieutenant;
and there was so much SINH
iarity in our sentiments that
we became intimate friends
the most intimate friends, sis
ter, outside of this dear circle.
He was a rough soldier whom
the world had not welltreated;
but he never rallied at the
world, and lie maintained that
he had had his deserts. Honor
vas his idol, aud the sense ot
honor. paid him for the los,s of
all else. -
''There was something SINH.
lar, too. in our don. .estic rela.
tionships. He BAD a SON. a
child, an infa,s.t who was all
in life TO hign, next tosIhis duty
and coupsry. ], too, had a son
OF the Same years" (Tbe cap.
tain Iaused an instant; we ex-
changed glances, and d sitting
seDsaiion of pain and suspense
was ielt by all his listeners. }
"We were accustomeato to speak
of these children, to picture
their features, TO compare. our
hopes and dreams. We hoped
and dreamed alike. "A short
time sulliced to establish his
confidence. My prisoner was
sent to headquarters, and soon
afterwards eXchanged.n
we met no more till last
year. Being then at Paris |
enquired for my old friend and
learned that he was living at
R.. a few miles from the
capital. ! went to visit him.
| found his house empty and
deserted. That very day he
had been led to prison charged
with a terrible crime. | saw
, him in that prison, and had
from his lips his story. His son
had been brought up, as he
londly believed, in the habits
and principles of honorable
men; and, having finished his
education, came TO live with
him at R.. The young man
was accustomed TO 90 frequent
ly to Paris. The father thought
it natural, and stripped his age
of many comforts. 10 supply
luxuries TO bis son. ..
SHORTY after the sons ar.
rival, my friend perceived that
he was robbed, Monies kept
in his bureau were distracted,
he knew not how, nor could he
guess by whom. 1t must be
done in the night. He hid
himself and watched. He saw
Il steallhy figure glide in, he
saw a false key applied to the
lock--he started forward, seiz-
ell the feIon, and recognized his
son. What should the father
have done? | 10 not ask you,
sister, ask these men, son and
father, | ask you?"
Expelled him from the
house!' cried !.
"D,ne his duty, and reformed
the unhappy wretch" said my
father. Mo man is wholly
bad all at once"
"The father did as you would
have advised, brother. He kept
The youth; he demonstrated
with him; he did more-he
gave him the key of the bu-
reau. Take what | have to
give,' said he, 81 would rather
be beggar than know my son
a thief"
"Right; and the young man
repented and became a good
man." exclaimed my father.
Captain Roland shook his
head. "The youth promised
amendment, and seemed peni.
tent. He spoke OF The tempta.
tations of Paris, the gaming
table, and what not. He gave
up his daily visits to the capi-
tai. He seemed to apply to
study. Shortly after this the
neigh borhood was alarmed by
reports of night roJberies on
the roads. Men masked and
armed plundered travellers,
and even broke into housea.
The police were on tie alert.
One night an old hrother off
Ger knocked at my friends
door. 1t was late; the veteran
(he was a cripple, by the way,
IKE myself-stranee coinci.
dence y was in he'd He came
down in haste when his servant
told him his old friend, wound
ed and b eeding, sought an asy-
lum beneath his roof. The
wound, however, was slight
| The guest had been attacked
and robbed on the road. The
next morning the proper au-
thoritv of the town was sent
for. The plundered man de-
scrihed his lOss-sOme billets