Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-01-07
General Literature.
THE O.V'EI' BOB'.
FATHERS, ,rRovoKENorYouR CHILDREN"

"FATHERs, PRovoKENoT YOUR CHILDREN"
One fine summer morning, as / was rid
ing with a friend through handsome viii
lage in the central part of New York, and
admiring the beauties he pointed out to me
with all the pride and precision the "old-
est inhabitant," my attention was attracted
by an aged couple dressed in deep mourn
ing, who were walking slowly down a
shaded avenue in front of one of the most
beautiful residences in the place.
The feeble steps of the old lady, who
heavily leaned upon the arm of her COM
panion, and the expression of deep and
lasting sorrow which possessed her thin
and pallid features, contrasted with the
firm tread, and stern, solemn aspect of the
old man, awoke my curiosity, and in
quired if there was not some domestic his
tory of interest connected with this vener-
able couple.
There is, indeed replied my friend;
you recall to my mind one of the most
singular incidents-the most startling trag-
edy, in short-which our goodly village ev-
er witnessed. The old and sorrow strick-
en- couple may be seen, twice or three times
a week-oftener when the weather is fine
walking down the avenue in just such a
manner-never any faster, never any slow
! Cr.
you see them now getting into the car
riage, which has Just rolled up to the gate.
They will ride a mile, when the carriage
will stop, and they will walk through an
other gate, which is of iron, all black as eb-
ony. They will enter a green field, where
the birds sing sweetly these fine mornings,
lonely field, however, where there arc no
dwellings above ground, yet they are a
great many inhabtants-the rich and the
poor intermingled, and resting on the same
level, about four feet beneath the sod
This aged couple are going to visit the
grave of their only child. 1t was a son.
will tell his history if you will listen.
THE old man was once the most enter
prising, the boldest and most resolute man
in the vicinity. His name is Col. II. You
have heard of him, for he distinguished
himself in the late war. People used to
say he was made of iron. Yet he has one
of the most upright, generous hearts in the
world.
The old lady / remember as a lady OF
great beauty, not more than twenty years
ago, when she was about forty. Besides
she was quite as celebrated for gentleness
and benevolence, as was the Colonel for his
iron will She had soft, ailectonate heart
which shone beneficently on all, until its
warmth was concentrated in an only child
He was a wild, handsome, passionate
boy, generous at times, but often tyrannc
al and wilful. We were schoolmatesr anC
we always played together until he was
sent away to an academy, when our init
macy ceased. l saw him rarely afterwards
until, having been expelled from college
, for striking professor in a fit of passion
he returned to his fathers house.
Morgan, in his childhood, had been in
dulged and caressed by his fond mother
and by his father treated with undue Sc
verify. The Colonel loved his boy, but h,
believed in the necessity of discipline tC
, curb his passions, while Mrs. H., weepin,
! over the fathers stern treatment of he
darling, endeavored to mako up for it il
indulgence. Then the boy grew up to fea
his father, and to feel contempt for tn,
authority of his mother.
Well, on Morgan's return from collegt
in disgrace, he was so changed you woul,
l. hardly have known him not so much il
personal appearance, for he was still hand
some, but in his manners. All I need sa
is, he had earned the reputation ofbeing tn
most reckless and dissipated fellow in col
lege.
Col ii. was terribly enraged at the dis
grace his wild son had brought upon him
l. self and family. IIe treated him wit
greater severity than ever, refusing t
crafty his love of pleasure by furnishin
him with funds, and subjectng him to til
most rigid discipline. The result was, +,
ther and son had terrible quarrel, /
which the latter, boldly facing the thui
ders of the Colonel's wrath, proved hin
al self to have initiated his iron will, if nj
his nobleness of character.
u That very day Morgan left his father
Is, house and took up his residence at the h,
o, tel, TO the great distress of Mrs. H., VIII
=, from that time never saw happy da
These events occurred twelve years ago.
Id Il don't know that the young man ev,
u entered the house but once afterwards, Q,
IT. cept to see his mother in the absence of Il
Colonel and to obtain the funds sho ust
"' to spare him out of hor own allowance.
Morgan wished to go abroad. But
travel very extensively, required mo
~ money than Mrs. II. had at her comman
and all her efforts TO induce the Colonel
grant supply for the purpose were
vain. She might as well have asked Il