The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-05-01
M / S eIIaneous.
From tie Bench and Bar Repietr.
WILLIAM PINKNEY AT BEL AIR.


was born in the South. had very
bad health there in my early childhood,
and maiden aunt took voyage by sea,
from Baltimore to my birth place, for the
purpose of returning with me to climate
which the physician had said would
strengthen my constitution.
She brought me up with the greatest
kindness, or rather, should say, she kept
me comparatively feeble by her overcare of
my health. When l was about fourteen
years of age my father brought my mother
and my little sister Virginia from Charles
ton to see me. My meeting with my kind
mother shall never forget. She held me
at arms length for an instant, to see if she
could recognize in the chubby boy before
her, the puny sickly child with whom she
had parted with such fond regret on board
the Caroline but few years before; and
when, in memory and in heart, she recog-
nized each lineament, she clasped me to her
bosom with wild hysteric joy which COM
pensated her-more than compensated her
she said, for all the agony which our sep
aration had caused her. l loved my moth
CT devotedly, yet wondered at the emo
ton which she exhibited at our meeting
and child though was, a sense of unwor-
thiness came over me, possibly because my
affections could not sound the depths of
hers.
My fathers recognition was kinder than
| had expected from what remembered of
our separation. He felt prouder of me
than at our parting, l presume from my
improved health and looks; and this made
him feel that being tied to the apronstrings
of my good old aunt, would not improve
my manliness. A gentleman whom he had
met at a dinner party, who was the princi-
pal of an academy, kind of miniature
college, some distance from Baltimore, had
impressed my father, by his disquisitions,
with profound respect for such mode
Of education.
William said my father, in speaking on
the subject to friend, will be better there
than here among tue women; he'll be a
baby for ever here. No, must make q
man of him. l shall take him next week
with me, and leave him in charge of Sears
My mother insisted on it that | should
stay longer that she might enjoy my socic-
ty, and that my sister and myself might
become mors attached to each other ere
they returned to Carolina. But my father
said, No, my dear; you know it was al
ways agreed between us, you should bring
up Virginia as you pleased, and that |
would bring up William as pleased.
Let us take him, then, back home ex
claimed my mother; 'he is healthy enough
now
But he would not he healthy long there,
my dear. No, | have made inquiry I; Mr..
Sears is an admirable man and under his
care, which / am satisfied will be paternal,
William will improve his mind, and learn
to be man-will you not, William?
could only cling to my mother without
reply.
Here exclaimed my father exul!iugly,
you see the effect Of his education thus
far
The effect of his education thus far =
rctorted my aunt, who did not relish my
fathers remark; he has been taught to say
his prayers, and to love his parents, and to
tell the truth. You see the effects in him
now,' and she pointed to me seated on Il
stool by my mother.
=, All this made no impression on my faith
err. He was resolved that should go to
Bel Air, the county town of Hartford coun-
ty, Md, situated about twcnty-forr miles
from Baltimore, where the school was, the
next week. and SO expressed himself de-
cidedly.
The condemned criminal, who counts
the hours that speed to his execution,
scarcely feels more horror ut the rush OF
time than did. One appalling nO,c SEEM
ed to possess me. l was deeply sensitive
and the dread of my loneliness away from
all loved, and the fear of the ridicule and
tyranny of the oldsters, haunted me so that
l could not sleep, and l lay awake all
night picturing to myself what would be
the misery Of my situation at Bel Air. In
fact, when the day arrived, l babe my
mother, aunt, and my little sister Virgins
farewell, with scarcely consciousness, and
was placed in gig by my father, as tho
stunned criminal is assisted into the fata
cart
This over sensitiveness-what curse i
is! lay no claims to genius, and yet have
often thought it hard that should have
the quality which makes the fatal gift SC
dangerous, and not the gift My little sis
ter Virginia, who had been my playmate
for weeks, cried bitterly when left her.
dwelt upon her swimming eye with mine
fearless and stony as death. The waters o
bitterness had gathered around my heart
but had not as yet found an outlet from
their icy thrall, meath which they flowed
dark and deep.
Bel Air, at the time write of was vii