Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-09-27
A TOUCHING STORY OF PARENT
AL SORROW.

until that which took him hence to be
here no more. His death occurred un-
der circumstances peculiarly painful to
me. A younger brother, the next in age
to him, delicate, sickly child from a
baby, had been down nearly fortnight
with an epidemic fever. In consequence
of the nature of the disease, / used ev-
cry precaution which prudence suggest
ed to guard the other members of my
family against it. But of this one, my
eldest, | had but little fear he was so
rugged and so generally healthy. Still.
however, | kept vigilant eye upon him,
and especially forbade his going into the
pools and docks near his school, which
he was prone to visit.
One evening l came home wearied
with long days hard labor, and vexed
at some little disappointments, and found
that he also had just come into the
house, and that he was wet and covered
with dock mud. | taxed him with dis
obedience, and scolded him severely
more SO than l had ever done before
and then harshly ordered him to his
bed. He opened his lips, for an excul-
patory reply, as | supposed, but ! stern
ly checked him when, with mute,
sorrowtul countenance and swelling
breast, he turned away and went slowly
to his chamber. My heart smote me
even at the moment, though | felt con-
scious of doing but fathers duty. But
how much keener 1 felt the pang, when
| was informed in the course of the eve
ming, by neighbor, that my boy had
gone to the dock by the earnest solicita-
tions Of a younger and favorite play
mate, and by the special permission of
his schoolmaster, in order to recover a
cap belonging to the former, which had
blown over the wharf. Thus | learned
that what | had treated with unwonted
severity as fault, was but the impulse
of a generous nature, which, forgetful of
self, had hazarded, perhaps, life for an
other. 1t was but the quick prompting
of that manly spirit which | had always
endeaVOred to engraft upon his suscepti-
bic mind, and which. young as it was,
had already manifested itself on more
than one occasion.
How bitterly now did / regret my
harshness, and resolve to make amends
to his grieved spirit in the morning !
Alas that morning never came to him
in health. Before retiring for the night,
however, crept to his low cot. and bent
over him. A tear had stolen down upon
his cheek, and rested there. / kissed
it off {; but he slept SO sweetly and so
calmly, that / did not venture to disturb
him. The next day he awoke with
raging fever ON his brain, and in forty
eight hours was no more He did not
know me when / was first called to his
bedside, nor at any moment afterward,
though in silent agony | bent over him
until death and darkness closed the
scene. / would have given worlds to
have whispered one kind word in his
ear, and have been answered but it was
not permitted. Once. indeed, smile,
| thought of recognition, lighted up his
eye, and leaned eagerly forward. But
it passed quickly away, and was succeed
ed by the cold. unmeaning glare, and
the wild tossing of the feyered limbs,
which lasted till death came to his re-
lief.
Everything | now see which belonged
to him reminds me Of the lost one. Yes
terday found some rude pencil sketch
es which it was his delight to make for
the amusement of his younger brother
to-day, in rumaging an old closet, came
across his boots still covered with dock
mud as when he last wore them; and
every morning and evening / pass the
ground where his voice rang the merriest
among has playmates All these things
speak to me wildly of his active life;
but cannot, though | often try, recall
any other expression Of his face than
that mute, mournful one with which he
turned from me on the night so harsh
ly repulsed him. Then my heart bleeds
afresh. o. how careful should we who
are parents be. that in our daily conduct
towards those beings sent US By kind
Providence. we are not laying up for
ourselves the sources Of many bitter
tear How cautious, that neither by
inconsiderate word or look We unjustly
grieve their generous feeling And how
guardedly ought we to weigh every ae-
ton against its motive, lest ia a moment
Of excitement we be led 10 mete out 70
the venial errors Of the heart. the pun
ishmcnt due only 70 the wilful crime
Alas perhaps few parents suspect how
often the sudden blow and the fierce re-
buke are answered in their children by
the tears, not Of passion. not Of physical
or mental pain. but Of loving. but