The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-08
LOST TO THE WORLD.

4 slight celebrity in the theaters of the
/ United States but dying within short
| period of each other, they left behind
them, in a state of the completest desti-
tuition, three young children. The eld-
/ est of these was called Edgar. He was
handsome boy about six years of age
with quick eye, and active spirit, and
remarkably intelligent countenance.
The merchant of whom we speak had
known the parents of the child and out
of pity for its helplessness he and his
wife, who had been blessed with no
children, adopted it as their own.
How happily the ardent boy passed
his days in the house of his benefactor :;
how he was beloved BY those two child
ish people; how he became the favorite
of large circle; how, in the strength
of their great affection the merchant and
his wife brought him to England, SO
that nothing might be wanted to make
him gentleman in mind as we'll as per-
son how he spent some four or FIVE
pleasant years under the care and teach
ing of a reverend gentleman near Lon
don how he came back again to the
city of his birth to finish his education !;
and how he was generally looked upon
as the rich merchants heir, it would
take long TO tell.
But he would linger on this portion of
our story fain dwell upon his precoci-
Gus wit and aptness for learning fain
make much of his feats of strength and
agility-his ease and grace on horseback
his dexterity in fence and race and
stream, and his success in all that seem
ed to promise for him brilliant career
But the truth must be told, no matter
how unwilling the teller. He was sent
to the college of Charlottesville, amply
provide with money. In those days dis
sipation among the students of colleges,
was unhappily but too common and
CANT, the widest ruff1ers of the town, the
hardest drinkers and most daring gamb-
lers, there was ever to be found one
more wild and desperate than them all
and that one was Edgar, now a good
looking, free hearted young fellow of
eighteen. Friends advised with him,
and he made fair promises in plenty !;
tutors demonstrated, and he declared
that he would amend and win the high
est honors yet companions tempted
and wine allured, and he embra ced the
filthy siren. and so fell. Instead of COM
ing home from the university with hon
ors he was summarily expelled.
One would think that disgrace so
public would have broken his proud
spirit but it did not. Because his ben
efactor refused to pay the gambling
debts he contracted at college, the will
ful young man wrote him a violent and
abusive letter, quilted his house, and
soon afterward left his country with the
avowed intention of joining the Greeks
who were at that time in the midst Of
their struggle with the Turks. He new
er reached his destination, and nothing
was known or heard of him for more
than a year. At last, however, he was
found, and in circumstances which left
no doubt as to the manner in which his
European experience had been brought.
One morning the American minister, at
St. Petersburg was summoned to save a
countryman of his own from the penalties
incurred through drunken debauchs
He came in time to rescue the prodigal
Edgar from a prison, and through his
influence he was set at liberty and ena-
bled to return to the United States.
The first to greet him on his landing
was his old patron, the merchant, who
was now alone in the world, for his wife
had died while Edgar was away. Bnt
he took the wanderer to his arms and
led him back to the quiet home he had
quilted SO ungraciously. The question
then arose as to what should be done for
the youth and on his expressing wish
to become soldier, interest was made
with the merchants friends, and Edgar
was entered as scholar in the military
academy at New York. For little
time all went on we'll the young cadet
was assiduous in his studies, became the
favorite of the mess, and was looked up
of their most promising pupils. But
alas, and alas the old habits of dissipa-
tion were too strong to be given up all
at once. He neglected his duties; he
drank to excess he disobeyed orders
he openly sneered at the regulations of
the academy-and, in ten months from
his matriculation, he was cashiered.
Disgraced and humillated, where could
the wretched man find refuge but in the
home of his adopted father? Thither
then, he went, and was again received
with open arms. During Edgar's stay
at the academy the merchant had mar
ried again to lady some years younger
than himself. Time passed on; but just
as the sun of happiness seemed about to
shine once more upon him, a quarrel
took place between Edgar and the lady,
which severed forever all ties of friend
ship between the merchant and his pro-
tege. Another circumstance which is
scarcely fit for mention here, was hinted
at, and which, if true throws dark shade
on the character of Edgar. Whatever the
cause, however, the merchant and his
adopted son parted Fin anger, never to
meet again! and VIXEN the former died,
the latter shared no portion Of his wealth.
Again thrown upon the world by his
own misconduct, the young man tried
his hand in field common to young
men. and wrote several poetical pieces
and articles in the American magazines.
These were so we'll received that he was
almost tempted to believe that he could
obtain living by literature. But his
old habits returning, he despaired of sue
cess in his new avocation, and enlisted
as private soldier in the United States
Army. He was soon recognised by a
former companion in the Military Acad-
emy, and great interest began to be felt