The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-08-25


| stepped back, mortified and trem-
bling, when saw Mr. .Clay's eyes sad
denly brighten, and he hurried eagerly
down the steps.
Ha, Johnl I've been watching for
you, old fellowl arranged to stay here
till evening so that we could have an old
fashioned talk"
That was well thought of, Henry.
Come down to the house."
John" was my father. After few
moments of Misunderstanding and pleasant
talk with the towns people, Mr.. Clay
walked with him down the shady little
street, surrounded by farmers and work.
ingmen, for each of whom ne mad q
friendly word. Many of them, like my
father, had been his friends in boyhood
But the classical scholars were left stand
ing on the tavern-porch, feeling very
warm and uncomfortable.
The lesson was of no use. Indeed,
grew more conceited and more arrogant
in-consequence of it. Henry Clay might
be the greatest of American orators, but
it was my secret opinion that he did not
know gentleman from q boor.
/ began about this time to cultivate
certain tastes which considered gentle
manly, especially a taste for cards and
liquor. Doddridgc and hired room in
the attic of the Platof House, called it q
club-room, and furnished it with books,
a card-table, and case of wine, which it
took our earnings for a year to buy. No
whisky. We were going to "wine y
genteelly.
Two weeks after the "club" was
started, my father called me to him. He
was feeding the pigs. How could aman
versed in Caesar and the Book OF
Modern Etiquette pay any respect to
n man who spent so much of his time
in feeding pigs?
George" he said gently, az hear
an unpleasant report of certain party
of young fellows that frequent the
tavern"
made no answer.
They tell me you are one of them. y
Well sir,-and if l amp
Only this, my son,"-after mo-
ment's pause,-"I have tried to make
a man of you. You know at what cost
for | am not rich. I am his voice
broke here, but he turned it into q
laugh. I'm not so young as was, and
| thought that in time you would take
your place by my side-give the old man
your arm down the hill, -eh, Georgy T'
And he eyed me anxiously.
My name is George, sir. / dislike
those childish authorizations. And foI
the rest
| went on in a louder voice, though a
queer, choking came in my throat at the
sight of the thin old face at is time
| asserted my independence" | said, al
last, and there | stopped.
" independence Why, you are but a
lad yetr'
am mani And a man with diff
ferent tastes and wants from yours, OF
the-the farmers hereabouts. | have 9
right to crafty them. If | am inter.
fered with, this village is not the world
| can leave it."
Leave it? Leave your mother and
me?"
He turned and looked at me- | could
not bear the look. 1t told me of the
time when | was his :" little Georgv,' -
trotting by his side all the day long.
/ know now that my father never
showed the hard common sense which
made him a leading man in the county,
in the training of his boy. He led me
with silken cords, when | needed a curb
of STEEL
He made no effort then to control me.
We walked side by side, until suddenly
he stopped, and laid his hand on my
arm.
i might argy it out with other boys,
but l can't argy with you. You know
thai club-room means-ruinl Don't go
back to it, George, don't go back to itp'
| pushed his hand down, but / stood
irresolute. In my heart, | loved him as
when | was a boy. But my heart was
crusted over with conceit and pride.
| turned into the road leaving him
standing there. | did not go home to
supper that evening. / met Doddridge,
and we determined to "make night of
it."
And many more nights I'll have of
this same Sort" | said loudly. "Fm
going to cut loose from this miserable
village. This kind of life isn't fit for a
man who has any ambition"
We were strolling up the street and
had reached the tavern door. The story
of the club-room had gone about the
village, and the loungers at the Bar
laughed significantly as we stopped.
A hand touched my arm, and turn
ing, | saw my father.
For my sake, George" he said
The white hair was blown back from
his face as he leaned forward. | saw
all the age, the disappointment in it. |
hesitated. Doddridge was behind me.
Going to let the old man put yoke
on you, eh?' he sneered in whisper.
| again shook off the hand that was
upon my arm. "Let me alonew l
growled, and sprang up the stairs. l did
not look back. / did not dare to.
Once seated atour cards and wine, nv
courage revived. The evening passed
quickly. We drank hard,-so hard
that we were stupefed, and scarcely
heard the tumult of voices which rose
into shrieks on the street below. We
were reused from our drunken stupor
by knocking at the door.
George! George! 1t is 1. Open the
doorw
" It's the-the Governor" hiccoughed
Doddridge. Keep the old fellow out,
/ sayw
George it's your fatherl The house
is on fire Open the door Open the
l.