Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-28

1t is my oldest son, Walter. lie is Just
about the same age that we were when we
used to 90 to school together in dear old
Bridgeville. Have you forgotten all about
those days, John2
Whether it was these words or the sight
of that fresh, innocent face, for a few mo-
ments Jackson struggled silently with the
tender and subduing recolleetions that
rushed over him; then breaking down ut
terly, he covered his face with his hands.
Walter had never seen a man weep be-
fore, and those sobs and means were some
thing he never forgot.
! wished | could! said the wretched
man, lifting up his pale, tear-stained face.
| wish could forget what | once was, all
that | might have been, and what l am! l
sometimes think that it is horrible
dream; that shall some day awake and
find it sol
How did it happen? inquired Mr.. Pal
mer,as soon as his companion was calmer.
When last saw you your prospects were
bright-apparently brighter than mine.
1t can be summed up in two words, was
the gloomy response: IdicneSS and bud
company. If my father had trained me
to habits Ofindustry and self-reliance, i had
not come to this. But he loved me; and
glad am | that the grave has hid from him
all knowledge of the shame and misery OF
the son, whom his ill-judged, short-sighted
kindness ruined. As you know, l would
not study; | thought that there was no
need for me-a rich mans son-to do that.
| can remember how despised the dull,
plodding fellows, who are honored men
today. My fathers death put me into
the possession of wealth, of which | never
earned dollar, and of whose use and
worth | knew nothing. How it went |
hardly knew; but | awoke one morning to
find myself poorer than the lowest clerk in
the establishment that my father built up
with so much care and labor, but which
had now passed into the hands of stran-
gers. My flir-weather friends, who had
helped me to spend my money, urging me
to every conceivable folly and extrava-
gance, left as soon as they found that there
was no more to spend. | knew nothing
about getting money by honest work, but
money | must have; so | turned my atten-
ton to the various ways of getting money
without work. The rest needs no telling.
Here the warden entered and with his
heart somewhat cheered and strengthened
by Mr.. Palmer's whispered words of en-
enlargement and sympathy, Jackson re-
turned to his dreary task.
The worden now took them around the
various workshops, cells, etc., kindly ex-
planning TO Walter all that he did not I'M
derstand.
When they visited the shoe-shop, Wal
ter saw Jackson sitting there among the
rows of busy, silent men, not one of whom
dared to lift his eyes as they passed by.
How many of these men" inquired Mr..
Palmer, as they returned to the Office,
have ever been trained to any useful trade
or business.
Not one TO ten.
The spirited bays in their glittering har-
ness, were champing their bits and tossing
their heads impatiently outside the high
walls; and Walter experienced Il feeling of
relief us he found himself once more out
in the pure, sweet air and bright sun
shine.
How dreadful it must be to have to live
in such place as that he said, as, reach
ing an eminence. he gave backward
glance at the building which looked grim
and solitary in the distance.
1t is the necessity that is dreadful, my
son. Miserable as these men are, they are
happier there, where they are obliged to
be orderly and Industrious, though only
through the fear of punishment, then if
they were allowed to follow unrestraiHed-
ly the devices of their foolish and evil
hearts.
There was silence for some minutes.
Then Mr.. Palmer said:
You asked me II question: yesterday,
Walter and this is my answer; a better
answer than any words can frame. The
world calls me rich man, and so | am.
am Bile to afford you many advantages,
all the opportunity you can ask for moral
and mental culture, but am not, never
shall be, rich enough to afford to have you
idle. Strange as it may seem, | am too
rich to afford it. have Il mill, filled with
industrious operatives, whose living from
week to week depends on its skilful and
prudent management. have houses full
of tenants whose health and comfort de-
pend largely upon whether their landlord
is Il Just and faithful man. These and 9TH
er interests may some day be intrusted to
you. Many Il father has learned, to his
sorrow, that to have his boys idle is
something that rich men cannot afford to
do.
| think | will go to school, Monday,
father, was Walters only response to
this.