The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-01-15
SELECT LITERATURE.
What it Did for the Preceptor of Theo
docia Rprr
AN MEMORABLE FATE.

oOSio AGii.
Among the many sad stories of wasted
hours, lost opportunities and wrecked
lives, of disappointment and absolut,
poverty, which make the county aim.
house all that such mausoleum coult
be. there are none more touching thar
the sad history of Monsieur Martel.
The pauper record only tells of Il poor
lone man. stricken with paralysis. witt
no friends and no money, lying perfectly
helpless. waiting eXpectantly the happy
hour that would relieve him of his suf
ferngs
Through political troubles he was com.
/ PEELED to flee his native country. lie was
Il man of superior intellect. having been
at the head Of one OF the most noted col
| lcgeS Of Paris. and afterwards an honored
friend and instructor of the first families
of France.
lie was Il complete master of all the
continental languages, and spoke with
equal fluency Latin. Greek and Hebrew.
| Upon coming to America at the beginning
OF the present century he was introduced
to Aaron Burr, who was then in the hev-
day af his glory. and was by him made
private tutor to his daughter. Theodosia.
| She was then 4 very beautiful girl, dark
haired, dark eyed. and with mien as
imperious as any queen of the renais-
Sance. Although proud, and at times
| wllliul, the heart of the young beauty
warmed to her preceptor in his misfor-
tune, and there grew up between them
an attachment that were it not for the
untimely and tragic death OF the pupil,
would have at least saved the old man S
gray head from panper's grave.
The time came, however, when Theo-
dosia and her preceptor parted. She
went into a society that received her with
open arms, and he. with other refugees.
drifted into Wilmington. He established
a school which soon became prosperous
Pupils came to him from almost every
section, and as he was about becoming
well fixed i'll life, sickness overlook him.
his school lauguished, friends forsook
him. and alone and forsakcn he was taken
to the poor-house helpless paralytic-
Within the whitewashed walls of that
cherries building information at times
came to him from the outer world. 1t
told him that in fashionable circles, she.
upon whom he had bestowed so much
care, reigned a cherished queen: that her
young beauty had ripened, the intellect
had broadened. and in the mellowing
rays of genial influences the heart he
knew had expanded and grown purer in
an atmosphere in which he at one time
lived an ardent devotee.
Through political fortune the GIRLS
father. and. as he thought, his friend
became Vice President of the United
States. No one rejoiced more than did
he who had been so unhappily afflicted.
At one time Mr. Burr stopped in Will
mington. Y few philanthropic people,
who knew of the relations that the
stricken Frenchman had borne to the
family Of the famous American, deter
mined to act in his behalf Approaching
him, they Informed him of the destitu-
ton in which VI. Martel was then in. and
asked if it was his desire that his unfor-
tunate friend and the friend of his daugh-
ter should be cared for?
The Vice President listened politely to
the narrative of the gentlemen, and, with
an expression of mingled pride and indif-
ference. informed them that he knew
nothing of the man.
The gentlemen then drew out a recon-
mendation signed with Mr.. Burr's sigma
ture. Slightly embarrassed he turned to
the gentlemen, and said:
II knew him once; but know him no
more"
With feelings of contempt for the man
who could so heartlessly leave friend in
such a pitiful condition, the gentlemen
returned to the French professors bed
side. The old mans only utterances
We're in extenuation, and when the
friends spoke harshly he begged piteously
for them to stop, because he was Theo-
losia' S father
Theodosia was at last married. 1t was
not until some time after this that she
learned of the sickness of her venerable
friend. She at once fastened to relieve
his distress, and sent money to get him
into more comfortable quarters. The
money came but it was too late. He
could not be moved. The words of COM
as they fell upon his ear his eye shone
with brilliancy and his face was wreathed
in smiles and his lips murmured in his
native tongue, Il knew she would not
forget me
The little words of kindness so timely
spoken seemed to soften his pain. No
complaint escaped his lips, and it seemed
as though his very soul was drifting. At
sunset he closed his eyes and the attend
ants left him in slumber In returning
they found him still sleeping, but the
soul had gone out with the tide Clutch
ed tightly i'll his hands was found a deli
cately written letter, penned by the
daughter of the man who had disowned
his friendship. 1t was couched i'll the
tender tones of child to father. and
it promised visit from his "little pupil,
Theodosia.
She. however, never came. What the
grief was at the death of her friend none
can tell. for she. too. soon followed. Her
fate is known to all students of American
history: how she left Southern port in
the full bloom of youth and beauty, and
how. hour by hour day after day, and
month after month. an anxious and
broken-hearted father looked eagerly for
the sight of the ship that bore his whole
worldly happiness. tits well-known that
it never reached port. and that the beau
tiful and accomplished Theodosia was
swallowed up with the rest of its Inflated
crew.
THE OLD BLUE CHEST.