New-York tribune., 1895-09-01
FITZ.
A STUDY FROM LIFE.

looking at him from those walls was the most
remarkable for manly beauty superior lnte'"-
gence and amiability. he would probably discover
when he consulted his catalogue tnat ne hau
been admiring an excellent likeness OF caesar
Borgia And II. with a determination not 10 oe
taken in a second time. ne permitted hiinseN u
indulge in a little surprise at seeing in such
place the portrait of very weak-looKihe' reu-
headed young man, with hollow cheeks and re-
ceding chin and forehead. he would feel more sur
prise when he learned that he had been view
ing with disdain correct likeness of the hero OF
the Plains of Abraham. In truth. those who have
any hard and fast theories respecting the exter-
nal aspects and internal realities of human ma
ture are apt to find out sooner or later. that they
can retain those theories only by initiating the
Frenchman who when told that the facts did not
agree with Lis theory replied Then all the
worse for the facts" For myself have TO con-
fess that l have often met with persons VINO ex-
hibited mental and moral characteristics which
could not reconcile with any theory, religious or
scientific with which l was acquainted The
youth whose name serves as title to this paper
was to me one of these insolvable problems.
During the first year of our married life my
wife and / boarded at the house of Captain
Barnham whose family consisted of himself and
Mrs. Barnham. and two adopted orphans, one
a niece of fourteen years Of age and the other
a nephew, two years younger, named Fitz. The
latter was a handsome lad. rather tall for his
years. with graceful figure. dropping shoulders.
small hands and feet. dark skin and hair, and
regular features. His face was expressive Of in
telligence and amiabity; his voice was soft and
musical: his manner quiet and gentle. l never
saw him angry excited. manfestng the
least unwillingness to do as he was bidden.
x.fa md n
Fitz. He was so very pleasant and obgng. he
would talk with freely and sens'bly, and
appear to be so grateful for any attention that
we paid him. or anything we did to interest or
amuse him. that IL impossible for us not to
become attached TO the boy Possibly fond
ness for him was not lessened by our seeing
that his aunt treated him with marked coldness,
If not with severity. There was evidently some
thing wrong between Mrs. 8arnham and her
nephew; and. although we mad a very high opin-
ion Of that lady, took sides with the orphan
in this instance.
Our theory was that the motheress boy was
disked by his aunt, and that she considered
him an intruder and burden in her domestic
life; and that she intended him to feel this so
that he might be desrous % going away as soon
es h. should be able to do it. We never could
induce her 10 converse with us about the boy.
occasion
either kept silence. changed the subject. found
some excuse for leaving the room. Captain
Barnham spent the most Of his time at sea, or
in his shpyard. which some miles from his
house. He never appeared to take much interest
in his nephew; and the only thing ever heard
him say about the lad was. that his aunt and he
did not get on together very well. / ought to
mention that the Barnhams were descendants Of
New-England Puritans. and very worthy men,
bers OF the church of which / was in charge
At the rear end of place of worship on
each side of the pulpit. and very low down, there
was a window. Several times In passing the
church week days l noticed that one Of these
windows open Upon inquiry failed to find
out how this had occurred Our sexton declared
his entire ignorance of the matter. but added the
rather perplexing piece OF information that
fastening which he had put the window had
been broken off by some unknown person One
evening was returning home along a street
between which and the blck end of our church
there was a small. untitled field, saw that one
OF the windows in that end Of the building was
open. as It had been on many previous occasions.
Hoping that might find some clew TO this mys-
terry | got over the fence into the field. and
walked the grass to the open window and
looked into the church. when. to my surprise.
L
him what he was doing there. For a moment
he was silent, and then said in his usual soft,
gentle way:
II wanted 10 be here alone"
was struck dumb. feeling that here was some
thing new In my experience which did not
derstand. and that ought % be very careful re-
thought of the Roman Catholic churches. always
open TO the worshippers. AID daily used by so
many Of them for secret VOWS and prayers. How
utterly unable was TO judge what working
in the mind Of this lad What had induced him
to come many times Of late TO Je there alone?
After long pause. during which Fitz stood
calmly looking me in the face l asked him IL
he had opened the window. He said that he
had; and promised me that he would close 1t
when he came away.
That evening related this incident to my wife
and Mrs. Barnham. The former laughingly sug-
gested that perhaps Ftz intended to be a minis
ter and went to the church to practise preach
ing. There may be more truth than what you
suppose in what you say" Mrs. Barnham
marked. land so / am inclined to think you will
believe when you have heard Fitz pray. as he
does aloud every night before going to bed. Az
ter he has gone TO his room tonight. l will let
you know and you listen to him at the foot
Of the attic stairs
We did this as proposed. and heard Fitz begin
and go through with his prayer which occupied
about fifteen minutes. / then thought. and
still think, that making due allowance for the
age Of the boy. his prayer. which was his own
composition from beginning 10 end, was the most
astonishing thing ever heard from human lips.
1t was well arranged. faultessly expressed, and
spoken with apparent reverence and devotional
feeling. 1t included petitions for the boy HIM
self, his uncle. aunt and cousin. for his play
mates. my wife and myself. ministers in general.
missionaries. the heather and the Jews.
All these supplications having been offered In
the most sacred of names there was pause OF
several seconds. followed BY fervent amen;
then another pause. ending with the slow. solemn
utterance OF the Scriptural benedict!on with
which nearly all public religious services close.