mother of my intentions. Conscious of the anguish which the disclosure would occasion, I endeavoured to break the affair to her as cautiously as possible; for, though steeled against every other sentiment of rectitude, the chord of filial affection was still unbroken in my heart. But scarcely had I made the first distant allusion, when her solicitude, ever tremblingly alive to my welfare, penetrated the veil I wished to cast over my design. Never shall I forget her agony ! Afraid she would instantly have expired, so dreadful was the shock she had received, I told her that I would at least defer my departure, and perhaps indefinitely postpone it. But this was merely a disguise. I had laid my plans, and was not to be diverted from putting them in execution, even by the alarming agitation of a parent whom I loved and respected.

I now commenced in secret the preparations for my journey. The day arrived, and all was in readiness. I could not, how

3

ever, think of quitting the house, without taking leave of my unhappy mother. It

was a moment of indescribable emotion; but now I was to decide, or for ever abandon my projects. I ran hastily into her apartment-communicated my determination-and was hurrying away from the gaze of an eye where delirium was already depicted, when she flew

towards me, and At first, incapable

caught me in her arms. of utterance, she could only hang upon my neck, and bathe my cheek with her tears. At length, in a voice scarcely articulate, and interrupted by her sobs, she said- O my son, my son! Will my Claude forsake his poor mother, who brought him forth in sorrow, and fed him from her breast; who watched so anxiously over his helpless infancy, and spent so many a sleepless night beside his bed? O Claude! and shall I then behold the face of my ungrateful, but still-beloved boy, no more?' Feeling my courage begin to fail me, and dreading lest I should be unable to resist longer an interview of so affecting a nature, I tore myself violently from her embraces, and rushed towards the place where I had previously

"

ordered the carriage to be in waiting to receive me. As I winded through the plantations I heard her shrieks-O Claude, Claude! My son, my son!' Nor was it, until I had proceeded for some time as rapidly as my horses could speed me forward, that they began to die away drearily in the distance. This is a scene to which memory has since recurred with many a poignant reflection.-I never after saw her alive.

En

For several years, I was leader in all the dissipations of a licentious court. dowed from my birth with a robust constitution, I withstood excesses which carried many of my wretched companions to untimely, and awful, graves. At such seasons conscience would raise her voice; but it was too still and small to be attended to amidst the clamour of worldly pursuits. Yet, if it was drowned in renewed horrors, it often seemed, notwithstanding, to complain with a sullenness, that more than once spoke terror to my soul.

Buoyed up by the flattering anticipations of youth and inexperience, I gave my

heart to know madness and folly,' and said; "Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth.' I visited distant countries. I frequented every resort, where pleasure was sought, or reported to have been found. In a word, I passed my days, as if there was no God that'judgeth in the earth. At length, my mother, who had not ceased to follow me with the most tender expostulations, while compelled to blend with them the language of warning, wrote to inform me that my abandoned conduct, (which had reached her ears through a thousand channels), combined with my unkindness, had broken her heart, and that she expected early to be removed from a world, where she had had experience of many afflictions: ' most of all, she ad ded, in the behaviour of my still dear son. Freely I forgive you, Claude; may a heavenly Father, your Omniscient and Almighty Judge, forgive you freely too! May he' blot out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins!' May he wash you in that ، fountain, which was opened for sin and for uncleanness' clothe

you with the robe of a Redeemer's righteousness and thus make you meet for his presence, and his exceeding joy!'

'O, how many an unutterable pang have I endured on your account! How many an hour of agony have I spent interceding for you, my ill-fated, unfortunate, child! But I will yet trust, that my prayers for you will be answered in peace, when the hand that now traces these lines is lifeless and mouldering, and when the heart that dictates them has ceased to beat. Yea, I will hope even against hope,' that the voice of my supplication will yet be heard,' and that the goodness and long-suffering of that Saviour, who has mercifully supported me under all my trials, will finally lead you to repen tance;' and that I shall hereafter find you in those abodes, where you, my Claude, will no longer need reproof, and where your tenderly affectionate mother will for ever dry her tears."

Stung with remorse, I hurried home. O, how tedious did that journey ap

pear! My anxiety outstripped the wings