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On recovering, she was told by the same individual who caused so much pain, not to distress herself upon the subject, for it might not be her son, but another of the same name. She was told that Mr. Hammond was in the same vessel which brought those pirates into port, and was acquainted with all the circumstances connected with the tragical affair.

Mrs. Jefford was glad to learn this fact, and sent immediately for Mr. Hammond. He very soon called upon her, when she told him of what she had heard, and entreated him to tell her all he knew relative to her son. Tell me all,' repeated she, in an imploring tone, even the very worst.'

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The heart of the generous man was pained. He shrunk from the task she would impose upon him, and hesitated a few moments ere he spoke. He then said, 'I have seen your Frederic.'

The mother then quickly asked, 'Was he executed for piracy?'

Mr. Hammond was silent. Mrs. Jefford and her daughter both carefully observed the expression of his countenance, and saw that it was distressed. The mother said, addressing him, I presume we may consider your silence as an affirmative answer to my question. O!' continued she, wringing her hands in agony of feeling, then my darling Frederic died an ignominious death! O, my Heavenly Father, support me in this bitter trial! ' Mr. Hammond did not interrupt the grief of this sor rowing mother and daughter, but allowed them to give vent to their feelings by weeping for a time. Although himself was one of those who had acquired an uncommon

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habit of self control, still, on this occasion he was much moved.

As soon as Mrs. Jefford became sufficiently composed to speak, she said to her sympathizing friend, 'I hope you can tell me that my son became a Christian, for I had always expected, perhaps too confidently, that wayward as he was, God, by His grace, would reclaim this wanderer.'

'Thy faith,' answered Mr. Hammond, 'has been signally honored, in regard to thy prodigal child. Thy Frederic, I believe, became a child of God.'

He then related to the mother and daughter the most interesting of the facts already known to the reader. After being informed of his feelings respecting his dearest friends at home, and his grateful remembrance of the friends of his father, Mrs. Jefford exclaimed, 'O, I thank my Father in heaven that even in the bitterest cup there are commingled drops of mercy. God has been faithful in His covenant with me, but I have been unfaithful to Him. I did not train Frederic in every respect as I promised to do; I allowed maternal feeling to triumph over my better judgment, and indulged him to his hurt; for this I have been chastised. I should have been firm in endeavoring to keep Frederic from the influence of the vicious, when he was a boy. But God has graciously given me faith to sustain me during my trials on account of my son, and at the last has as graciously rewarded it. May mothers profit by my experience ! '

The sister of Frederic, as has been before stated, was a feeble girl. Her health always continued delicate. The anxiety she endured during the absence of her ungrateful

brother, on his account, preyed upon her constitution. Her affection for the prodigal was very great. Not one day passed while this brother was absent from his home, but Myra saw him in imagination, and sometimes thus beheld him engaged in scenes the influence of which she greatly feared would render him unhappy during his whole life.

The thought, however, had never entered the mind of this sister, that her brother could ever in the slightest degree be guilty of the crimes for which he died, and she never entirely recovered from the overwhelming effect which the intelligence of his desperate course had upon her gentle spirit. It is true she murmured not that it was her lot to endure so dreadful a trial, and felt grateful that she had heard the last end of her very dear, though misguided brother had been peaceful, for she thought of the thief upon the cross, and felt encouraged to trust that even her depraved brother was in heaven, having received pardon from his God and Savior.

The health of the lovely Myra sunk rapidly, after having been made acquainted with the heart-rending facts which have been described; and her mother soon realized the painful truth, that the life and suffering of her daughter were soon to close. Myra, too, was conscious that she was fast hastening to another world; yet all that was mournful in this reflection to her mind, was the idea that her widowed and deeply-sorrowing mother would soon be childless. On one occasion, she mentioned these feelings to her anxions and affectionate parent.

As Mrs. Jefford listened to the remarks of her kind and grateful child, she wept. It is true,' responded she to Myra, when you are gone, I shall be left quite alone. I

should rejoice to know that you might be permitted to live and attend me on my dying couch, and thus soothe my sufferings to the end of life. Yet as it does not seem best that it should be so, I will endeavor to be thankful that I have enjoyed your society so long, and that I have rea son to trust that when I cease to enjoy the manifestations of your affections here, you, my dear daughter, will be free from sorrow, sin, and care. It would be selfish in me to wish to detain you longer in this world; much more so to embitter the remaining days and hours of your exist ence by my selfish sorrow. The circumstances, too, under which you leave me, my dear child, ought to reconcile me to your premature departure. I thank my Heavenly Father, that the trial is not heavier.'

It is believed Mrs. Jefford felt most deeply the last sentiment she had uttered, for she was often heard to say, that could she have been permitted the privilege of attending her darling Frederic during a fatal illness, and have heard him express satisfaction at the reflection that he was in the hands of a faithful God, and afterwards have seen him close his eyes peacefully in death, she could not have felt afflicted. It is true she gathered solace from what she had heard concerning the last weeks and days of her unfortunate and guilty son, but, after her endeared and interesting Myra was gone to return no more, she longed for the time of her own departure from this world of vicissitude, sin, and pain.

Mrs. Jefford lived only a few years from the time she heard of the tragical end of her first-born and dearly be loved child. Her end was peaceful, and her example in every thing save one, worthy of imitation.

CHAPTER X XII.

Conclusion.

The members of the Weldron family whose history, as the reader has seen, is very peculiar and instructive, often reviewed the past, as connected with much designed to illustrate the important truth, that a departure from moral rectitude is sure to involve the erring in perplexity and sorrow. It is believed they profited by the experience of the many who pursued the rough path of trial and disappointment, who, being nearly allied to them, had an influence in deterring their friends from imitating their pernicious example.

It is true, also, that much, very much was drawn from the conduct of such as followed the path of virtue, that awakened in the hearts of those who ever delighted to dwell upon their characters, a love for the lofty and ennobling traits which they discovered in them.

Should the foregoing pages fall beneath the eye of any who feel that the standard of duty erected is too high to be easily attained, it is hoped they will not lay the book aside as teaching error, until they are certain that they are right in forming such an opinion. The author contends that the views here presented of human nature, are

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