They parted, with affectionate tears and
embraces, never to meet again. A few months only had elapsed when the
father sickened. But he never communicated to his son, or brother, the
secret of his sufferings and grief. Worse, he never sought relief in
change or medicine; but, brooding in the solitude, gnawing his own heart
in silence, he gradually pined away, and, in a brief year, he was
gathered to his fathers. He died, like many similarly-tempered natures,
of no known disorder!
The boy received the tidings with a burst of grief, which seemed to
threaten his existence. But the sorrows of youth are usually
short-lived, particularly in the case of eager, energetic natures. The
exchange of solitude for the crowd; the emulation of college life; the
sports and communion of youthful associates--served, after a while, to
soothe the sorrows of Ralph Colleton. Indeed, he found it necessary that
he should bend himself earnestly to his studies, that he might forget
his griefs. And, in a measure he succeeded; at least, he subdued their
more fond expression, and only grew sedate, instead of passionate.
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