The Affectionate Brothers

An excerpt from the beginning of:

CHAPTER I.

Mr. Harewood was the only son of an officer, who died in the service of his country about the time when he was bidding adieu to a public school, where he had received his education. The last efforts of Captain Harewood had been attended by singular success, and all his military career distinguished by great personal bravery; while his private virtues, though less conspicuous, were still more deeply engraven on the hearts of all who knew him. Of these, some extended their friendship towards him beyond the grave; they exerted themselves to comfort his widow and assist her son; to the former they ensured her pension, and the arrears of what was due to the deceased, and procured for the latter a situation under government, which it well became a grateful country to bestow on the son of one of its gallant defenders.

These arrangements, however necessary and advantageous, could not hastily wipe away those tears which flowed for the memory of an excellent husband, cut off in the prime of his life, and the bereaved mourners wept over their loss together.

Mrs. Harewood was an excellent mother, a pious and enlightened woman, and she took the opportunity this period presented, of deeply impressing on the mind of her son, those awful precepts and divine consolations the impressive moment naturally awakened; she taught him to look to religious comfort, to consider the eternal importance of that state to which his father was called; and so to form his own future faith and conduct, that he might rejoice in the well-grounded hope of meeting his earthly father in the presence of his heavenly Father.

Charles did not forget her precepts; he treasured them in his mind—they grew with his growth; his piety he imbibed from his mother—a high sense of honour and virtuous integrity he had previously imbibed from his father, and he grew up an honour to both. Yet was there one thing wanting in his character—he was deficient in prudence, or at least that part of it which is combined with foresight; for though his honesty prevented him from a blamable extravagance, still Charles was one who never provided against a rainy day.

Poor Mrs. Harewood only lived until her son entered his twenty-second year. She had for some time perceived in him a growing attachment for a very amiable orphan, and was aware that he had only been prevented from soliciting her hand, from the fear of disturbing his declining mother. She spoke to him on this interesting subject, and entreated him to consider himself at full liberty to follow the wishes of his heart, adding, that it would be a consolation to her to know, that when Providence removed from him the parent who had so fondly loved him, her place would be supplied by a tender wife.

In consequence of this request, young Harewood advanced his suit with the amiable young person to whom he was attached, and they were married about two months before the affectionate mother breathed her last; and she had the satisfaction of perceiving that the amiable daughter she thus gained was of a disposition to make her husband happy, and to manage his domestic concerns in the way she desired. She endeavoured to imprint on the minds of both, a necessity for observing economy in their expenditure, as they were both very young, and might have a large family: and she knew that her son was inclined to be too liberal in his expenses. To this advice they promised to attend, and she departed in peace, her last words blessing them.

Mr. Harewood fully intended to obey the injunctions of his beloved mother, but he thought it was time enough to retrench expenses when the expected family should arrive; and was the more confirmed in this idea, because he had no children for several years. At length he became the father of a fine boy, for whom he felt willing to make any sacrifice, so delighted was he with the endearing acquisition; but yet, when in little more than a year his lady presented him with another, he considered them as yet too young to call for any abridgment of his expenditure, but determined to put every necessary system of economy in practice by-and-by.

The eldest of these boys was called after the father, Charles; the second, after his maternal grandfather, Thomas. The former was, from his birth, a healthy, handsome, robust, high-spirited, and lively boy—the latter, on the contrary, was subject to delicate health, and was of that cast of features and complexion which is usually styled "too pretty for a boy;" he was timid, but gentle and engaging to those who knew him; and though very apt to be overlooked by strangers in the presence of his more showy and attractive brother, never failed to make very sincere friends amongst those with whom he frequently associated.