The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 265: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

262 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. She again paused, as if to recollect something, and then she began the thread of her narrative,— ‘“*When I married your father you were to mea stumbling- block. I will confess the whole truth to you. It is my wish now to do justice. I cared not how soon you could be got rid of, but took no steps for some time; but endeavored to destroy our father’s affection for you. This was a difficitiit task, and never entirely succeeded; but he became for long periods, indifferent, and would willingly consent to my demands so long as he enjoyed peace and quietness in return. I got you away from home, and my own child took your place, and, in time became acknowledged by all to be the heir of your father; in fact, you were utterly forgotten by all, and I question, then, if your father was hardly aware of the fact. He never men- tioned you for months at a time, save when you came home; and then, as there were words about it, he used to be glad when you were gone away again. Hedied while you were young, and he left, I found, a will, in your favor, and a schedule of his property, as well as some other papers that would place you in possession of the property. My first impulse was to destro them; but I altered iny mind; I carefully secreted them where knew they were safe, and I determined that, come what would, I would retain them. I wisbed my son to be the heir of all your father’s property. I thought that if I could secure all that to him, £ should forever retain his gratitude, and should have an ample share, too; and should have, in fact, a splendid house, and the complete control of his house. This was my ambition; but I little thought of the untoward disposition I should have to deal with in my son, who was obstinate and self-willed, and who grew up reckless and untoward. I was constantly in fear, lest something or other should turn upto deprive me of my prop- erty, or rather that which I had possession of; and I urged him to settle himself—to get married into a wealthy family, as I was sure he could do so, for there were several young ladies of good fortune who would have had him. This was an especially easy matter to him; for every one believed him to be the heir of large roperty, and he would have had no difficulty in thus securing himeelf forever an independence, if not a handsome fortune, which he could havedone. Well, } thought all this was enough; but it only required one element, and that was willingness to do what I pointed out; but he was obdurate and obstinate. J had not calculated upon his opposition; and, moreover, I had never anticipated his extreme extravagance; profligacy was a matter I had never anticipated. He seemed to have picked up all the profligate and low habits a man could pick up, with extravagance ani a brutal disposition. He hunted me for money; I admin- istered to his wants, which I found were without end. and, in consequence, began to limit the suppliesof money. Then i+ was I found out his ingratitude—I then, reaped what I had sown. Money, money, was his constant cry; nothing but money was of any use to him, and that he spent in the worst debaucheries, He cared for nothing, and, while the means lasted, for weeks together I should not see bim at all. At length I determined comicbooks. com