"Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, mother. I will not sell
my honor for a sum of money, however acceptable that sum might be. It
would never prosper with me, if it came from him."

"Well, Algernon, if you will not be persuaded, you must have it your own
way. Your father, though he received from me a noble fortune, has left
me dependent upon your brother. I cannot, if I would, aid you with
money; but this case of jewels is valuable; I am old, I have no further
occasion for such baubles; I have no daughters to wear them after me.
Take them, you can raise upon them several thousand pounds--and may the
proceeds arising from their sale be blessed to your use."

"Dearest mother, I accept your generous present;" and Algernon's
countenance brightened as hope once more dawned in his breast. "If I
should be fortunate, I will return to you in hard gold the value of
these gems."

He took the casket from his mother's hand, and caught her to his heart
in a long and last embrace. "Should Heaven bless my honest endeavors to
obtain a respectable independence, my heart and my home, beloved one,
shall ever be open to you."

And so they parted--the good mother and the disinherited son, to meet no
more on this side the grave.

"Poor mother!" sighed Algernon, as he turned his steps to the widow's
cottage, "how I pity you, having to live upon the charity of that churl!
It would seem that my father was determined to punish you for your
devoted love to me."