right. Bat what can be done? Is he not my child? and, if he has faults, is
he altogether without virtue? No; if he did not find a lenient and
forgiving judge in me, his father, in whom could he look for one? Besides,
the thing is done, and therefore without remedy. This year's income is
nearly exhausted, and I really fear, before another quarter comes round, I
shall want myself."

I again described, in as strong and affecting terms as I could,
Risberg's expectations and disappointment, and insinuated to him, that, in
a case like this, there could be no impropriety in selling a few shares of
his bank-stock.

This hint was extremely displeasing, but I urged him so vehemently that
he said, "Francis will perhaps consent to it; I will try him this
evening."

"Alas!" said I, "my brother will never consent to such a measure. If he
has found occasion for the money you had designed for my poor cousin, and
of all your current income, his necessities will not fail to lay hold of
this."

"Very true;" (glad, it seemed, of an excuse for not thwarting his son's
will;) "Frank will never consent. So, you see, it will be impossible to do
any thing."

I was going to propose that he should execute this business without my
brother's knowledge, but instantly perceived the impossibility of that. My
father had for some years devolved on his son the management of all his
affairs, and habit had made him no longer qualified to act for himself.
Frank's opinion of what was proper to be done was infallible, and absolute