He contented himself with laying down
severe courses, and holding his boy to the strictest fulfilment of
'duty.'
The result can readily be imagined. The young man, as he grew up and
understood fully his father's position, came to the conclusion that it
was quite unnecessary for him to practise the strict habits which had
been so despotically inculcated. So he gave loose rein to his fancies,
and while yet in college was one of the wildest in the class. By his
mother's interposition, he was sent abroad. He came back all the worse
for the year's sojourn, and, young as he was, soon got to be a regular
'man about town.' He lived at home--ostensibly; but he was seldom to be
seen in the house. He had come to entertain very little respect for his
father; for he had a sort of native insight into his character. He
constantly complains of his miserly treatment, though Hiram makes his
son a respectable allowance--more, I think, to be rid of the annoyance
of his repeated and incessant applications, than for any other reason.
'Gus' was a favorite with his mother (I forgot to say she had named him
Augustus Myrtle Meeker, with her husband's full consent), and heavy were
the drafts he made on her purse. This was a point of constant discussion
between Mr. and Mrs. Meeker. It was of no use. The lady continued to
indulge her only son, and her husband to protest against it.
Of late, Gus had been in possession of pretty large sums of money, which
he certainly had not obtained either from his father or mother.
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