316 PARENTAL FEELINGS. - 
projects, he flourished his fist as if already in 
battle, till it encountered a tea-cup, which fell 
in a thousand fragments to the ground. His 
natural timidity suddenly banished the heroism 
into which his subject had wrought him: he 
feared he had done me an injury, and conse- 
quently incurred my displeasure. I re-assured 
him on this head, but gave him much pain by 
representing the impossibility of my remaining 
in Radack, as my duty called me elsewhere. 
After some minutes of silent consideration, he 
led his son to me, and begged I would take 
him with me to Russia. JI was then obliged to 
explain to him that I should never return to 
Radack, and that if his son accompanied me, 
he must take leave of him for ever. This was 
too much for the father’s heart; he embraced 
his son, and would no longer think of a separa- 
tion. He was also overcome with sorrow at 
the idea of seeing me for the last time; and a 
little self-interest probably mingled in the me- 
lancholy look he cast upon a hatchet which I 
had given him, as he exclaimed—* I shall never 
get any iron again !” 
I now turned the conversation on the Me- 
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