Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 2).djvu/136

 wrote a letter to my father in the most respectful terms, tending to remove every prejudice he had conceived against me, at the same time acknowledging my predilection for the army, and besought his permission to attend in future to military exercises."

The answer I received was short.—"Return to the College, attend to your duties there, and I shall hereafter consider on the propriety of your request."—I obeyed without hesitation; and to please my father paid the strictest attention to my tutor, not without observing, that all his lessons were calculated to inspire a dislike of the world, and to display the superior happiness of a monastic life. In due time my mother-in-law was brought to bed of a son, which was announced to me with great exultation: I heard it with a palpitating heart, as the downfall of all my hopes from parental affection.

"I continued two years longer at the College, during which time I saw my father only thrice, and had but little cause to value