“The return of my prodigal son made me happy.  As I had promised, I did not reproach him, and gave him all the money that he wished.  He was not old enough to know how to spend money viciously.  His tastes, though costly, were comparatively innocent.  From childhood he had always been very fond of new clothes, and he indulged that passion to the utmost.  At twelve years of age, he was called the ‘Young Dandy’ all through this part of the town; and I sometimes heard of his attracting attention on Broadway.

“He was so well satisfied with my generosity, that he consented to receive two short lessons daily from tutors at the house, and surprised them, as he did everybody, with his wonderful aptitude for learning.”

CHAPTER II.

BUYING GOOD BEHAVIOR.

“For three years I bought my son’s good behavior with unlimited pocket money, and foolishly thought that his nature had changed.  Occasionally he would do malicious acts to his tutors, or to my housekeeper or servants; but these occurred less frequently as time rolled on, and at last ceased.  At fifteen years of age, he was sufficiently advanced in learning to pass a college examination, and I determined to send him to college.  He was delighted at the proposal, for he had begun now to appreciate the advantages of education.  Anticipating that he would have trouble with the Faculty, I selected a college which was distinguished for its means of learning, and was jet very lenient in its discipline.  Myndert easily obtained admission, and at once took high rank in his class.  Knowledge came so easy to him, that he had plenty of leisure, and I feared that his old vicious habits would break out again.  Greatly did I rejoice not to hear a single complaint of him during his first term.  But, alas!  I found, when he returned home, that he had learned to drink and gamble, and that the large sums of money I had sent him had been squandered in carousals, and over the card table.  Still he maintained the first position in his class, and of that I was proud.

“I remonstrated against his vices.  He admitted that there was some truth in what I had heard, mixed up with a great deal of exaggeration; and justified his conduct by saying that it was the fashion, and he could not keep out of it if he would.  His good health and naturally high spirits did not appear to be in the least affected by dissipation, and I gladly allowed myself to believe that many of the reports about him were false.

“The next term was still more expensive; and I found out that the larger portion of my heavy outlay went for liquor and gambling.  Still he kept a high grade in his class—­taking the second rank instead of the first; and the Faculty either were ignorant of his misconduct, or did not think it worth punishing.  Through his first, second, and third years at college, these were his only vices.  His constitution, though strong, was gradually undermined;