Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-07-25
New Series-No. 9e.


ask the sailor to como up and taxi q
bit o. dinner with usl"
ave were afraid it might lead to a
quarrel with Mr.. Johnson" whispered
one of the sons.
ale IS come without asking" re-
Piled the stranger, entering; "and the
wind shall blow from new point if
destroy the mirth or happiness of the
company"
Eye are a stranger, young man,
said Peter, "or We would ken this is no
meeting o. mirth makers. But, as.
sure ye, we are welcome, heartily wei.
come. Haste ye lasses," he added, to
the servants; "scme o. We get chair
for the gentleman.
"Gentleman, indeed" mutter'd John.
son between his teeth.
"Never mind about chair, my
hearties," said the seaman; ssthis will
dol" and before Peter could speak to
withhold him, he had thrown himself
carelessly into the hallowed, the ven.
Grated, the twelve-years-unoccupied
chairl The spirit of sacrilege uttering
blasphemies from pulpit could not
have smltten congregation of pious
worshippers with deeper horror and
CONSERVATION than did this filing the
vacant chair the inhabitants of March,
law.
Excuse me, sir! excuse me, STRIP
said Peter, the words trembling upon.
his tongue, "but ye cannot--ye can
not sit there!"
go man. mani" cried Mrs. Elliot,
"get out o. that! get out o thatl---take
my chair!--take any chair in the house
but dinna sit there! 1t has never
been sat in by mortal being since the
death o my dear bai;n,--and to see
it filled by another is thing | Gamma
endured"
"Sir! sirl" continued the father, 'sye
have done 1t through ignorance, and
we excuse We. But that was my Tho
mass seat Twelve years this very
day--his birthday--he persisted, Hca-
ven kens howl He went out from our
sight, like the cloud that passes over
the hills--never--never to return: and
oh, sir, spare fathers feelings, for to
see it filled wrings the blood from my
heart?"
"Give me your hand, my worthy
soull" exclaimed the seaman; 81 re-
we're, nay, hang it, Iwould die for your
feelings! But Tom Elliot was my
friend, and | cast anchor in this chair
by special commission. know that q
sudden broadside of Joy is bad thing;
but, as don't know how to preach a
sermon before telling you, all | have
to say is--that Tom ant dead"
"Not deadI' said Peter, grasping the
hand Of the stranger and speaking with
an eagerncss that almost choked his
"Oh, sirl tell me, how? howl
Did ye say liying1 IL my son Thos
mas liying?"
"Not dead, do yo sayl" cried Mrs.
Elliot, hurrying towards him, and
grasping his other hand; 'tnot dead
And shall I see my BARN again! OH
may the blessing o heaven, and the
blessing o. broken hearted mother,
be upon the bearer o the gracious tid-
ings. But tell me--tell me how it is
possiblel As we would expect happi-
ness here, or hereafter, dinna, dinna
deceive mel"
deceive you" returned the stran-
ger, grasping with impassioned ear
nestness their hands in his, "Nevcr,
neverl and all | can say is--Tom Eli.
OF is alive and hearty"
"No, no!' said Elizabeth, rising
from her seat, che does notdeceive us;
there 10 that in his countenance which
bespeaks a falsehood impossible:" and
she also endeavoured to move towards
him, when Johnson threw his arm
around her to withhold her.
GLANDS of, you land.lubber" ex-
claimed the seaman, springing towards
them, cor SILVER me! I'll show daylight
your timbers in the turning OF
a handspike!" and, claspiag the lovely
girl in his arms, "Betty, Betty, my
love!" he cried, 'sDon't you know your
own Toni Father mother don't you
know met Have you really forgot
your own SOM If twelve years have
made some change in his face, his
heart is sound as ever.
His father, his mother, and his bro
theirs, chung around him, weeping, smil-
ing, and mingling hundred questions
together. He threw his arms around
the neck of each, and in answer to their
replied, "Welll well! there
Is time enough to answer questions, but
not to-day, not to-day"
"No, my bairni my bairnp' said his
mother, "we'll ask no questions--no-
body shall ask ye any! But how---how