The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-08-23

lis it-no 1T cannot be-yes, Il i,
my son George"
Your own son, my mother-it is yonl
son George and the grateful mother
clasped to her heart her beloved and long
lost child
Mary had heard the exclamation, and
stepping into the entry, stood trembling,
hoping, and fearing, as she saw the stran-
ger in her mothers arms.
But, oh with wha, Joy, with what
pride did she look on him !! With wha,
rapture did she too fly 10 his arms, when
she indeed found it was her brother
My own sisier--sweet sister, said
he, kissing her again and again, then hol-
ding her of to look into her beautiful
lace--lor Mary was the pride OF the
whole vilage-tben embracing her again,
till they both and cried together in ecstacy
of that unthought Of meeting.
i remember well the little girl with
the apple pie, when | was terribly whip
ped, and shall never forget it, said he
when he could get breath enough 10 say
so much, for his mother still clung to his
neck, silent, in her tears of gratitude and
joy.
Dear brother = was all Mary could ut
ter, as she looked through her tears, with
sisters pride, or her new found re-
lative.
Two stout farmers came up from the
the outside wondering what all this fuss
could mean, but when Mary cried out,
catching her breath in the wildness of her
Joy-'Tis George It's brother George =
they came in and shook him by the hand
till the tears glis,ened in their eyes, and
they turned away to hide them.
But the iather---oh how could he
greet the boy whom his cruelty had dgiv-
en- from the door; and who had come
back man--an honored and great man
He tried to steal from the back door, pale
and trembling, but his wife stopped him.
'Tis our son George said she, and she
led him forward like a child TO the noble
and injured youth. 1t was the day of re-
lrlbutlon seventeen years TO an hour had
gone by since he stood with whip over
that boy, and beat him till he could no
longer stand, and for no conceivable rea-
son on earth 1t is plain what thoughts
were working in the heart Of the man,
for he stood like craven coward before
the son. George was the first to speak.
My father ! said he, extedding his hand,
but the old man drew back and brushed
a tepr from his shrunken cheek. The
fierce passions Of his noon-day manhood
had faded in age--the waters of repent.
ance were flooding his soul. lie talked
as if to himself.
This hand drove my boy hence-I al
most murdered him-no, no, cannot
touch him again, there's curse in this
RICH. hand =
My father said the young man,
drawing close to him and again offering
his hand.
No, no y said the old man, starting
up, mot till you have forgiven me that
that'-and his voice came thick through
his tceth-Hhat horSe-whippng.'
Now and forever, and ever thank you
for it, my father, for that helped to make
me what am know did not deserve
ii. was innocent; but instead of crush
ing and humbling me, it raised me in my
own opinion. 1t awoke new thoughts
and energies in my heart; and hence !
left home to try my fortunes in the great
world. was but child then, but !
worked my way along-in a charity
school frst-then in lawyers Office,
where | procured copying enough for
maintenance. Here studied as well as
worked; and my master found me one
night, very late, hard at work over law
treatise. Surprised, he examined my pro-
gress still more astonlshed he invited
me to become his pupil. That was a
goiicn era TO me. Half crazy with Joy,
| threw myself on my knees before him
and wept.-Years went by, and also be-
came a lawyer. The first cause | plead
ed won me apPlause-admiraton. Then
followed business rapidly and surely, and
subsequently became my masters part
ner in business by his urgent solicitations.
One year since | was solicited to become
member of congress, which |, of course,
accepted; and now have come home to
see You once more, father'
The old man was ,ceeping; the boys
prophecy was fulfilled. Indeed was he
sorry; and as the son stood again before
him in the pride of manly beauty and
strength, he bowed his face on his hand:
and wept like child.