Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-29

perhaps he will turn back; but not now. Slnitl
went down.
lie kept away from Scribner's long enough
10 get into his house and barn the grain and
vegetables his son had taken such pains 10 cul
tlvate; but the very next year his fences were
left unrepaired, and his ground implanted
Weeds sprung up where corn had grown lux
uriantly, and every thing about the once thrifty
farm looked like ruin. Ills wife fenced and
planted small garden patch; but be yond this,
little was done.
And 50 things went on for three long wears
Until John Smith had become a poor mlser-
able lncbrate, with scarcely coat to his back
or pair Of shoes TO his feet. A burning thirst
was in him, calling for alcohol 4 terrible
conscience was haunting him. Despair seemed
written M his face, and on his soul
One day Farmer Churchill met him. Smith
WAS too far gope-ioo low down---io think of
farther enmlty; and when the good farmer offer
his hand, smith took II, and shook il heartily
lie felt that Uncle job was really good man.
and that there had be n no actual cause for his
hostility To one so kind and generous.
Z" Aud now" said Uncle job - want YOU
To come to my house this evening. An old
friend a Clergyman, will be there, and will be
very glad TO see you"
Smith was taken by storm. Before he could
think what he was about, he had promised tn 90.
And yet how could I've GO, all rays aud tattcrs
as he was, lie went bonG aud told Iris wife
what he had done, and for the first time in
three years. asked her advice.
"Waerc there's a will, there's a way" said
the good woman; and she sct about mcndlng
ms torn garments.
By the time the sun had gone, he was in
tolerable good trim, and he set out for Farmer
Churchill s--a threshold he hadn't crossed IN
twelve years. His wliG went with him. They
were treated with the utmost kindness, and
John was delighted with the clergyman. lie
had expected 10 find naughty, s.lf-rightcous,
upbraiding aristocrat. lus;ead Of that, he
found man OF humility; man who could ptv
ana feel for him. a man all kindness oi heart.
John Smith himself can hardly tell how 1t
came about, but before leaving larmer Church
ills house, he promised that clergyman he
would never drink any more.
And he never dd-neyer, at least, to my
knowledge. lie set about mcndIng his fences,
repairing his house, aud getting food and co-
thing for himself and wife: and when spllng
came, he sowed and planted, as he had not
before in years Every thing went well with
him and bat Tor that mortgage hungIng over
his head, hc would have been happy.
Where was his son \ few months after
his departure from home, droycr who ar
rived back from Boston, anl who knew him,
sud he had seen linn in that city, aud that he
was engaged in hosting cotton into loft. y
year afterwards, another acquaintance saw him
in i Wholesale store, though III what capacity
IA could not say. And then, year after
wards, s0H,b0dy had seen him as head clerk IN
large wholesale establishment. This was all
people generally, in his native town, knew of
him. Washer his mother, and Farmer thuIch-
i'll, and Ellen, knew any thing further of his .
r,catiOn or employment, will not venture to
say ; but ! viii say that Mrs. Smith went re-
gularly 10 Scrbner and paid the interest on
that mortgage, in Boston bank notes; that .
Farmer Churchill occasionally had letter
from the same place and that always, when l
he got one, Ellen would rejoice over the event
I'LL she cried for very gladncSs.
-Four years have pass Il since young John |
Smith, with his bundle on his back, took his
wav toward the sca-board. Then he was
not quite seventeen years Of age A; now he is
Eodriy lwenfy-onc. In this long time has he
remembered his molher, and thought often of
his home aud Of Ellen Perhaps We shall soc, /
LII us go on with our story.
July Is come. The rich grain is waving in I
beauty in the fields. The mowers are IN the
meadows. The yellow corn leaves are rustlng
~ ,be gentle breeze.
Over there stands Ben Scribncrs groG shop
Just where II stood four years ago. But
she doors aud shutters are closed. Bcns Gus
iUmers have left him {; and Othcllo occupa- |
ton gone. Look over the hill youdcr! There \
comes pretty one-horse buggy, containing
single ln,hvldual--a gentleman, would Judge 1
from his appearance. lie looks young, and
vet he looks manly. \ noble heart looks out
from his bcamlng countenance lis hat Is
raised, that his high forehead may catch the
cooling breeze. lie gazas about him halt
flInllIarly, as though he recognized III these
old hills and valleys the acquaIntances of other
years. He drives straight to the door of Ben /
Scrbner, aud leaps from his carriage. Ben Is |
cooling himself IN MS little back parlOr, but
meets the stranger at the gate. Al,cr few I
words IN a low voice, they enter the house 10 |
gcthcr, and Ben turns To his desk. In snug !.
little drawer he finds what he Is searching for, l
aud evidently with some reluctance, hands II 1
to the stranger. The latter looks over In,
paper carefully, folds II up. puts 1t III his pocket
hook, aud hands Ben a roll of bank-noies
Then he leaves the house. jumps into hls car
rage and is away. II bet my lnkstand, that
paper was the mortgage of John Smith ) farm
Farmer Churchill has risen from his dinner,
rcst on the piazza of his pretty white cottage.
Ellen is there. She Is not less beautiful than
she was four years ago. She is singing; but
she stops to hear remark Of her father. II
- Ii is just four years to-day" said the good
farmer, " since young John smith left us. N
wouldn wondr il we should soc hIn along /
here before the month is out"
"Why not to-day, i;uthcr'" asked Ellen.
+" lIe promised he would return in four years
whether he was successful or not. |,
The farmer had no time to reply: for just N
then Mrs. Churchill appeared, aud said a car
rage was coming with only a single gentle
man in il. She had seen II from her window,
enter the valley lttle way south Of the cottage.
Only a moment elapsed, and the carriage was
at the door. The young stranger within II
turned his eve Tor a moment ward the piazza,
a ID then spranq to the ground flcns eye !
had caught the strangers With the agility /
ol a fawn, she ran to the gateway, and ~ an
other moment was locked IN his arms. John
'nlth SOU John had got back agpp 4
Farmer Churchill was scarcely less happy
than his daughter, for he loved John always It,
u he were his own son. But hls Joy tount