The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-10-31

nice nj they were. burs! III upon tnem
asked John il this was his obedience to
me, and tod Lucy 10 quit my service imme-
! dia.ely. Now the whole matter is past,
must do John justice to say he stood by
her like a man: fic had given his heart
and promised bis hand to Lucy, and she
owned she loved hiIn-him who was not
worthy Of her love. He said, too, sorns-
thing Of my being a kind father, and kind
man: and would not believe that the first
case Of my doing wrong would be to the
orphan girl whom Providence had placed
under our roof Ma'am, you will wonder
that hardened my heart TO all this, but
you know that anger is a short madness,
and SO il is, and besides, there is nothing
makes us SO deaf TO reason and true feeling
as the strong sense tha, we arc wiliully do
ing wrong ! was harsh, and John lost bis
temper, and poor Lucy cried and was too
frgh,e ned to speak indeed by my telling
Lucy she should not stay another day in
my house, and John, that if he did not obey
me, my curse should be upon him.
"I'he next morning, they had both clear
ed out, and every body thought they had
gone off to get married, and so believed
ill night, when John came in like dis
tracted man, and said he had been all day
seeking Lucy in vain-that the friend she
had in tho city, knew nothing Of her-and
when answered, $50 nlGb the BETTER he
accused me Of cruelty, and then followed
high words. such as never should pass be
tween father and son; it euded n my turn
ing him from my door. do not wonder
YOU turn away-but hear me. Saturday
night, three days after, John caGe home
an altered man. He was as humble as il
he only was in the wrong. he begged par
don, and promised 10 obey me in all things
hut marrying Amy Bruce. II give up
Lncy, father" said he "but cenDot marry
any body else forgave him from the
bottom Of my hear.--and longed to ask
him 10 fprgiye-bu, have no, come to that
vet. ] asked him what had brought him
back to dn,y. He put into my hands a
letter be had received from Lucy. She
had persevered in not seeing hic,-but such
a letter, ladiesi II ministers could SO spenk
10 The heart, there would be 10 sin in the
world. She said she had deserved TO suf-
Ter t0r carrying matters on 50 iaF WitHo"t
my knowledge. She spoke Of ihe duty
child owed pnrcn, ,---said she should new
er have any peace Of mind I'll she heard
we were reconciled; and told him il would
be in vain for him to seek ber. for she had
solcmnly resolved never 10 geek bin again.
The paper was bistered with tears from
top to bottom. bnt ma'am. there was Moth
ing from which YOU could guess wha, il
cost her to write ,hat letter.
~ could not stand il; my heart melted
within me; found her that very night. and
without loss or time brought her 10 my
honse. and then. he aaicd. walking hastily
to the farther end Of the shop, and throwing
open door tbs, led into back parlor.
"lhere> ma IN, is The long and short Of H.
And there was one of lie most touching
scenes of human life. Ny pretty duliul
friend, became wife mud a mother, her in
fant in her arnle. and her husband sitting
beside her, watching the first intmations
Of intelligence and lore in is bright face.
Such should be the summer happiness
when the spring is consecra,ed to virtue.