Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-06-07

would return to those against whom he Lad SIN
ned, and atone for the past.
Robert remembered the former wishes Of his
o5durate heart, that he might return home rich,
to notify those whom he had wronged by the
sight of his greatnes s, and what madness of
folly and wickcdness did it seem to him now,
when ragged and poor as the prodgal son OF
old, he neared his native town. He waited till
near nighttall, that he might enter the tawn
without fear of recognition. 1t was Wcdnes-
day evening, the one evening i'll the week when
he was sure of finding his mother at home
He turned up a little entry by the house, where
was small window, the SHUTTER of which was
not regularly closed at dusk. He found it open,
as he expected the kitchen was all alght with
its cheerful fire and candle; butter baskets
waiting to be re.filled, and boxes and parcels
stood about Just as it used e be; all was ia
millar to him; nothing seemed changed. His
mother sat at tea at the little round table as OF
old, and with her the servant girl there was n
child, too sitting upon tall chair beside the
old woman, and she was laughing and the child
was laughing she gave it tea from her own
cup, AMI pulled its curly locks when its head
was turned, and seemed as merry as could be.
'Ah,' sighed Robert, she has forgotten me
I am not wanted, ard that is some ncighbor's
child she has taken fancy to. She cares no.
thing about men
The thought seemed more than he could bear
ana he turned away and wept. 1t seem to
him that he could not live without his mothers
love ana forgiveness. But he had seen enough
for that night and not venturlng to accost any
one in the town. he walked ON to village a
few miles on the road by which he knew his
mother would go the next morning, on her way
70 Birmingham.
A h,,, i,. 81. no. uonr
womans cart was on its way, and Robert was
on his way too. lie saw it coming slowly up
the steep hill, with the lantern hung in front,
and he heard his mothers voice encouraging
the horse as she walked up the hill as usual
He Wake on slowly; and now she had almost
overtakcn him: Iii, heart beat wildIy she had
now come up with him, and they walked TO-
geth7r step for step.
1T bids to be iip2 day, my friend said She
ia the cheerful voice in which she addressed
fellow travellers.
1 'Mothern exclaimed Robert, you don't
/ know me How should You: | am Robert
| Your son, your hard-hcarted son, who his de-
serted YOU Il am he-can you forgive me?
Robert" exclaimed she, at once recognizing
! his voice, and forgetting the hor and cart
how came you here Oh, Lord my son. my
own dear sCn'
1t was well thpt the cart which was proceed
| ny onward, recalled the good woman to herself
She shouted to the horse to stop and the horse
clad enough to rest with its heavy load up the
steep, long hill, stopped readily: she ran for
ward and sco,ched the wheel, and then Snltch
ed down the lantern, held it to her sons face.
! Yes. it was he: but so changed.
They mounted into the cart sat side by side
anl I'm enough to talk about.
,t,rl,t htlti inr hIl
cart drove into the little town again it was no
tcci that young man sat b. her side. |
must be somebody that she had picked up Of
the road but that was odd. for it was old Moi
Tvs vaY never to take living passenger;
had been her way for years; however, ther
was now young man with her, and goo
looking. v II ~cs'cI young man too. No5oj
INA ned tito 'e her son.
+ How his rays had been changed into goo
: brollcloth SUIT never was krt )Yn; nobody. II
, deed, but h and his mother knew that he In
come in rags; peop'c now saw nothing but
= dress that basp Ike comfortable mean. Ne2
morning, which was Sunday, Robert and h
, IN ,,h,r, and the little child, sat toTethrr-t.
t,tlc chi IL Oh Roberts knee. The servant q
y was sent to church. anl old Molly herself u
:, d,r,ook to 10 k after the oven, in which ";
: cooking a dinner molht to honor tl1 occaslo
n Rirht glal was the servant girl to 20 to churc
II AMI to s3rcad abrold the news Of Robert Go
~ tarnl's return. Before cycnng all the town W
~ t,lkinr of how his mother Lad met him in Bi
niurlilrn: how he Ind brou g,Gt d. Il of lnon'
back with him; and ha wl' come, intending
rs have married poor lIannlh Mottcram; AMI tn
"a wh IN he helrd she VAS dead, he tore his hs
md fell into such ptssion Of grcf as my
wls Witnessed before. THIS WIS what rum
: ,n,da of il: but the servant girl hid only sa
~ =. thot Robert was con ne back looking very grTa
y, and sober; thpt his mo h n and he weri the Dc
= f,ien Is in the world; AMI thlt the little CHI
u was told to call lim father, which 1t very so
~ ~ did. as wAs very natural, because he seemed
a fond of it.
- If anv one inquiries Low, after this, ROBE
J! went on. we can only say, thlt some tive yea
: later he. instead of his mother, hi ght be Sc
H. lrivinr the butter curt There WIS a sna
an oodernilcd air about the green cart, and t
" h,-;, an harness were much hlulspmer th
~ they had been formerly, Robert also W
Il rreitly improved; he spoke 50 COOL humor
~ onl hippy, and h. WIS the stGldloSt carrier Il
c came into the old town of Birm,D gh1m. In II
III welthcr too. now anl then might be seen Il ii
+. stout al of about eight, with rosy, me-
~ face, aud pair of rcnarkaO'y sturdy le,
=" oerched in front of the cart by Roberts 81
" lonrishng the whip, and mixing lu'ty outer
u - the horse. This was Ham dis child Rob
=, was very proud of linn, and the only thing I
Nv troubled him was II. 1t 1t was then too late,
III cent through the child, tomlke her any amen
80. II x