The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-03-03

YOU now. Oh cnld, Ior se'e"" 30
years parted from your mother, you are
mine again My God l thank thee
And Mrs. Kirham's arms were wound
around her son s neck with wild, rap
turous endearment.
Allie and Mabel knelt by Edward
Kirham, and when his mothers head
was on his shoulder, and their soft kisses
fell upon his check and lip, the weary
wanderer of seventeen years acknowl-
edged with a grateful heart that God had
richly blessed him.
81 have gathered wealth; l have
brought home gold, mother-it is yours
you are poor no longer. Sweet sister |!
darling Allie you shall never walk in
the wretched patti # which you told me
one hour ago"
Allie Dale looked fondly in her bro
theirs face he spoke. 81 said harsh
things to you one hour ago. My pre-
cious Ned, can you forgive them :"
"Think not of them. Mother" and
Edward turned to Mrs. Kirham. For
give my strange conduct since l came
to your house. l know that my ques-
tions seemed cruel, but l felt such
wild yearning to hear from your own lips
whether you had forgiven and loved me
yet, or had cast me off forever. Had
your heart seemed closed against me, l
would have left you unknowing that
other than Sylvester Trelan had crossed
your Threshold"
"Forgive me. Oh Ned! I have
been fearfully punished for my bitter
words to you that dreadful morning. My
heart has borne a load of misery ever
since, my precious boy"
Mrs. KS arms were around Edward
again, and mother and son felt that, in
that earnest holy embrace, both were
forgiven, and the shadows of the past
forever effaced. Mrs. Kirham chided
herself as one blind Of heart, for no
knowing her son; but, as Mabel an
Allie declared, there was little wonde
she had failed to do so.
Seventeen years work deep changes
and in the bronze muscular man {
thirty-three, none could have traced tn
fair and slender boy of sixteen. Th
dark tinge had rested too long on Ec
ward Kirham's cheek to ightly pa
away but as he tossed back the ric
masses of hair from his brow, and suffe
ed bright heartsome smiles to light u
his countenance, Mabel and Alice d.
clared he was their " handsome Ned
again.
Burning with boyish rage against h
mother, young, Kirham went to sea
few days after his flight from the villag
For years he never wished to return
but as he advanced in life, wild des
sprang up, to revisit his home, and sha
with his mother, Allie and Mabel, t
fortune he had gained. When Edwa
Kirham came to the village, and ere
had time to inquire for his friends, Il
notice in the paper met his eye. As
read strange fancy struck him;
deepened into strange plan. Reade
this plan and the sequal there, you 9
ready know.
"Mabel! speet Mabel Lynn t
whom have you kept that free heart
long? You arere the idol of my boyi
days, you are the idol of my proud ma
hood. Darling Mabel will you give
your priceless heart :" To this earn
question of Edward Kirham's l I'm
that Mabel answered "yes."
Some weeks after there was a VI
ding in the "old homestead" and 1
ward Kirham took to his true and mol
heart the fair Mable Lynn. Allie d.
ever smiles when she speaks of Sylvest
Trelan, and her mother declares it to
blessed day upon which she cross
her threshold. There was no small c
element and JOY in the village, when
was known that the long-lost Ned K
ham had come back and down to
present time the villagers regard" =" N
Kirham's boarder, with wonder and
terest