Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-12-20
What will you have, then .

-
harm to talk g
I am well aware that the only genuine civ
ilized way of living is to have house of ones
own-but that, of course, am not foolish
enough to think Of
But suppose you we're to have house,
what sort Of house would you like =
If you mean just such house as l would
lIke-why I'D say some such house as this
of yours. Everything seems so comfortable
here I! A man ought to be as happy as Ad-
am, in an Eden like this
Now, I'll tell you what, old man. cried
the enthusiastic merchant-'I can't think Of
turning myself out OF doors, even for the sake
of philosophy, but if you will let me live here,
and have my own way little, I'll give you
this house to be your home as long you live.'
Old Roger Johnson opened his eyes wider
with wonder
1t shall be as if you were my father, said
the eccentric Mr.. Upton. Everything have
shall be at your service. You shall sit with
me at table, and enjoy three meals day my
baker, my taller, my servants are all yours
So you will have nothing to do but to be hap
py! Twill be worth half my fortune to have
happy man in the house. What do you say
to that =
Now you are mocking me- said the old
man, deeply troubled.
So you thought at first, but I'll teach you
that was never more in earnest in all nv
life!'
But can never pay your
You will pay me, tell you, by being per-
fectly happy
g Ii is too much, too muchl'
Not bit too much, old man. And take
my word for it, it won't be long before you
think of something else necessary TO full and
complete bliss. see by your eye you have
already thought of something am | right q
Indeed said the old man, letting fall a
tear, can never think of being happy until
know whether my child Edith still lives, or
what has become of her.
Ho, then, you have daughter!'
i had daughter TO know that have one,
and that she is fair, and good and happy,
would be worth more than all these blessings
you SO lavishly bestow on me to know that,
is all ask of Heaven-ihen would be con-
tent to die
But how could you lose sight of your
child =
81 IL unuld ,aEa a lonr c,orp 20 tall xo,
that. The poor things mother married me
against The will of her family, who hated me
because was poor. But was fortunate in
business, and in the course of time was able
to invite my wife's proud parents to my own
house, and treated them as well as such peo-
pie ought 10 be treated Edith was our third
child, and all the dearer because she came late
to fill the place of one brother and two sisters,
who one after another had been taken from our
hearts and laid in the grave. When she was
thirteen years old, the failure of large firm
in which my fortune and reputation were
siaked, swept away everything had earned,
and left me penniless. In the midst of trouble
my poor wife died, and necessity compelled
me to commit Edith 10 the care of her grand
parents.
80, the sorrows of that time,' said the old
man, weeping again. To forget it, and to
retrieve my fallen fortunes, made voyage
to the East Indies. 1t would take all night to
tell you what chances befell me on sea and
land. Let all that pass. 1t is enough to say,
that after an absence of twenty years, re-
turned with broken health, poor as when |
went abroad. Then commenced search for
my child; but her grandparents had been
dead many years-she had been thrown upon
the world. l could find no one to tell me what
had become of her-and no one remembered
her even.'
And is it so necessary to your happiness
that you should find hertz asked Mr.. Upton
Consider how changed she is by this time, if
indeed she lives.'
1 have thought of that replied Roger,
'but o, she was the sweetest little girl If ]
could but find her as left her, still child,
then my cup of happiness would be FULL
The merchant arose, smiling, nobe-browed,
radiant with-the inspiration that filled him.
Have faith, he cried, shave faith, and mir
acles may yet be performed. Ihave power to
do you good beyond anything you have yet
conceived. Speak the word and it shall be
done. Shall restore your childp
He looked and spoke like prophet. The
old man was thrilled and awed His lips
moved with feeble murmur; and on the in
stant, open flew door at the merchants
touch, and into the full flood OF light which
streamed from the astral lamp, stepped the
graceful form of young girl fresh and beauti-
ful, and glad, with curls ripping over her
head and neck.
| MY own child-my own Edith y cried the
wonder-struck old man.. But it cannot be,
he faltered, sinking back upon the chair from
which he had risen in the excitement of the
moment, sit cannot be-
Look at her. said the merchant, 'and have
faith ia
The old man looked again. Those melting
blue eyes, that sweet and cherry mouth, those
dimpled cheeks, the fair white brow, and de-
mure chin, every feature was the childs-his
Edith's. Yet it was not his child that stood
before him else she was an apparition that
1 ;,to H.