New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-01-10
a. Sketch frosn T.ise.

l
cause imperious necessity commanded it, There
were the cattle 10 be fed and Watered, and the
poultry to receive the same attention. aad
there Ws5 moreover o fire to be made in the
huge old kitchen Fireplace, for the Deacon had
now no servant or helper, and in tho grey WT1-
4 ter Of his life, the whole bnrthen Of managing
4 his place had fs1len on his shoulders Fortu-
nately they we're broad and strong Fortunate
his constitution was good, his spirits elastic,
and his piety sincere, for his burthens and
trials were indeed Weighty. He had been COM
PaFatiyely richie Was now in embarrassed
i circumstances. He had looked forward to the
i ti1ae when son should relieve him Of the most
isborioua of bis tolls, while daughter perform
i ed the same kind Office for his wife. Both had
been disappointed and now the old couple were
Il the e. solitary tenants Of that lone farm house.
Il Ihe Deacon went mechanically about his
morning labore he drove the cattle to the wa
Ter tank; he supplied them with fresh fodder,
and after seeing that they were comfortable,
returned to the old kitchen. By this time the
good wife had prepared breakfast, and q De-
nial tre was diffusing its heat through the apart
Iment ss=7e--e - -S. ss..
The old couple sat down to breakfast, after 4
blessing by the old farmer, hut the meal passed
byin silence. It was followed bya feryens
prayer and the readingof 9 portion Of the
sitting room, where good FIRE was burning.
and where the old dame assumes her knitting.
one Of those incomprehensible pieces Of female
industry, which seems to have neither begin
ming nor end.
i sWell, J" said she with q sigh, s.This ID Thanks.
/ giving day. It doesn't aeem like old tiaaes at
all. We used to have house full of company,
frolicksome young folks, and cheerful old PED
pie; and now We are all alone, alone
!" Last Thanksgiving day, e said the old man,
| there was one with us who seemed 10 my old
eyes like an angel Of Light, with her fairy gol-
den hair floating like glory on her shoulders,
and her little foot making music as she moved
q hectic flush upon her cheek, like the red upon
the maple leaf in autumn. When the January
SHOWS lay deep on the hills and in the hoIloRa,
We carried her to her last home--but Gods will
| be done
]. s.You forget that we have another child
i aliye.'' 8s 5#5a "a
| mo, do not forget il, said the old man
bitterly 6 There is one living somewhere, who
has brought disgrace upon our name, who has
! forgotten his parents and his God who has
I drunk deep Of the cup Of iniquity, and who
has brought ruin and woe upon his name and
family ai
..Do not speak harshly of poor William
i pleaded the mother 5s745.E
ssWhy should mot I? Was he not inssnsible
| to kindness--steeled against affection Did he
i not scatter my hard earning to the wind Is it
not to him that owe the prospect Of beggary
and destitution' Remember the first Of Fen
4 ruary. That is the last day Of grace IL the
money comes not then, and God knows whence
it is to come, we are houseleas beggars. Who
4 will care for us then ~ 8s S#
(" God will care for u.s. said The aged woman,
raising her eyes reverently to heaven.
The old man made noTeply, for his uSteranee
was choked. At that moment the old clock that
stood ticking in the corner, struck the hour Of
nine. The deacon rose.
g 1t is time to harness old Dobbin," said he,
ssfor we have q long Way to ride to meeting, and
the roads are in q bad condition
Their preparations were soon made, and the
old couple, poorly but deeently attired, sailed
4 forth to their public devotions. The services
ended, the deacon and his wife, as they issued
from the porch, we're kindly greeted by many
4 old friends and neighbors. more than one Of
whom pressed them to come and psrtake Of their
thanksgiving cheer. But the deacon shook hia
y head.
~ Many thanks, my friends said he, Sc but
ever since have been househoIder,I I have
!. kept my Thanksgiving at home, and shall con-
tinue to do 80, so long as have house remain
ing over my head''
So they rode home together While the dea-
con drove mp to the barn to put up his horse, the
: old lady opened the back door, which was al
ways on the latch, and eLtered the kitchen. AS
! she did so she started back a stranger was
seated by the kitchen fire, who rose on her en-
trance. He was o tall, stalWart man, dressed
J in o rough suit, with o broad-Ieafed hat his
countenance embrowned by exposure to the sun
and wind, and his upper lip almost concealed by
q heavy and luxuriant moustache.
IS Good morning, ma an" " he said with some
embarrassment. t' Finding no one answered
my knocks, I took the liberty of walking in. 1
believe owe you no apology, for have officia-
ted as turnspit, and saved your thanksgiving
turkey from burning ~
| Ton, 10
answered the old lady, pulling off her mittens.
"But did you want to see me, or the deacon %
"Both Of you,' answered the stranger. ssYou
had son, believe ~
Yes" ,"replied Mrs. Wilson, with hesitation,
and casting down her eyes, ' .r.9ta7
"l have seen him lately.'' ~ o0r
;" Where " inquired the mother, with increas-
ed agitation. ts.z..t4 a.T*7o6. 55I
ss1n California; es2a
ssWas he doing we'll p 4aee Nv
Admirably. Mother! mother" he added
impetuously, throwing back his hat, ssdon'tyou
know me don't you know your William ~
He rushed into his mothers arms, and was
clasped to her beating heart, while the tears
streamed from the eyes of both. After the first
greeting was over, the young man asked:
"Where is sister Emmyl"
"Gone,' answered the mother, as her tears
flowed forth anew. 5s4sN# "a %5z1= Z w.
William sank into seat, and hiding his face
| III MS nsnus, Wept bitterly. The mother did
mot attempt to check him. She knew those tears
were precious. ll@l za
And my father !" asked the young man,
when he regained his composure.
! ''He is well. But you had better retire for
| awhile. Go to your old room, my son, it is
just as you left it, and wait till 1 summon you''
1t was with futtering heart that the over
joyed mother went about the preparations for
dinner, and when the table was neatly set,.
every dish in its place, and the turkey smoking
hot, waiting to be carved, she summoned the
old man. He made his appearance at once,
and took his seat. Glancing round the table he
said:
"What is this, wife, you have set plates for
three"
81 thought perhaps somebody might drop in
unexpectedly"
s'There is little danger--hope, 1 mean-of
that answered the deacon sadly. -*4 a
At this juncture, Mrs. Wilson, with mys-
terious expression, rang the bell, with which,
in happier days, she was wont to summon her
tardy children to their meals.
1t was answered by the appearance of the
long lost William
The deacon, who recognized him after a mo-
ment, gazed upon him with stern eye, but
with a quivering lip that betrayed the force Of
his ill-suppressed emotions, 5s...a-.a a.,