Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-16

the Ot0 man StdEtCd W A1Ao tSCt.
@Sir," he uttered, turning towards Lee
man, "whatmeans this? Do you think I
can ever pay ou back. again. ?"
"Sometine you can,' returned my COM
panion.
"Yes-yes, John, said the wife, ''some-
time we shall surely pay him."
'Alas when?'
"Any time within a month viii answer"
said Leeman.
Both the old people looked aghast.
sOh! you have o., planted more
misery for US, kind sir, er1ed The old man.
"We could have borne to be stripped of
our goods by the landlord, better than We
can bear to rob noble friend. You must
take our stock-our COWS and sheepl
"But not yet" resumed Leeman. Il
have another way. Listen: Once you
had boy-a wild, reckless, wayward
child"
"Yes murmured the old man.
"And what became of him 2"
For some moments the father was silent,
but at length said:
"Alas! he fed from home long years
ago. One might've then lived far off
here in Northamptonshire-my boy join
ed with lot of other youths, most of them
older than himself, and went into the park
of Sir Thomas Boyle and carried away
two deer. He was detected, and TO es-
cape punishment, he ed,-and l have
not-seen him since. But Sir Thomas
would not have punished him, for he told
me so afterwards"
"And tell me, John Leeman, did you
never hear from that boy?"
"Never" answered the old man.
As soon as l heard my companion pro-
nounce the old mans name. the truth
flashed upon me in an instant; and was
not alone in the conviction. The quick
heart of the mother had caught the spark
of hope and love. At that moment the
fire upon the hearth blazed up, and as
light poured into the room, my compan-
ions face was fully revealed The wo-
man arose and walked towards him. She
laid her hand upon his head, and trembling
she whispered =
"For the love of heaven don't deceive
me. But speak to me-let me call you
Nathan-Nathan Leeman r'
''And ] should answer, for that is my
name!' spoke the man starting up.
"And what would you call me" the
woman gasped.
" My MoTHERi"
The fire cleaned more brightly upon
the hearth, and l saw that aged woman
upon the bosom of her long lost boy.
and then I saw the father totter and Join
them-and heard murmured words of
blessing and of joy. arose and slipped
out of the room and went to the barn :;
when l got there [ took out my handker-
chief and wiped the tears from my cheeks.
1t was an hour before l returned, and
then I found all calm and serene, save
that the mother was still weeping, for
the head of her returned boy was resting
upon her shoulder, and her arm was
about his neck. Nathan arose as 1 en-
tered, and with a smile he bade me be
seated.
'You know all, as we'll as I can tell
you, said he. "When we first stopped
here had no idea of finding my parents
here, for when l went away, sixteen years
ago, | left them in Kingsthrope, upon the
Ken. l knew them, of course, but /
wished them to see if they would know
me. But from fourteen to thirty is a
changing period.
Il think God sent me here" he added in
alower tone, "for only think what curious
circumstances had combined to bring me
to this cot"
1t did truly seem as though some power
higher than our own had brought this all
about. But at all events, there was a
higher power thought of that night be-
meath the peasants humble cot, for God
was praised again and again.
On the following morning, / resumed
my journey alone, but had to promise
that l would surely call there again on
nay return. 1 went to Salisbury, from
thence to Winchester, and thence to Ports
mouth, to see the great ships Of war. 1
returned to the cot in eight days, and spent
a night there. Money possessed some
strange chasms, for it had not only given
to the poor peasant sure home for the
rest of his life, but it had brought health
back to the sick boy. An experienced
physician from Salisbury had visited him,
and be was now able 10 be about / re-
mained long enough to know that an
earthly heaven had grown up in that
earthly cot. Nathan Leeman told me