The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-07-03
A TOUCHING STORY OF F1LIAL LOVE.


the Herald Of Lima, (pcru,) to which it was
communicated by the Alca|de Of Callao:
Gcntlcmen There having passed in my
Office Justice of the Peacc,) scene of
great interest and most rare at any time
and place, cannot refrain from commune
eating the same to you, believing that you
will concur with me in the opinion that an
act SO humble and worthy the best qualities
Of human nature, deserves to be conmcm-
GRATED 10y means of the press.
AOou, o'clock this morning, tumu't-
uons assembly of people invaded my house,
bringing in with them a venerable looking
man. They inquired for the Justice. On
demanding OF them the reason Of a semi
riotous collection, they all began to speak
at once. SO that WAS for time unable to
comprehend What was the true state of the
case. Having, however, at last obtained 81
lcnce. the old man addressed me thus:
"Mr. Alcalde, having buried my wife, the
mother Of these four lads, ordered this
onc Jose Maria, to take charge of the other
three, who have already made choice Of
their older brothers profession. These two,
Antanacio and Dionisio, arc both married
the youngest, although single, supports him
self by his !abors rs It fisherman. Ever
since the mother of the boys was taken
away from me. have been living with my
elder son, in the interior; but have never
failed to receive care and attention from the
other three. DESTROYS Of coming to Ca.lao,
Jose Maria wrote to Julian in order that he
should provide for mc-w!ich injunction
has given offence to Antanacio, who de-
c'arcs that being the second son. the future
care OF me belongs Of right to him. l
would like to divide myself into four parts,
So as to give each of my children portion
Of nay body, but, as that canrot !,r, we have
come before YOU. Nj. A!cal,!c, in 'r!.r ta.
you should decide which one of these young
men is To lc preferred"
Antanaci", the scronl son, saisl that his
father having been hitherto living with his
81 lcr brother, it was now lis turn to have
possession of i.m l.v order q: birth. Do
nis'o c"mtcndc'l that his brother An:.;ario
could not !,c with his Gather brcausc he had
Il great deal /" do, and could not give bis
father tho attention he required. The
fourth son, Julian, represented to me that
it properly belonged to Linz to support his
father, "a lie ":s the youngest and unnar-
ricd.
In truth knew not what to resolve, my
heart was so affected by the extraordinary
picture presented to me. AS contemp!a-
ted this scene in silence the Old man, Gle
mento, said:
MY dear children, my heart ovcrnows
with satisfaction in witnessing your disputes
respecting which Of YOU shall take charge
OF your OLD father. I would gladly give
content to you all, anI therefore propose
that be permitted to breakfast with one.
dine with another, sleep in the house of the
third, and thus keep changing from day to
day but il you do not consent to this, let
his honor the Judge determine what shall
be done with me-"
The young men unanimously rejected
this proposition, because they said their fl
ther would lead an idle, errant, unquiet life.
| then proposed to write Oh separate pieces
OF paper the names Of the sons, and let the
decision Of chance settle the question:
While l wrote these papers and doubled
them, and put them into the hat of Gle
mento, which served lis ballot box, Il death
like silence prevailed, and there was plainly
10 be seen expressed in the countenance of
each Of the SONS his hopes Of being the
lucky receiver Of tho desired prize. The
old man put his trelnulous hand into tue
hat and drew out the name of Antanacio.
the second son! My friends. hardly know
how to express to you the new scene which
then broke upon me! Antanacio, upon
hearing his namc called out, lroke into
praises to the Omniscient for according him
such boon. With his has clasped and
eyes directed to heaven, he repeated over
and over his thanks, then fell upon his
knees before his venerable parent, and BATH
Ell his sandaled feet with tears of frantic
joy.
The other brothers followed his example,
and embraced the feet Of the good old pa
trinrch, who remained like q statue, op-
pressed with emotions to which he knew
not how to give vent.
Such scene MS this melted all who wit
messed it, among whom were the lieutenant
OF police, the Alcaldc Don ,AItano, and
some other friends. The brothers then re-
tired, but soon returned with q fresh de-
mand-wLich was that should command
that since Antanacio had been favored by
lot with the charge Of the father, they could
not be deprived OF the pleasure Of taking
out the old man to walk. by turns, in the
afternoon; which order gave ,nagisterially,