The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-22
Both the old people looked aghast.

Both the old people looked aghast.
| sOh! you have only planted more misery
for US, kind sir,' cried the old man. sWe
could have borne to be stripped Of on,
goods by the landlord, better than we can
bear to rob noble friend. You must take
our stock-oar cows and Sheep
sBut not yet,' resumed Leeman. q have
another way. Listen: Once you had boy
Ia wild, reckless, wayward child
sYes,' murmured the old man.
sand what became Of him y
For some moments the father was silent,
but at length he said:
ALAS he ned from me years ago. One
Might've lived then far off here IN North
amptonshire-my boy joined with lot Of
other youths, most Of them older than him.
| self, and went into the park Of Sir Thomas
Boyle and carried away two deer. lie was
detected and to escape punishment, he tied
and | have-not seen-him since. But
Sir Thomas would not have punished him,
for be told me so afterwards
sAnd tell me, John Leeman, did you new
er hear from that boy?'
sNever y answered the old man.
As soon as 1 heard my companion pro-
nounce the old mans name, the truth fash
ed 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 the light poured
out into the room, my companion's face
was fully revealed. The woman arose and
walked towards him. She laid her hand
upon his head, and trembling, she whisper
ed;
sFor the love of heaven, don't deceive me.
But speak to me-let me call you Nathan
Nathan Leemar.'
sAnd l should answer, for that is my
name p spoke the man, starting up.
Sand what would you call meT' the wo-
man gasped.
sMY MoTHERp
The fire CLEANED more brightly upon the
hearth, and | saw that aged woman upon the
bosom Of her long lost boy. And then saw
the father totter up 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 got there, l
took out my handkerchief and wiped the
tears from my cheeks.
1t was an hour before I retlrned, and
then found all calm and serene, save that
the mother was still weeping, for the head
Of her returned boy was resting upon her
shoulders, and her arm was about his neck.
Nathan rose as entered, and with smile
bade me seated.
sYou know all, as well as can tell you,'
said he. 'When We first stopped had no
idea Of finding my parents here, for when
went away, sixteen years ago, left them in
kingsthOrpe, upon the Ken. knew them,
of course, but wished to see if they would
know me. But from thirteen to thirty is
changing period. think God sent me here,'
he added, in a low 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 high
er power thought of that night beneath the
peasants humble cot, for God was praised
again and again.
On the following morning, resumed my
journey alone, but had 10 promise that |
would surely call there again on my return.
| went to Salisbury, from thence to Win
chester, and thence to Portsmouth, to see
the great ships of war, | returned to the
cot in eight days, and spent night there.
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 ex-
perienced physician from Salisbury had WIS.,
tied him, and he was now able to be about.
| renamed long enough to know that an
earthly heaven had grown up in that earth
ly cot. Nathan Leeman told me ,ha: he
had over an hundred thousand dollars, and
that he should take his parents and broth
ers to some luxurious home when he could
find one to his taste.
That was some years ago. l have re-
ceived some letters from Leeman since, and
he is settled down in the suburbs Of Brad
ford, on the Banks of the lower Avon, where
he has bought large share in several of
the celebrated cloth factories in that place,
and | am under solemn promise to visit
him if | ever land in England again.