The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-04-11
McGREG0R, IOWA. WEDNESDAY, APRIL II, 1860

tention, he at last summoned courage to ask
f,r his little sister.
"She is not asleep, my son, 60 down and
kiss her and then come back and undress
and compose yourself to sleep"
| Softly he stole to the bedside Of his lit
tie sister and folding her in his arms kiss
ed her again and again, and little Mary
whispered in his ear
"Never mind, brother Eddie, you will be
a big man some day, and Pa can'twhip you
no more"
Bidding his mother an affectionate good
night, he retired to his room, and gathering
his clothes together he tied ths IN in small
bundle, and taking his copy book and tear
ing some leaves thcrefrom, he wrote long
and atfectionate letter to his mother. This
finished, he blew out his candle and seated
himself in the quiet moonlight; he began
to review his past life, and try to think OF
some definite course to pursue in the future.
Hour aftor hour rolled by, and every time
the clock struck his heart beat faster.
1t last it rang out one with sudden
clang, and with his heart palpitating, he
stole noiselessly down out at the Kitchen
door. One longing look at the little gable
known, and he was gone.
There was weight on the mothers heart.
She felt that her husband had been unjust,
and a strange foreboding of evil filled her
h art, and She so long,d to see her boys
face again. So she arose and went to his
room, and the first she saw was theeWpty
bed and then the letter. Setting Slle candle
upon the little table, she sat and read it
| III r. Il; h,oy nd han n
she knelt and prayed the Great Father to
guard and prot, ct her wanderer
CHAPTER II.
-~The chickens crowed drowsily in the
nlharn- yard of Abel Leach. The sun was
pg in hazy cloud, and the cattle lowing
he arose and called Edward, as was
his Won't No answer-again and again
and at last he went to the room and finding
lit empty, hi. .espied the letter that Mrs
LeachsE bad purposely, for she felt SHE
could 1t the news to him.
five will not attempt to describe the scene
:. leave our readers to imagine the feeling
loG man we have described. -.
= Q6 e same sun that shone~ar
. farmhouse shed lo1
tn dancing sparkling waves thaS lo.
nke of fine steamer az
pier, and~t1
Iol M I ~ V(li0s Seemed r,ticu inter
h the lads story Hoping he ha
frined, we will leave the lad in tn
the Good Shepherd .or the space
t of Years.
Christmas Eve.
- find Abel Leach still in the little ga
: Pied farmhouse, and with his wife an'
: w. who has now grown to young lady
;, sitting by bright, cheerful fire.
The wanderer has not returned, ant
there has been for nearly four years no It'd
ings of him, and the tender heart Of thu
. the mother mourncd him as dead.
There is look Of placid resignation up
on the face of Mrs. Leach. the old care
! i worn look is gone. Mary is husilv plying
u her needle, and Abel Leach is gazing int
i the fire with an absent look, as though h
: were recalling bygones.
A rap at the door and low, glad cry O
y Carlo announces a friend, and Nellie Hoop
er, with her CHEEKY face and bounding Ste|
enters. Nellie is always a favoritc, for he
round, rosy face always looked good natur
ep. and her lively chat, as Mrs Leach wonl
u say, always made the hours seem min
) utes."
) The stage has driven up to the door an'
a stranger enquiries if Abel Leach lives there
: and being answered in the affirmative, ask
j. ed if he could remain over night.
= 'If YOU will be content with our fare
y YOU are welcome, stranger" replied NJ,
. Leach.
,l-- l1,
n here" and entering the house frugal mea
was soon spread, and the stranger partak
ing of the farmers hospitality with goo
j. gusto.
in Sacramento think, SIR"
"Yes, sir, he was there the last we hear
g !. from him, four years come the 10Th of Jan
uary next"
81 can bring you later tidings than. that
: !. for was an intimate friend of his. He ha
y been doing large and fourishing bushes
J. since lS-, and is one of our principal mer
Giants. He talked of returning on tn
: same vessel with me-
"Oh if could only see my son again!
and Mrs Leach burst into tears.
In moment the stranger was at her side
his arms around her, and with the low
;, glad cry of "EDwARDw on her lips, sh
l tainted from excess of joy.
1t is vain to attempt to describe the .jo
!" of that meeting, or to try to tell all hi
hardships while far from friends and home
q How when he lay scorching with fever 70
long and drcary weeks he had so longed
II see his mothers face again. How tn
thoughts of her and his little Nellie mad
IT his labor seem light, and how often he won
d dered if Nellie would wait for him as sh
said she would.
e Suffice it to say, he walked home wit
% Nellie that night, and ere they had parteG
., their vows were renewed, the happy da,
n was set, and Edward and Nelleare now re
j. warded for past suffering in the blissful haI
piness of the present
= Mary too is now wife and mother. Mr..
y Leach has ''entered the rest prepared for tn
u people of God" and Abel Leach, purifie
by past Affections, now surrounded by ever
u comfort love and affection could sugges
seems only waiting to go home.
ID Simon Pure Traitor.
v Redpath the famous Kansas agitator rs
,s ,s Gently made speech in Ohio on the hang
ing of Stevens and Hazlett, during tn
,e course of which he said:
Al "To those of you who are friends Of tn
Z A>e al,