The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-09-14
tattered coat and gave it to me.

In hand that trembled with emotion,-ir
words that seemed all alive with the grief of
a broken-hearted father, yet stern as that ia
theirs iron will,-the old man had responded
to his sons appeal.
Instead Of money, he sent him reproaches
for the past, and counsel for the future In
stead of inviting him home with loving
welcome, he reminded him of the many and
earnest warnings with which he had endeav.
ored to check his sons ruinous career.
"You have despised those warnings" he
said. "You have reduced me almost to beg
gary in my old age. l have sent you to
school in vain. Ipaid twelve hundred dol,
lars to keep you out of Jail, when in a fit of
drunkenness you had set fire to Squire Ames'a
house. trusted two thousand dollars to
you, to set YOU up in business, on your SOL
emn pledge of fidelity and industry. You
squaEdered every cent of it. have paid fol
the carriages you have broken, and for
the horses you have ruined by er-driving.
How have been rewarded for all this p
What encouragement have now to send YOU
money in your distressp You have forfeited
all claim upon me. Never send or come to
me again for assistance. You have gone
wllfully from my heart and my home, and
your follies have blocked up the way behind
YOU
A few words of solemn entreaty that. Mar.
tin would by virtuous conduct redeem the
past, concluded the memorable fathers let.
ter.
"lou see,' said the young man, who had
recovered himself while was reading, "there
doesn't seem to be much chance for me there
But something has driven me back. 1t ism,
my poverty alone, for could do something
or could have starved; | would rather
have starved; but was forced to come,-]
have walked more than hundred miles
have begged by the way-and now what am
here for? | came through the woods and
across the fields to Your house,-for you are
the onl y man dared to see, and | scarcely
dared to see YOU"
"lIave courage" said. The hand of
Providence is in it. Icu have been guided
it is for some wise purpose that you have
been led here. All will be well, Think
| conducted him, humbled and weeping
like child, TO room where he could wash
himself. ard change his dress. gave hin
clothes OF ny own TO pUt on. Then sent
private message 10 his mother, who lost ni
time, out FASTENED to meet her son. Iavod
ed being present at their interview, but
could not help hearing the sobs of both be
hind tht closed door
When the sound of weeping had subsidet
knockcd and e"iered
Mrs. Lockwood came forward to meet m,
with extended hands, her face full of hop.
: and gratitude, and fearful .ntreaty.
Il thanh YOU, thank you, for restoring tt
me my child" she exclaimed with barst o
, emotion. "lie is changed-don't YOU see h,
, IS changed? lie was never SO humble, Sc
sottcned-h;s heart never opened to me 81
! before-my Martin, my Martin, he is still M,
, SON.
She turned from ME to embrace once NOR
the young man, who now sat with his hea;
> upon his breast, weary. crushed in spirit, hea
wing deep siShs from his oyerburdene,
t heart.
~ true mother will never deny her son
answered. "And, indeed, Martin neye
S needed love and sympathy--perhaps he nev
. cr deserved them--as he does now. Wi
| his father consent to see him s'
, 81 do not know O, do not know :" wep
the poor, yet trembling mother. "lIe hs
, loved him better than any child we have
S But he will never hear his name mentione
y now. Sometimes he lays groaning all nigh
J., and in his sleep have heard him start an
t cry out as if he was in pain, '.Ha;tM! Ma,
tn! you Kill me-you Kill your .father!r II
e isn't the same man now,-he is gloomy an
silent,-he seems always brooding over som
: great sorrow, and we can guess what tn;
n sorrow is"
d Without designing it, the mother sent das
t gers to the heart Of her son. lie burst fol
t into deep cry of agony, and twisted h
It hands in his hair. | endeavored to sootl
= him and stop his doing violence to himsel
S in his madness.
i "Let me go" said he. LET me 90.
had better have died than ever to have con-
B.. back! Why didn't drown myself in the I
IS yer, as was tempted"
d mo more of that. said, somewhat sever
u ly. "The errors of the past are to be r.
trieyed, not sealed up with the black seal G
Y despair. promise you, Martin, that if yo
e truly desire and will it, you shall be ma
q, yet, restored to your home and friends, an
1, to your own self-respect. Will you go an
e tell his father he is here ?"
d 80, dare not" said Mrs. LOCKWOOD
ID "With all his kindness, he is SO stern, he
N so set against Martin now, it must be broke
IN him, hv flayrpoS and you muSt do II :"