Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-31

aWe'n 20 and tell him fTst. You Just
keep around the corner Of the barn, and III
break thenews,n cried Rebeeca. She came
painting up TO her father Just as nc was lead
ing the horse into the tarn. ga
go, say, father, want TO tell you-some-
things happenedp y
The old man turned and looked into the
eager face Of his daughter, and his son, stand
ing little way of, could see the change
which the last two weeks had wrought in his
face
swell, what is it, my chlld?'
"You'll be so glad, father, and yeti can't
tell it. o, Reuben, do come here"
Aud be came out "Fatherl"
And the vague superstitions which almost
all country people held at that period Of
ghosts who haunted their old homes, and
visits made by the dead to the living, at once
suggested even TO the well balanced mind OF
the deacon the possibility of his sons spirit
returning 10 him. He turned white as his
child had done, but did not speak, and Re
becca cried out "Don't be aieared, father
Il isn't a ghost, but Reuben's old self and
be wasn't dead, as we all thought"
One long greedy glance, and the father
knew his child. tA F
40, Reuben, my son Reuben, the Lord be
praised r
And then the father and son fell upon each
others neeks, like Jacob and Joseph Of old,
and wept.
awe must break it to mother easy, my
children, or itu sartain kill her for Joy, said
the old man vigorously wiping his face with
his Ocket-handkerchief.
= Ua1r,nr
should 90 in and break the joyful tidings to
his wife according to his best Judgment
The trio went up to the house, Deacon Pal
mer entered the kitchen, and his children
stood just outside the door, where they could
hear every word, Mrs. Palmer was slicing
some apples into a wooden bowl. She did
not look up as hsr husband entered; all these
weeks she had gone on with her household
duties carefully and assiduously as ever, but
with face which grew more pale and pa
tient every day, more like the faces over
which the grass grows and the winds walk.
avail, Becky" she said, 81 couldn't make
out what had kept you. You've been heap
of time huntin' them pears rs
An the life had gone cut Of her voice, it
was as full Of grief and patience as her
face.
ats me, mother, not Becky. have just
got home from the mill, and I've heard good
news"
''What kind o news, father2" with scarce
" a faint stir of interest
"Ahem-wall, this was from the army
The old woman sighed. "Then the Lord
given US another victory over our enemy.
avail, not that exactly. It's somethin'
that concarns US more nearly-somethin'
that'H give you great JOY, mother"
Poor old man He was internally cOngra-
! tulating himself on the tact and discretion
with which he had approached the subject;
but he could not keep tone OF triumphant
gladness out of his voice, and be was not as
tute enough for a womans quick intuitiOns.
"John, said she, turning round AMI look
| ing him full in the face-a look that fairly
staggered him-'haye you heard anything
about Reuben?'
ssWall, yes, it did cohcarn him." He broke
here "Reuben, come in and let your mother
see for herself"
'.Motherl"
She gave one long, greedy look as his sha-
dow fell over the threshold. She comprehend
ed it all in that glance, and stretched out heE
arms as she rushed forward, but they only
clutched at the air, for before she could gath
er him to her heart she had fallen to the floor
Her son that was dead was alive again, bui
the mothers joy was more than her hear
could bear. But the color soon came to the
faded cheeks, and at eventide on that happy
day was heard in good Deacon Palmers house
the voice of praise and thanksgiving to Hin
who in His wisdom ''taketh away" but il
mercy s'restoreth again"