St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-06-14

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Morton, if you arc the Squire's son,
and Ia like first rate to give you "a
lickin' for that insult"
1t was not the right action nor the
right answer but the carpenters
son forgot, in that hour of sore temp
tation, what many older and wiser
heads than his have done, that it is
neither money nor station which makes
the true gentleman, only the heart
that is gentle, and noble, and self
sustained ana John Strong certainly
descended when he replied to the
taunts of the Squire's son, aggrava-
ting as they were.
Robert Morton had handsome face,
but it was ono of those, despite its
dark, clearly cut features, which your
heart never clung to-onc which, the
more it was studied, the less it was
loved and now an expression of an
cry pride darkcncd and distorted eve
ry lincamcnt as he stood still mo-
ment before John Strong, and then
lifting his whip, struck him quick,
sharp blow on the forehead. The next
moment the two boys closed in an an
cry struggle john was the smaller
of the two, but exercise had developed
his muscles, and given him degree
Of physical power which one would
hardly have suspected from the first
glance. He soon succeeded in wrcst-
ing the whip from the Squire's son,
and after a brief struggle threw him
on the ground, and as Johns temper
had completely overmastcred him, he
gave his antagouiSta scvcrer beating
than he was himself aware of.
"l'll make you pay for this, old fcl-
low you'll see, growIcd the boy, as
with bruised face and stiff limbs, he
limpcd away.
40, father, my Johnnie's sent to
Jail | shall never be able to lift my
head again." and the mother wrung
her hands, and the tears scattered
themselves over her pale cheeks.
1t was dark day under the roof Of
the little red house Of the carpenter,
Jason Strong.
The Squire's son had executed his
threat, and so worked upon his ia
Tiers sympathjcs and Indignation 10y
| the story of his wrongs which he had
received, that he had commenced II
suit against the carpenter on account
Of his son, and the latter was sent to
Jail because the father could not raise
the hundred dollars which would have
paid the boys bonds.
Jason Strong leaned his head in his
hard hands and groancd, while Minnie
and Wealthy, who scarcely compre
hcndcd the fearful tidings, crept close
to each other in one corner Of the
kitchen, and sidlcd their little brown
hands into each others, and looked
with sorrowful faces upon the father
and mother.
"My boy in JAIL murmurcl the
poor mother, as she paced, with locked
hands, up and down the room my
boy that loved 50, and was SD proud
of, whose little brown head have
rocked to sleep so many nights in the
cradle yonder y
80 don't, don't, wife, roancd the
carpenter, and his whole frame
groancd like 4 sobbinG child's while
the two girls cried softly in the corner
And Just at that moment the front
gate of the red house was opened
and man strobe into the yard, and
up to the front door-aman small and
somewhat thin, but having that ramb
ling gait and sailors dress, which al
once indicated his nautical occupation
His eyes roamcd moment Owe
the humble cottage, its messy roo
: embroidered with golden devices o
l the sunset; then he lifted the hcav,
. handle of the brass knockcr, an,
: gave such Il summons that it mus
=. have reached the ears of every living
1 soul under the low roof.
f Minnie put her small, sweet fac,
= out of the front door, and looked u
4 eagerly at the man.
5 Can you tell me, little one, if ;
$ man by the name o Strong halls from
/ this craft -
t The blue eyes dilatcd with swcc
a wonder at the strange language.
y 81 don't know what you mean."
"Aint used to sailors yarns, ch
$ little sca-bird well, then, can 20
d tell me who lives inside ~
+ His names Jason Strong"
"rhc very man I'm after" eXclaimc'
the sailor, setting his foot over tn
l. threshold then, as if a sudden though
d struck him, he checked himself, AM
looking down earnestly on the child
/ he asked, "Won't you tell me you
), name 7"
: "I'm Minnie Blake
G lie reached out the strong arm an
c lifted the small figure, and folded
h up closely, as a mother her ncwl
d found child, to his heart, and tn
S words came in sob to his lips, 4" NJ
child, I'm your father"
+ o, there was wonder and Joy in Il
:, carpenters house that night, when
IL was discovered that Minnie's fatht
s had returned to thcm-he whose ha
+ they thought had been draggled /
s. the salt sea waves for more than thrt
years. He had a long story to tell
N terrible misadventures by land al
lie sea-of miscarried letters. and yeal
T. Of sickness in a strange land, and ;
last of restored health--of tiding
n that had reached him of the heath {
| his wife, and of his daughters adol
c, ton by their neighbor and his ol
playmate, Jason Strong.
W And the carpenter, in his turn, ha
a a mournful tale to relate Of sickncs
he and poverty, and hopes deferred ; br
n, the saddest part of the story was il
IL conclusion.
H. "A hundred dollars growlcd I'll
- sailor, and he drew out his plcthori
o. pocket book.
IS "Old friend, you took my child int
y your craft when the storm came dow
n hardest. Your boy won't lie in ia
y two hours longer"
n There was double JOY in the carpe)
~ ter's house that night. Johnnie Stron