The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-04-04

/ Ipalpitating heart he stole noiselessly down
out at the back door. One longing tsek at
The little brown gable.ronfed house, the only
home he had ever known. and he was gone!
/ There was weight on the mothers heart.
She felt that her husband had been unjust.
aud strange forebodng of evil filling her
l'ea't, she stole to Edwards room TO see if
he was sleeping. The empty bed and the
letter we're the first things she saw, and set
ting the candle upon the table, she read its
contents with a throbbng heart Long and
sadly she mused upon its contents, Tor what
mother does not mourn when her FIRST horn
] leaves the -patcrnai roof to battle with life
alone !--but murmuring "it is well," .he
knelt and prayed God to guide and protect
her wanderer.
The chickens crowed drowsily in the barn
yard, the sun was rising in hazy cloud, and
the cattle lowing in the pasture. when Mr..
Leach arose. and called Edward as was his
wont. No answer. Again and again, and
at last he went to the room and finding il
empty, he espied the letter Mrs. Leach had
left purposely, for she felt she could NOT
break the news to him.
The scene we will nut attempt to describe,
but leave our readers to imagine it.
The same sun that shonp upon the little
isrm house, shed a long line Of light over
the sparkling waves that followed the wake
OF fine steamer as she pushed nff the pier,
aud the spires Of he city were fading from
sight. A lonely bny was sitting among the
, crowd OF passengers, his sad face contrast
ing strangely With the CAV crowd around
; him. Now a good natured elderly gentle-
: man approaches, and they enter into lnng
conversation. Hoping he has found friend,
, we, will leave the lad in the hands of the
Go"d Shepherd. We will pass over ten
years.
Its Christmas Eve. We find Abel Leach
still 10 the little gable-rooled farm house, and
; with his wife aud Mary, who has now grown
: q a young ladS, sitting by a cheerful fire.
Inc wanderer has not vet returned, and for
nearly fur years there has been no tidngs
OF him. aud the gentle mother mourned him
, as dead There Is look 0f placid resigna-
tlon on the face Of Mrs. L., Mary is busily
: plting her needle, and Abel Leach is occu.
b pying the easy chair TO which he has been
confined nearly four years with rhumatism.
q lie is gazing moodily into the fire, as though
recalling bygones.
d Directly Nellie Hooper, with her bounding
5 step and CHEEKY face, comes to Join the fani.
ly circle. Nellie is always welcome visi-
= tor, for Abel Leach often said " Her lively
d chat made the hours seem minutes"
Z. The stage has driven up TO the door, and
stranger alights, and inquiries if Mr.. Leach
/ lives here. /" Abel, think, vas his gwen
name" Aud being answered in the sffirma-
Is tive. asked if he could remain over night.
d . II you can be content with our hOmeIy
fare, stranger, you are welcome" said Mr..
: Leach.
7, !" Then, driver. you NAV put nv trunks
Of down here; !" and entering the huuse, fru-
gal meal was soon spread, aud the stranger
- partook Of the farmers hospitality with good
gustn.
ID !" You had son b. the name Of Edward
I 10 Sacrsmenio, think, slr.'
le " Yes; he was therr, the last we heard oI
= him, four years come the twelfth Of nex.
Ie January"
81 can bring you later tidiugs than that,
le for was an intimate friend Of his lie ha.
II been dung large aud prosperous husines.
Il since lS-, and j. une Uf our most flourish.
4, ing merchants"
Is "0h, il ! could only see nv son !" anj
al Mrs. Leach burst intD tears. In mOmrn
8 the stranger was Al her ,i,e and claspinu H.
:. in his strong arms. and with the slad q,
N "my Edward - she tainted from exc.,s s
= ioy. II i vain 10 attempt 10 describe n,
l, iav &c that meeting. or trs n relate alI nj
wards hardshlps and adventures since y,
i saw him last. How. when he Law scnrcbino
n with fever, he lonred for his mnther's coo
n land upnn lis brow for. though surrounded
Il by friends,
r,,.,I. .o,,i =, .,,....
n WISHES that pass Ike shadows -
~ how The thnuUhts az her anI III l;,,fs M,r,
4 AID Willie Itahtenpd M l.hor and how ot,.s
]" he wondered ir his Selli. wanlI wait m
\, lin a. he said she would. sultice Il 10 a