Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-12-26

fate may yet be yours But the bitterness
of life you will not fully know, unless one Of
your b0ys---as one Of mine did-turns out
profigate and drunken leaves your freside
TO associate with the dissolute, and finally
deserts his home aud ALL forever ~
IF that son Of yours be yet alive, and
were ever to return. suddenly and without
warning. as l have broken in upon you to-
njght,--if he should come to you and say,
Father, hav" sinned against Heaven, and
before thee, and ain no more worthy to be
called thy sonp what should you say 10 him?"
II should say, For fifteen years you have
deserted me without giving mark or token
that you were in the body; now you have
come to see me die, and you may stay to
bury me / should say that, think.
though swore to Ruth but now that |
would cursc him, if ever he returbed,--
curse him and drive him from my doorl"
but II he came back pcnitent indeed for
past fcllies and offences, and only anxious TO
do well in the future, your son should
come in that way, convincing you with tears
of his sincerity, you surely would be more
gentle to him than that! You would put
away wrath, would you not? l ask you"
the stranger continued. with emotion, ''be-
cause i find myself in the position we sup
pose your son to be placed in. l am going
home after an absence of years, during all
which time have held 10 COMMUNICATION
with my family. / have sojourned in foreign
lands, and now l come TO make my father
and my mother happy, if it be not too late
for thatl leone half hoping and halffear-
ing; tell me what am to expect? Place
yourself in my fathers position and read me
my fate ~
While he spoke, his wife, sitting silent
by the fire, bent low over the child she held.
and few quiet tears fell upon the little one S
frock
Ruth Newell, moving back and forth, in
the preparation of the strangers supper,
wore an unquict and troubled aspect, while
the old farmer himself was agitated In a
manner painful to see. 1t was some sec
onds before he broke the silence. When he
spoke his voice was thick and husky.
IF had son like you,-if those little
children were my grandchildren,--if the
sweet lady there was my sons wife,-ah,
come here to put turbulent, raging regrets
beating calmly as it did yesterday, and the
son were indeed here! If Samson were in
deed here ~ ..f t.-......
The stranger half arose, as though to
spring forward, then sank back into his seat
again. .....
But the little child sitting in her mother
lap by the fire clapped her hands and laugh.
ed childish, happy laugh.
What pleases my little girl p asked the
mother. .. #.
Why, Samson,'" the child said, "that'.
,cllqt you cali papa r. ...... .e
Then Rgth. who stood BY The table With
I 2. pitcher OF water In her hand, staggered
backwards like one stricken violent and
sudden blow staggered backwards, drop
ping the pitcher with heavy crash as she
retreated, and crossing her hands upon hel
bosom with quick, short catchings of the
breath! Then crying, My son! my son =
she threw herself, with one long, long sob
upon the stranger neck ~
The story is told. What lay in his power
was done by the returned prodigal, who did
not come back empty handed to the paterna
roof. His wife and children fostered anc
petted the old people, till after the passage
of two or three more Thanksgiving Days
they became as cheerful as of old, and they
are now considered one of the happiest coup
les in the country. Do not, on that account
0 tou easily influenced youth, think tha
happiness for ones self aud others is usual,
secured by dissolute habits in early life, O
by running away from home. Half the oc
cupants of our jails and almshouses can tell
you to the contrary.