The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-06-18


making myself good and true man"
D.scon Hclbrook did not look at his vife while
che vas resdrg this letter, though the handwri.
ting must have told him no il vas from.
Joshua" said his wife, tinidly, using the
rarely mentioned Christian name OF her husband,
ibis letter is from Henry
80 suppose" said he, coldly.
As be spoke be took from his pocket the
weekly Farmer, and adjusting his spectacles, be-
gan 10 read.
Tbs wss hint. and so Mrs. Holbrook under
stood it, that be did not care TO pursue the sub
ject further. But she could not help asking,
''Wouldn't YOU like TO read Helry's letter,
joshua"
lou will oblige me by not mentioning bis
name again" sald the deacon. stffiy. HE has
forfeited all claims 10 be considered a son"
So DAYS, months, and even years passed. IL
lacked but month of I've Years snce Henry
HOlDrook lett bis home. There VA. little change
III the air Of tue grave, sober looking mansion of
Deacon Holbrook. The deacon had failed more
in these tve years than in any FIVE preceding
HIS form had lost its ancient erectDess, AID was
bowed. His face had grown more ~rihkleG, and
he spent more time IN the house. Ms Holbfook
received tidings at short intervals. Henry was
well ard doing well, he wrote; bat did not en- er
See his mother. OF his father he did lot speak.
These letters were all brought home iron the
will ge post Office by Deacon HOIbrook, but be
rever sgnited auy curiosity or Interest TO it arB
their contents. Henry's name had not been
mentioned between The t~O for years; yet-and
let not tnis surprise the reader-lt would be ha d
To tell which though OF hiu the most constant
iy. Behind the D.scous tacituruity there beat
y heart, and that heart was more tender to his
lost son than be would have been willing TO con.
fess.
All at once his quiet life was broken in upon,
and that in a most cruel manner.
One day be e,lt, red the house, his face as pal
lid "a n sheet, his limbs tottering beneath him,
his whole expression that OF great aud intolera-
bie anguish.
Whats the matter, Deacon Holbrook -
What's the matter, joshua inquired his alarm
ed wife.
"Hannah, We are paupers-paupers in our old
age" said her husband, bitterly.
Good gracious! What has happened, 10 b.
ua?' asked the wife, turning pale from sympa
thy.
Little by little it came out that Deacon HOl
brook had become bondsmsn for q bank officer
With whom he was well acquainted ana IN " bose
integrity ne had the utmost confidence. But Il
= =
the officer, after a series Of d-talcations, had fec
the county, and left his bondsmen TO suffer
The amount for which the deacon bad become
bound was sufficient to swallow up the house auC
farm-all in fact that he possessed.
The farm was not a valuable one. 1t compris
ed sixty acres Of rough soil, which, by hard Ia
bor, had been made TO suffice for the moderate
wanls of small and economical family. La IN.
market it would not bring over three thousand
dollars, and for that amount the deacon wa
bound Yesterday he had reckoned himself rich
Now he regarded himself as pauper.
This is indeed worse than death, though
the deacon, with stern sorrow. "The Lord ha
indeed smtten me in mine old age"
Little time given tor anticipation before
the blow fell. The Hobrook farm was adverts
ed for sale at auction. to take place IN thre'
weeks. Bills were printed and posted about o,
fences and in stores.
Meanwhile Deacon Holbrook sank into a stat
of listless apathy. All day long he would sit il
the rocking chair, with his eyes fixed on the op
r--:.- -al', s-.ioG nothing, ard apparently psy
ing little attention to what was going sbou
him. His wife, scarcely less sorro~tul than lin,
self feared that his reason was undermined.
Three weeks passed BY, and brought the da
OF sale. Mrs. Holbtook would gladly have al
iife than usual, insisted on her being present 5
with many misgivings, she became an unwln
witness OF the tying scene.
/ The bidding then commenced at t~o thou
sand dollars. Gradually it went up to twent
nine hundred. aud was about to be knocked o
at that price to Squire Clay ton, when the tramp
/ ling OF hoOfs was heard-a young man, with
handsome face Drowned by exposure. leaped fror
| his horse, and inquired eagerly the amount Q
! the ,ast bid.
| On being told. he at once exclaimed, II bi
three thousand dollars"
At that price il was knocked down to him.
! "What name, sir ?" inquired the auctioneer
! deacon Joshua Holorook," was the reply, i
loud, clear voice.
| There was buzz Of surprise, and the questio
"W ho is hep passed from one to another.
| Among the rest, Deacoa Holbrook looked U
eagerly, and question was on his lips.
| Father, mother don't YOU know your boy ?
asked the young man. with emo;iOn.
| Deacon HobrOOks eyes lighted up with JOY
Silently he opened his arms. The reconci!istio
was complete.
Henry subsequently explained that, havin
been successful at the mines, he had ished to n
| turn Unexpectedly, when, upon his arrival IN Ne
| York, he had learned his fathers misfortune
He had instantly made what haste he could to h
native village, and fortunately arrived in time
prevent the sacrifice OF the farm.
"The Lord hath rebuked INV vain PRIDE al
the harshness OF my heart that led me to tar
away an only son." said t5e deacon, solemn
''H-Dc.forth NAV our hearts be filed with th
love that faileth not"
/ And his wife and son reverently said "Amen