North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-10-15

| part 10 stay nun.
Let me do Deacon Holbrook the justice to
say that it was not his own personal loss
that excited his vigor. The sum, though not
large,-$l00-w yet of Importance to him.
Still he could overlook that, but not his sons
weakness and crime, as he termed it, by
which it was lost. r..-
After Harry's departure, the old house be
came queter than before. All the life had
gone out of it. Deacon Holbrook himself,
was man of very few words, and in his tac-
turnity had a6ated his social tendencies
Very long, very quiet, and very tedious, were
the evenings which they spent together. On
one side of the fire sat the Deacon, gravely
reading through his spectacles, the agrlcul-
tural papers, which came weekly. Opposite
him sat his wife, her fingers actively engaged
in knitting, her mind intent upon her absent
boy. All was staid, quiet and subdued.-
There was not even kitten to enliven the
scene. Mrs, Hollbrook had once ventured to
introduce one into the house, but the Deacon
speedily intimated his dislike of cats, and
puss lad been banished.
One night Deacon Hollbrook brought a
letter for his wife. 1t was such an unusual
circumstance for the woman to receive let
ter, that she tore it open with unwonted
haste.
What was it that made her eyes sparkle
| with ioy 2. The familiar hand writing had
1 ebo of hv
culiar flourish on the top Of the Ii, that it
was from Henry.
She read it through with greatful joy. 1t
appears that Henry had worked his passage
to California, having no money; and, leaving
the vessel at San Francisco, he went at once
TO the mines, where he was now working
He had not been there long enough to form
an idea of what were his chances OF success
He wished his mother to write, and promised
to keep her advised of his movements
There was only one reference to his father
1t was this:
"I am afraid father still retains his bitter
ness towards me- If this is the case do not
trouble him with any message, but if other
wise you may give him my dutiful regards,
and say that do not despair of making a
good and true man."
i Deacon Hollbrork did not look at his wife
while she sat reading this letter, though the
hand writing must have told him who it was
from.
joshua" said his wife timidly, using the
rarely mentioned Christian name of her hus-
band " this letter is from Henry"
+" So suppose" said he coldIy.
As he spoke he took from his pocket the
Weekly Farmer, and adjusting his spectacles
began 10 read.
This was hint, and so Mrs H. understood
it, that she did not care to pursue the subject
further But she could not help asking:
Wouldn't you like to read Henry's let
ter 2"
" You will oblige me by not mentioning
his name again." said the Deacon stffiy.-
" He has forfeited all claims to be considered
a soHn
So days, months, and even years passed.
1t lacked but month of five years since
Henry Hollbrook left his home. There was
little change in the air of the grave, sober
mansion of Deacon Hollbrook. The deacon
himself had failed more in these five years
than in any five previous. His form had lost
it's ancient erectness, and was bowed. His
face had grown wrinkled and he spent more
time in the house. Mrs Hollbrook received
tidings at short intervals. Henry was well,
lars. Some time he should return to see his
mother OF his father be didn't speak
These letters were all brought home from the
village Post Office by Deacon Hollbrook, but
he never signiied any curiosity or interest to
learn their contents Henry's name had not
been mentioned between the two for years /;
yet--and let it not surprise the reader-it
would be difficult to tell which thought of
him the most constantly. Behind the Dea-
cons taciturnlty there beat heart, and that
heart was more to his lost son than he would
have been willing to admit.
All at once his quiet life was broken in up
on, and that in q most cruel manner.
One day he entered the house, his face was
pallid as sheet, and his limbs tottered be-
meath him, his whole expression that of great
and intolerable anguish.
whats the matter Deacon 2" inquired
his alarmed wife.
" Hannah, we are paupers-paupers in our
| IL hap NIL for
"Good gracious what has happened, Josh
ua 90 asked his wife turning pale from sympa'
thy.
Little by little it came out that Deacon
Holbrook had became bondsman for a banking
officer with whom he was acquainted, and ir
} whose integrity he had the utmost confidence
} But to-day the astounding intelligence hac
arrived that the officer, after serious defalca
| / NJ A. nd laft Io