Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-07-31

the vessel st San Francisco, had pro
ceeded at once to the mines, where b.
was now working. He had not beer
there long enough to form an idea oI
what were his chances of success. He
wished his mother to write, and prom
ised to keep her advised of his move
ments. There was only one referenc,
to his father. 1t was this: 81 am afraiC
father still retains bis bitterness towards
me. If this is the case, do not trouble
him with any messages, but If other
wise, you may give him my dutiful re-
CARDS, and say that l do not yet des'
pair of making myself good and true
man."
i Deacon Holbrook did not look at his
wife while she was reading this letter,
though the hand writing must have told
him who it was from.
Joshua" said his wife timidly, u.s.
ing the rarely mentioned Christian name
of her husband, "tbis letter is from
Henry"
$50 l supposed" said he, coldly.
As he spoke he took from his pocket
the weekly Farmer, and adjusting his
spectacles began to read.
This was a hint. and so Mrs. Hol-
brook understood it, that he did not care
to pursue the subject further. But she
could not help asking. Wouldn't you
like to read Henry's letter, Joshua?"
"You will oblige me by not mention
ing his name again." said the deacon,
stiffiy. "He has forfeited all claims to
be considered son."
So days, months, and even years
passed. Itlacked but a month of FIVE
years since Henry Holbrook left his
home. There was little change in the
grave, sober-looking mansion Of Deacon
HoIbrook. The deacon himself had
failed more in these FIVE years than in
any 6vepreceding. His form had lost
its ancient erectness, and was bowed
His face had grown more wrinkled, and
he spent more time in the house. Mrs.
Holbrook received tidings at short in
tervals. Henry was well, and doing
well, he wrote, but did not enter into
particulars. Some time he should return
to see bis mother. OF his father he did
not speak. These letters were all car
ried home from the village post-ofice
by Deacon Holbrook, but he never sig
niied any curiosity to learn their con-
tents. Henry's name had not been men,
toned between the two for years; yet
land let not this surprise the reader
~ Haru 10 TeH which thought
of him the most constantly. Behind The
Deacon's taciturnity there beat heart.
and that heart was more tender to his
lost son than he would have been willing
to confess.
All at once his quiet life was broken
in upon, and that in a most cruel man.
ner.
One day he entered the house, his
face as pallid as sheet. his limbs tot
tering beneath him, his whole express
sion that of great and intolerable an
guish.
whats the matter, Deacon Hol-
brook? What's the matter, Joshua?"
inquired his alarmed wife.
"Hannah, we are paupers--paupers
in our old age!" said her husband Bit
terly.
"Good gracious! what has happened,
joshua" asked the wife, turning pale |
from sympathy.
Little by little it came out that Dea-
con Holbrook had become bondsman for
a bank officer with whom he was well
and in whose integrity be
had the utmost confidence. But to-day
the astounding intelligence had arrived
that the officer, after series of defal-
cations, had fed the country and left
his bondsman to suffer. The amount
for which the deacon had become bound
was sufficient to swallow up the house
and farm-in fact all that he possessed.
The farm was not valuable one. 1t
sixty acres of rough soil,
which. by hard labor, had been made
to suffice for the moderate wants Of a
small and economical family. In the
market it would not bring over three
thousand dollars, and for that amount
the deacon was bound. Yesterday he
had reckoned himself rich-now he re-
garded himself as pauper.
"This is indeed worse than DEATH"
thought the deacon with stern sorrow.
''The Lord has indeed smitten me in my
Did age"
Little time was given for anticipation
before the blow fell. The Holbrook
farm was advertised for sale at auction,
10 take place in three weeks. Bills we're
printed aud posted about on fences and
N stores. Meanwhile Deacon Holbrook
sank into a state Of listless desponden-
~. All day long he would sit in the
rocking chair, with his eyes fixed on the
opposite wall. saying nothing, and sp- 4
paying little attention to what
was going on about him. His wife,
scarcely less sorrowful than himself,
Ieared that his reason was undermined.
Three weeks passed by, and brought
Ihe day of sale. Mrs. Holbrook would
gladly have absented herself; but her
husband, exhibiting more life than of
late, insisted on her being present. So
with many misgivings, she became an
witness of the trying scene.
The bidding then commenced at two
thousand dollars. Gradually it went
up to twenty-nine hundred, and was
about to be knocked off at that nr;ce IN