Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-22

Ihueed,- sad the old man, letting fall Il
tear. Il can never think of being happy until
know whether my child Edith still lives, or
what has become of her."
"llo. then you have a daughter?"
81 had a daughter-to know that | have
one, and that she is still fair, and good, and
happy, would be worth more than all the bless
ings you so lavishly bestow on me, to know
that is all | ask of heaven--then | would be
content to die"
"Buthow did you lose sight of your child?"
so, 1t would take long story to tell you
that The poor things mother married me
against the will of her family, who hated me
because l was poor. But l was fortunate in
my business, and in the course of time was
able to invite my wifc's proud parents to my
own house, and treat them as such people
ought to be treated. Edith was our third child,
and all the dearer because she came late to fill
the places of a brother and sister who, one
after the other, had been taken from our
hearts and laid in the grave. When she was
thirteen years old failure of large firm, in
which my fortunes and my reputation were
stake1, swept away everything | had
earned, and left me penniless. In the
midst OF my troubles, my poor wife died, and
necessity compelled me to commit Edith to
the care OF her grandparents O, the sorrow
of that time !" said the old man, weeping
again. ''To forget it, and to retrieve my fall
en- fortunes, | made voyage to the East In
dies. 1t would take me all night to tell you
what chances befell me on sea and land. Let
all that pass. 1t is enough to say that after
an absence of twenty years, l returned with
broken health, and as poor as when | went
abroad. Then commenced search for my
child; but her grandparents had been dead
many years-she had been thrown upon the
WI 7 pot11I Hs,1 Ill IL,
had become Of her; no one had remembered
her, even"
"And is it so necessary to your happiness
that you should find herr" asked Mr.. Upton.
"Consider how changed she is by this time, if
indeed she still lives"
81 have thoughtof that, replied Roger; ''but
o, she was the sweetest grill If l could but
find her as | left her, still child then my
cup of happiness would be FULL
The merchant arose smiling, noble -hrowed,
and radiant with the inspiration that filled
HIM.
"Have faith I" he cried "have faith and
miracles may yet be performed. l have
| power to do you good beyond anything yet
conceived. Speak the word, and it shall be
done Shall restore your child?"
| lie looked and spoke like prophet. The
old man was thrilled and awed His lips
moved with Il feeble murmur; and on the in
slant open flew door at the merchants touch,
and into the full Hood of light which streamed
from the astral lamp, stepped the graceful
form of young girl, fresh and beautiful and
| glad, with bright curls ripping over her head
and neck.
"Nly own child-my own Edith !" cried the
| wonder-struck old man. ''But it can not be-
| he taltered, sinking back upon the chair from
| which he had risen in the excitement of the
moment. at can not be-"
"Look at her." said the merchant, "and
have faith"
The old man looked again. Those melting
blue eyes, that sweet and cherry mouth, those
dimpled cheeks, the fair, white brow, and de-
mure chin, every feature was his chds-his
Edth's. Yet it was not his child that stood
before him, else she was something more than
| human, else s&e was an appariton thar might
at any time vanish into thin air.
"Who are you, daring?" he asked in bro
ken accents.
81 am Edith johnson" said the child, with
/ bashful smile.
The old man took her in his arms, and
| bowed his face over that fair head and sobbed
out his emotion
Il understand it now" he said, speaking
with an effort. "This is my child's child
my Editlls Edith; the woman, the mother
where is she ?"
Already Il slender female figure was kneel-
ing at the old mans feet. Aifectonate lips
kissed his hands-atiectionat eyes bathed
them with tears
'Father-father ~
The kncelcr looked up. 1t seemed that his
lost wife had come out Of the past to embrace
him there again.
o, time o. miracle of life O, wondrous
divine law! ever working IN the broad day
and in the silence and secresy of the night,
when we sleep, the same pushing forward the
germ into the plant, from the plant producing
flower and fruit, evolling new germs, creating
all things new, each hour and each moment
in the day, parent and child, parent and child
forever.
Such thoughts whired and burned in the
old mans brain, as his daughter and grand
daughter lay in his arms and his tears rained
down upon their heads.
GLOW is it that have never found you be-
fore?' asked Mrs. Upton for she was the
merchants wife. GLOW have longed to hear
from you-to know if you were still alive. [
thought you must have died in some foreign
land; but when my good husband here came
home this evening and told me had seen an
old man calling himself Roger johnson, some
thing said to me, deep in my soul, that it was
you. l told him of this scar upon your check;
he observed it, and no longer had any doubt
that you were my father. How | wished to
go with him when he went back to find you.
But he said the truth must be disclosed to you
carefully and by degrees, for he thought you
ill and feeble, SO | have waited patiently for
this moment, when l could safely throw my
self at your feet and call you father!'
''It is not all dreami 1t is all real-yOu
are, you are my child !" said the excited old
man, 80, God be thanked"
"Amen!" said the generous-hearted mer-
chant, looking on with glistening eyes
"Don't weep, father" pleaded Edith, weep
ing herself all the harder; ''your trials are
now all over"
"You have every wish of your heart, and
all you have to do is to be perfectly happy,
added her husband.
eyes, yes ~ said the old man; "but Why
patting his grandchilds neck with tender
playtulness, ''why did you tell me your name
was Edith Johnson"
"That is my name" replied the young girl
Edith johnson Upton And If you are my
grandfather, l am so glad l shall love you
SO muchl y
81 shall be afraid to go to sleep tonight"
unused the old man, 'for fear that when [
awake l shall find myself in Mrs. Stones at
tic, and this will be all a dream that has passed.
But if it isn't Dream there is one thing more
that is necessary to give me perfect peace Of
mind"
81 thought as much," laughed Mr.. Upton.
! .tGnnaL If ont "