Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-03
dNOttester 4ailg SPY



room.
There were three persons present. Allow
me to introduce them to you in order-First,
there was deacon Holbrook, an old man, not
very far from seventy years, now, with white
hair, tall spare form, and decided features.
Next, his wife, a motherly old lady, with an
expression of such calm benevolence on her
face as to charm all that knew her. Yet, at
this moment, anxiety, grief and entreaty
struggled for the mastery. The third figure
in the tableGu was young man with frank,
handsome face, years not exceeding twenty,
who stood in the middle of the floor with down
cast look, shrinking from the angry words
which his father uttered.
"Henry," said the deacon, sternly, ''you
have disgraced yourself and me, deacon of
the church. You have embittered the decn-
ing years of your parents"
"Don't be too hard with him, deacon Hol-
brook" interposed his wife. Remember it
is his first fault"
'If it were anything else" said his father,
still unappeased; ''but to think that my son
should become gambler. My son, who has
been so carefully trained in the way that he
should go!"
at lis only once," urged the wife, with all
mothers instincts
"There are some crimes which cannot be
committed once without sinking the soul deep
in sin" returned the father, with unabated
sternness.
All this while the young man had remained
SILENT though his varying color showed that
he felt deeply the harshness of his fathers
words. At length he spoke:
"Father," said he firmly, ''you will one
day repent your severity. No sooner had |
sinned than l repented, and made confession
to you and my mother. Instead of encour-
aging me in my repentance, you load me with
reproaches which my own conscience had
anticipated, and which heaven knows, did
not need"
Deacon Holbrook was about to speak, but
Henry rapidly continued:
''You tell me have disgraced you. will
remove myself and my disgrace from your
presence"
As he was about to leave the room, his
mother asked, anxiously:
"Where would you go to, HenryT
"Stay him not, Hannah" said the deacon,
sternly. SIT is well that he should leave
place where he can no longer look an honest
man in the face"
deacon Holbrook, he is our son." said the
wife reproachfully.
~ would that | could forget it," was the
unrelenting reply.
These last words reached the ears of the.
young man as he stood upon the threshold,
and an expression, half of pain, half of indig-
nation, swept over his face. He knew that
he had done wrong, but he felt that he had
not forfeited forgiveness. With one farewell
glance at his mother, full of unspoken graft
tude and love, he left the house which had
been so long to him home.
This was the fault of which Henry Holbrook
had been guilty. Having been sent to New
York by his father to collect a sum of money
dino him ho bad oil
house by companion, and there induced to
play, though not until after much persuasion.
Having lost part of the money in his charge,
he kept on playing, in the hope of recovering
his losses. But, as might have been expect
ed, instead of this, he lost all that remained
Then, thoroughly ashamed, and bitterly up
brading himself for his breach of trust, lie
went home and confessed all. This confess
sion was received, as we have seen, in such a
way as to chill his confidence and excite his
indignation. And now he had gone forth
from home wanderer, he knew not whittier,
with not one effort on his fathers part to stay
him.
Let tine do Deacon Holbrook the justice to
say that 1t was not his own personal loss that
excited his rigor. Still, he could overlook
that, but not his sons weakness and crime, as
he termed it, by which it was lost.
After Henrys departure, the old house be-
came quieter than before. All the life had
gone out of it. Deacon H0lbrook himself
was a man of few words, and his taciturnity
had abated his wife's social tendencies. Very
long, very quiet, and very tedious were the
evenings which they spent together. On one
side of the fireplace sat the deacon, gravely
reading through his spectacles the agricultural
paper which came weekly. Opposite him sat
his wife, her fingers actively engaged in knit
ting, her mind intent upon her absent boy.
All was staid, quiet, subdued. There was not
even kitten to enliven the scene. Mrs. Hol-
brook had once ventured to introduce one into
the house, but the deacon speedily ntimated
his dislike of cats, and puss had been ban
ished.
One night Deacon Holbrook brought let
ter for his wife. 1t was such an unusual cir
cumstance for the good woman to receive a
letter, that she took it eagerly, and tore it
open with unwonted haste.
What was it that made her eyes sparkle
with joy? the familiar handwriting had not
deceived her. She knew at once, by the Pc
culiar flourish on the top of the H, that it was
from Henry.
She read it through with grateful Joy. 1t
was from one of the mining districts of Cali
fornia. 1t appears that Henry had worked his
passage, having no money! and leaving the
vessel at San Francisco, had proceeded at
sonce to the mines, where he was now work
ing. He had not been there long enough to
form an idea of what were his chances Of sue
cess. He wished bis mother to write, and
promised to keep her advised of his move
ments. There was only once reference to his
father 1t was this :-"I am afraid father
still retains his bitterness toward me. If this
is the case, do not trouble him with any mes
sages; but if otherwise, you may give my
dutful regards, and say that do not yet des-
pair of making myself good and true man. -
Deacon Holbrook did not look at his wife
while she was reading this letter, though the
handwriting must have told him also who it
was from
Joshua" said his wife, timidly, using the
rarely mentioned christian name of her hus-
band, ''this letter is from Henry"
$50 suppose" said he, coolly.
AS he spoke he took from his pocket the
Weekly Farmer, and adjusting his spectacles,
began to read.
This was hint, and so Mrs Holbrook I'M
derstood it, that he did not care to pursue the
subject further But she could not help ask.
ing, wouldn't you like to read Henry's let
ter, Joshua?"
''You will oblige me by not M sntioninc his
name again." said the deacon, stiffly. ..Ie has
forfeited all claims to be considered a SON"
So days, months, and even years passed II
lacked but a month of five years since Henry
Holbrook left his home. There was a little
ohonoa in fh., nj IF thn Urava