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

which thought of him most constantly. Be-
hind the deacon's. taciturnity there beat a
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 most cruel manner.
One day he entered the house, his face as
pallid as a sheet, his limbs tottering beneath
him, his whole expression that of great and
intolerable anguish.
whats the matter, Deacon Holbrook |?
What's the matter, Joshua?" inquired his
alarmed wife.
Hannah we are paupers-paupers in our
old age" said her husband, bitterly.
"Good gracious what has happened, JOSH
ua? asked the wife, turning pale from SYM
pathy.
Little by little it came out that Deacon Hol-
brook had become bondsman for a bank Off
Ger with whom he was well acquainted, and
in whose integrity he had the utmost conf
dence. But to-day the astounding intelli-
gence had arrived that the officer, after Sc
ries of defalcations, had fled the country
and left the bondsmen to suffer. The amount
for which the deacon had become bound was
sufficient to swallow up the house and farm
ALL in fact, that he possessed.
The farm was not valuable one. 1t COM
prised sixty acres of rough soil, which, by
hard labor, had been made to suffice for the
moderate wants of 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 regard
ed himself as pauper.
''This is, indeed, worse than DEATH, y
thought the deacon, with stern sorrow. ''The
Lord has, indeed, smitten me in my old age"
Little time was given for anticipation before
the blow fell. The Holbrook farm was adver-
tbs ed for sale at auction, to take place in three
weeks. Bills were printed and posted on
fences and stores. Meanwhile Deacon Hol.
brook sank into state of listless apathy. All
day long he would sit in the rocking chair
with his eyes fixed on the opposite wall, say
ing nothing, and apparently paying little at
tention to what was going on about him. His
wife, scarcely less sorrowful than himself,
feared that his reason was undermined
Three weeks passed by, and brought the
sale. Mrs. H0lbrook would have absented
herself; but her husband, exhibiting more life
than of late, insisted on her being present.
So, with many misgivings, she became an I'M
willing witness of the trying scene.
The building commenced at two thousand
dollars. Gradually it went up to twenty nine
hundred, and was about to be knocked off at
that price to Squire Clayton, when the tramp
ling of hoofs was heard; young man with a
handsome face, Drowned by exposure, leaped
from his horse, and inquired eagerly the
amount last bid. On being told, ne at once
exclaimed =
81 bid three thousand dollars"
AT that price it was knocked down to him.
"What name, sir?" inquired the auctioneer.
deacon Joshua Holbrook," was the reply,
i'll loud, clear voice.
There was buzz of surprise, and the ques-
ton, ''Who is hep" passed from one to an
other.
Among the rest, Deacon Holbrook looked
up eagerly, and question was on his lips.
"Father, mother, don't you know your
boy?" asked the young man with emotion.
Deacon Holbrook's eyes lighted up with
joy. Silently he opened his arms. The. re-
Cancellation was complete.
Henry subsequently explained, that, having
been successful in the mines he had wished
to return unexpectedly, when, upon his arriv-
al in New York, he had learned his fathers
misfortune. He had instantly made what
haste he could to his native village and, for
tunately, arrived in time to prevent the sacri-
fee of the farm.
''The Lord hath rebuked my vain pride,
and the hardness of my heart that led me to
turn away an only son, said the deacon, sci.
EMMY. "Henceforth may our hearts be filled
with the love that faieth mott"
And his wife and son reverently said
"Amen!"