The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-03-23

Oh. God thank thcc " And Mrs Kirk.
hams arms werc wound around her son s
neck, with u wild, rapturuus cndcarmcut.
Alic and Mabel knclt by Edward, and
when his mothers head was ON his shoulder,
and soft kisses fell upon his check and lip.
! the weary waudercr vt seventeen years uc.
knowlol-cl with grcatrul heart that God
had richly blessed linn,
81 have gathered wealth, | have brought
home gold mother; it is yours--you are
poor no longer. Sweet sister you shall
never walk in the wrctchcd path of which
you spoke one hour ago
Allie nalc gazcd foudly on her brothers
face rs he spoke. 81 said harsh things to
you ono hour ago. Precious Ned, can You
forgive thcm?'
"Thiuk not oC them. Mother" and Ell.
Ward turned to Mrs. Kirl,ham, forgive my
strange conduct since | came to your house.
| know that my questions seemed cruel.
hut lclt wild ycHining to hear from your
own lus, whether you had forgiven and
loved me. or whether you had cast me oil
forever. Had your heart seemed closed
against me | would have left you, uuliuow-
ing that other than Sylvester Trclan had
crossed your throshhold."
Forgive me. Oh Ned. | have hccu
tcariully punished for my bitter words to
you that dreadful morning my heart has
borne a lead OF misery ever since, my pre-
CiuuE boy"
Mrs. Kirlham's arms were around Ell
ward again and mother ami son felt that
both were forgiven, and the shadows of the
past forever cnaccd. She chidcl herself
Ms ono blind ot heart, for no. recognizing
her; son, but Mabel and Allie declared
there was httlo wonder that she had failcd
! to do So.
Seventeen years hring great changes, and
! in the hrOu2Cd, Muscular man ui thirty-thrCc
/ mono could have traced the fair, slender boy
of sixteen. The dark tingr had rested too
long ON his check to lightly pass away
| but ~ he tossed the rich MASSES OF hair
from his brow aud suffered bright hearth
somc smiles to light UP his countcnaucc
again, Mabel and Allie declared hp was
their handsome Ned once more.
burning with hoyish rage against his
! mother Edward went to Scaa tcw days
after his Hight from the village. For years
he mover wished to return; but as he adj
vanccd in years, wild desire Sprang up
! to revisit his home, and share with his
mother, Allie and Mabel the fortune ho had
| gained. When Edward came to tho village
and ere ho had time 80 inquire for his
| '
As he read, rs trange fancy hit him; il deep
cucd into rs straUgca plan. Reader, this
plan and the sequel thereto, you are already
acquainted with.
"Mabol sweet Mabel Lynn for whom
have you preserved that free heart 81 long?
You were the idol of my hoyish days, you
are the idol OF my proud manhood. Dar
! ling Mabel. will YOU givo me your priceless
! heart ?' To this earnest question of Ed.
wards | am sure Mabel answered" yea"
\ short time after, there was wedding
in the old homestead" and Edward Kirk
ham tool, to hiG truo and noble heart the
fair Mabel Lynn. Allic nllo ever smiles
when she mentions the maine or Sylvester
| Trclan, and her mother declares il to hC
blessed day upon which he crossed hou
threshold. Vhoro was no small cNcjtcmcn
and joy in the village, whcu it was known
that the long lost Ned Kjrkham had come
back and down TO the present time, th,
villagers regard Mrs. hTkhumS 5 Bonde,
with wonder aud interest.