The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-08-17
THE SECRET oDELlVERNACE.
TIlg reading of n couplesof article

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47 TIIR reading Of coupleof articles
THE Unspollcn Warning" and an ac
count or child falling into deep wei
lin the Advocate OF June 22d, brough
wildly TO my milid an incident that oc
cured i'm connection with my only son
1t took place five years ago. | lived il
Hanien, on the Marietta and Cincinnati
Railroad, at that time. Ny son was be
tween five and six yearso old As he was
Intelligent, thoughtfil, and sedate muct
beyond his years, he was often sent to
the store for various articles needed il
the family. His conduct was always
distinguished for promptness and integ
rity On going on an errand he seldom
walked, but mostly ran with n quick
vigorous pace. His nervous system was
delicate, of high tension, and easily i'm
pressed. He could loiter at nothing, bu,
on whatever he engaged he concentrated
all his energies; consequently lie would
go to and return from the store in a few
minutes. He invariably adhered to the
directions given him, and scrupuiously
acted in harmony with orr desires. He
was one of the most obedient, amiable,
and reiig usly- disposed boys that | ever
knew. For this have thanked the Lord
again, again, and again. We never fear
cd that he would play truant or conceal
his conduct by a falsehood. Whatever
Alpha-my son-was requested to do, he
did It, If within the range Of his abili-
ties and whatever he stated rs true, we
knew to he true.
On the morning of which am writing,
/ sent Alpha to the store for a few nails.
] was engaged in constructing that in
which he took more than ordinary inter
est. ! knew that, consequently, his er-
rand TO the store would he more than
ordinarily quick He started Off on n
kind of ..double quick, his usual gait,
and | felt absolutely certain that within
ten minutes he would place the nails in
my hands. / waited his return with
tranquility. Ten minutes sped by,
but he bad not returned. nor did | see
him on the street that stretched out un-
der my eye nearly to the store. In the
twinkling of an eye-coming with the
force and suddenness of an electric
shock-I felt a clear and profound con
yiction that some grave misfortune had
befallen my son. How it occurred. or
what twas, could not even conjecture,
as there was nothing of which l could
think as likely to infict injury upon him,
or from which he was in any danger
While I stood in the door Watching for
his appearance around the corner OF the
square, nay conviction, presentiment, or
consciousness that my son was in great
peril deepened with every recurring mo
ment. | grew greatly concerned. My
anxiety became torturing, and in few
moments | was i'll an agony of suspense
My fast beating heart felt as if being
torn from its attachments by n great
lie tden ball. The cause of my emo
tions was more than human. '!Addier'
cried ! to my wife, in tones and with q
manner that alarmed her, .Addie, some
misfortune has befallen Alpha; l must
seek him" l sprang into the street,
and almost flew to the store. Alpha had
been there, got his nails, and without
tarrying moment, started homeward. /
Almost frenzied by the increasing /
strength and viyidness Of the imprcssi@D
that my son was in imminent danger
by this time | almost knew that dread /
tul accident had occurred--I rushed into I
the street, alarming my friends by my |
strange and altered appearance. l met |
a lady who had seen him on the street /
apparently on his way home But"
said she. ''he may have turned back and /
gone with the children to the school /
house
mo" said l, in q choking voice, 1
THAT cannot he. l never knew him to .
disobey his instructions. He could not 4
have done so tlis morning. But, /
II will 30 and see
The school house was nearly if not nj I
together half mile from the parsonage,
and nearly quarter from whore | then
was. / hurried to the school room
ile tcoS not there None had seen him.
could hear nothing Of him.
vt least half an hour had elapsed, and
vet no tiiings of my boy. | started
home with the same clear. torturiag con
siction---l conviction that almost arrest
c the pNlsitions of my beart-that he
was greatly injured, or perhaps dead -
liei pcrhQps with no one near him, and
from the W.T. of that filters la9d to
Md him who would have risk i his life
to save him. ! felt as ii the suspense
and anxiety from which WIS suffering
would break my heart, | colld hardly
walk, was quite unnamed The pre-
sentiment of impending or oansummated .
evil assumed an awful distinctaess. and 1
put on the most horrid shapes. With .
tottering steps went homeward. felt +
that unless relief soon come in some
way should die He was my only boy +
/ loved him. q so tenderlv. arde tlv
Though / knew nothing of the accident
that befcil my son. or that really there
was any accident at all vet was as GER
tain Of the fact, and of its serious ma
ture ~ if | had already seen him. To
have stood by the side Of the manglel
body OF my dear boy, would not have
been more crushing than what / then
endured That which rendered the
whole more intense Was. all the while
was conscious that. whatever were the
perils surrounding my lamb. I could not i
all him. | could not get \ trace of him +
iwTgined That Heard lin II his an
guish calling upoafncld a NY reason grew
dark and sluggish.
You must come home quick, sir /
Alpha was brought home with his eyes
crushed out" shreiked . lad in wild ex- +
cited tones. | groaned aloud There I