Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-21

parents TO my own house, and treat them as
such people oughtto be treated Edith was
our third child, and all the dearer because
she cane late TO gil the places Of 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,
d failure Of large firm, in which my for
tune and my reputation were staked, swept
away. every thing had earned and left me .
pennlless. In the midst Of my trouble my
poor wife died, and necessity compelled me
to commit Edith TO the care of her grand !
parents. D, the sorrow Of that timel" said
the old man, weeping again. ITO forget it,
and retrieve my fallen fortune, / made a
voyage to the East Indies. 1t would take
all night to tell what chances befel me, on
sea and land. Let all that pass. 1t is
enough to say that after an absence Of twen-
ty years | returned with broken health,
and poor as when | went abroad Then
commenced search for my child; but her
grandparents had been dead for many year,
she had been thrown upon the world /
could find no one to tell me what had be.
come OF her; no one had remembered her
ever"
And is it so necessary to your happi.
ness that You should find her?' asked Mr.
Upton. Consider how changed she is BY
this time, if inded she still lives"
Il have thought Of that, sighed Roger;
''but, o., she was the sweetest girl L. |
could find her as left her, still a child, then
my cup Of happiness would be full. "
The merchant arose, smiling, noble
browed, and radient with the inspiration
that filled him.
Have faith he cried, "have faith, and
miracles may yet be performed. L have
power to do good beyond anything yet con
ceived. Speak the word and it shall be
done. Shall restore your chld?''
He looked and spoke like prophet The
old man was thrilled and awed His lips
moved with a feeble murmur; and on the
instant open flew the door at the merchant :
touch, and in the full food Of light from the
astral lamp, stepped the graceful form OF
a young girl, fresh, and beautiful, and glad,
with bright curls ripping over her head
and neck.
/ "My own chld-my own Edth!'s cried
| the wonde-struck old man. ''Butit cannot
| be-" he ialtered, sinking back upon the
chair from which he had risen in the excite
ment of the moment. 1T cannot be"
Look at her," said the merchant, land
have faith"
The old man looked again Those melt
ing blue eyes, that sweet aud cherry mouth,
those dimpled cheeks, the fair white brow
and demure chin, every feature was his
child s-his Edith S. Yet it was not his
child that stood before him, else she was
an apparition that might at any time vanish
into thin air.
VINO are you, darling?" he asked in bro,
ken accents.
81 am Edith Johnson" said the child,
with bashtul smile.
The old man took her in his arms, and
bowed his face over that fair head, and sob
bed out his emotion.
Il understand it now," he said spcakin!
with AN effort, ''tis my child $ chid-m.
; Ediths Edith the woman, the mother
where is she?'
Already a slender female figure was kneel
/ ing at the old mans feet; affectionate lip!
kissed his hands, affectionate eyes bathec
them with tears.
"Father-futher.
The kneecr looked up. 1t seemed thai
r his lost wife had come out of the past to
, embrace him there again.
80, tinie o, miracle of life D won
drous divine law ever working in the broat
day, and in the secresy of the night whel
t sleep, the same pushing forward the germ
into the plant, from the plant producing
flower and fruit, evoking new germs, Great
t ing all things new each hour, moment, il
c the day, parent and child forever
Such thoughts whirled and burned il
the old mans brain, as his daughter an'
s grand daughter lay in his arms, and his no
tears rained down upon their heads.
4 How is it that have never found yo'
e before. dear father?'' asked Mrs. Upton
a for she was the merchants wife. "How
have longed to hear from you-to know tha
St,n ,l,va I thnuubt mr.
have died in some foreign land but whe
l my good husband came home this evenin
if and told me of an old man calling himsel
g Roger johnson, something said to me, dee
II in my soul, that it was you. told him c
this scar upon your check; he observed il
and no longer had any doubt that you wei
| my father How wished to go with hil
le when he went back to find you. But h
said the truth must be disclosed to you car
10 fully and by degrees, for he thought you
and feeble, so | waited patiently for tn
,c moment, when | could safely throw myse
Of at your feet and call you father.
ut SIS it not all dream! Is it all real
you are, you are, my chid.' said the excit
Sc old man. "God be thanked"
Amen responded the generous hea
| ed merchant, looking on with glisteni
sc eyes.
so Don't weep father" pleaded Edit
as weeping herself all the harder; your tri'
are now over.
id "You have every wish of your heart al
of all you have to do is to be perfectly happy
he added her husband.
ct "Yes, yes!' said the old man, ''but why,
e, patting his grand childs neck with tend
as playfulness, "why did you tell me tn
your name was Edith Johnson
er That is my name" replied the girl
edith johnson Upton. And if you a
)" my grandfather, | am so glad! shall 10y
y yu so much,
1u Il shall be afraid to go to sleep might
ny mused the old nan, for fear that when
ny awake | shall find myself in Mrs. Stone
llf attic, and this will be dream that h
he passed. But if it isn't a dream, there
one thing more that is necessary to give Il
id perfect peace of mind. "
IL thought as much, " laughed Mr.. L
ch ton; speak it out.
ny Poor Mrs. Stone and her children
something should be done for them Pr
tect her from her brutal husband and pr
ng cure the oldest son situation where ]
time and talents will bring comfort to tn
poor family"
ke That shall be done, if there's any V
ou tue in money" said Mr. Upton. us the
m anything else?'
lat "Nothing-only let me know your histo
,o 49,, El;,b -