The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-06

not be- he faltered, sinking back upon
the chair from which he had risen in the |
excitement of the moment. at cannot be-
"Look at her, said the merchant, 'and
have faith
The old man looked again. Those
melting blue eyes. that sweet and cherry
mouth, those dimpled cheeks, the fair
white brow, and demure chin, every fea-
ture was his childs--his Ediths. Yetitl
was not his child that stood before him.
else she was something more than human:
else she was an apparition that might at
and time vanish into thin air.
"Who are you, darling2' he asked in
broken accents.
81 am Edith Johnson said the child,
with bashful smile.
The old man took her in his arms, and
bowed his face over that fair head. and
sobbed out his emotion.
"I understand it new,' he said speaking
with an effort, tits my child's child-my
Edith's Edith, the woman, the mother,
where is she?'
Already slender female figure was
kneeling at the old mans feet afectionate
lips kissed his hands, affectionate eyes
bathed them with tears.
"Father-fatherl
The kneeler looked up. It seemed
that his lost wife had come out of the past
to embrace him there again.
80, time! o, miracle of lifel Owon-
drous divine law! ever working in the
broad day and in the secresy of the night,
when we sleep, the same pushing forward
the germ into the. plant, from the plant
germs, creating all things new, each hour,
moment, in the day, parent and child for
ever
| Such thoughts whirled and burned in
the old mans brain, as his daughter and
grand daughter lay in his arms, and his
hot tears rained down upon their heads
Glow is it that have never found you,
before, dear fa:her?' asked Mrs. Upton for
she was the merchants wife. Chow /
/ have longed to hear from you-to know
7 if you were still alive. | thought you
!, must have died in some foreign land; but
when my good husband hero came home
this evening and told me of an old man
calling himself Roger johnson, some
thing said to me, deep In my soul, that il
was you. l told him of this scar upon
1 your cheek; he observed it, and no longer
l had any doubt that. you were my father
How I wished ito go With him when he
went back to find you. But he said the
; truth must be disclosed to you carefully
and by degrees, for he thoug ght you i'll and
feeble, so 1 waited patiently for this mo-
ment, when I could safely throw myself
: at your feet and call you father.
: 'sIt is not all dream 1t is all real
9 you are, you are, my childl' said the excl
t ted old man. "God be thanked!'
"Amen!' responded the generous-heart.
i ed merchant, looking on with glistening
:. eyes.
h "Don't weep, father, pleaded Edith
weeping herself all the harder; "your tri
ais are now all over
"You have every wish of your heart
d and all you have to do is to be perfectly
e happy added her husband.
) ayes, yesl' said the old man; "but why,
# patting his grand childs neck with tende
> playfulness, "why did you tell me you
If name was Edith Johnson2'
"That is my name,' replied the youns
Il girl-"Edith johnson Upton. And i
: you are my grandfather, | am so glad!
?, shall love you so muchl'
It 4 shall be afraid to 60 to sleep to night,
e mused the old man, "for fear that when
v awake shall find myself in Mrs. Stone
d attic, and this will be dream that has
e passed. But if it isn't dream, there il
d Que thing more that Unnecessary to givt
Il me perfect peace of mind
}, ''I thought as much laughed Mr.. Up
n ton; sspeak it out
NDoor Mry opd hor obiIJrap--
a something should be done for them. Pro
Y tect her from her brutal husband and pro
V cure the eldest son situation where hi
). time and talents will bring comfort to tha
re poor family.
i "That shall be done,if there's any vir
5. tue in money said Mr.. Upton. is ther
d anything else?'
d ''Nothing-only let me know your his
: tory, my Edith
III 'sYou shall lie down, father, and vii
n talk to you about myself until you fal
is asleep Don't be afraid, said the youn
IF woman tenderly. s'I will take care tha
N you don't wake in Mrs. Stones attic
/. So the old man was conducted to com
i; forta BILE chamber, and, when he wa
,r peacefully ensconsed in the soft sheets G
N the couch, his daughter came to him, an
II sat by his side, soothing him with gentl
ID speech, until all his happiness dissolved
and entered, fantasticalfy mixed and in
i terfused into the fancies of dream.
r. Late the following morning she wen
is herself to waken him.. How soundly h
slept. His thin hands were crossed upo
r: his breast. There was a smile on his wa
l lips: but not motion, not even breath
a Edith touched his brow; it was cold. Sh
ID felt his lips; they were rigid and chilly
She did not shrek or sob, or shed a teal
E. but with feeling of a feeling Of awe,sb
IN turned her eyes upward, and with claspe
hands, murmured:
ID 30 God, thy will be donel"
a No more earthly sorrow could the oil
ct man know. A happy door had bee
II opened to him in his last mortal hours
and through it his spirit had passed int
It. the blessed country where alone perfec
is happiness and peace await Us.
r. Postmaster General Dennison has CON
of pleted his report, and it is now ready fc
u