Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-12-22

heart was strangely stirred.
"But. indeed, mother, he looked so
much like fathers portrait--you cant
think how exact it was like! only be was
more portly. and not as fair. But be
had the same color in his check"
Helen Rcmington's heart beat faster-
but It was not because Of hopes or fears.
No-the never-to-be.f forgotten scene Of
that last night came up 20 wildly before
her. that . low cry Of anguish escaped
her lips. and she hurried from the room.
The next day Ella came home with :
new story. The stranger, Who was SO
like her father, had visited the school.
and conversed with the teacher, who. at
his request, had sent home small sealed
note BY her. Ella was very pale, and
trembled as her mother opened the mystic
paper. No sooner had Mrs. Remington
glanced OF the handwriting than oil Der.
sciousness left her. and she fell back in .
tainting fit. Ella. frightened, and not
Knowing what course to pursue. ran to
the nearest neighbor, and in short time
her mothers room was filled with symps.
thizing though inconsideratc friends.
'The paper, child, the note" we're the
irst words che mother uttered. when she
came to consciousness. "Blcssed note
he 10 not dead. then. did aot kill him,
am not murderer. See-here is his
own hand writing7"
"MY DEAR WlFE-I am no LONGER a
drunkard-will you receive me back to
your love, now that have conquered
myself? Most humbly do / ask this
boon. conscious that do not deserve it.
but l promise that, in time to como, I
will DO q faithful, loving. temperate hus.
band to you. God helping me,''
At that moment tho door-bell rang
Ella ran into the room where her pa!e
mother sat, There were tears on her
checks as she cried,
"Mothcr-h he has cowc-my father.
whom we all thought dead-he wants 10
see you."
Leaning on the arm Of her daughter.
the repent"nt long suffering wife tottered
down the stairs he heard the step
sprans impaticntly forth---and wife aud
daughter were claspcd to his bosom.
"llave you forgiven me 2" was tha
sobbing question. l sent you from me
with cruel words!n Christian should ut.
ter. q! my husband that this has re.
suited In mercy, is of Gods most loving
kindness alone. l have died a thousand
deaths since l thought we buried YOU
after the waves had given yoa up. Can
you. ever forget my cruel, unchristian
words?"
"Frecly. dear Helen. and only wonder
how 1t was possible you bore with me 60
long. Most freely, since it has led to INV
reformation. God be praised-l am =
slave no longer. You need never fear
that l shall fall again into that accursed
s'n-tor l have, as trust, placed m myself
under powerful Protector-eycn under
the care and guardianship of our Lord
Jesus Christ"
"Put where have you been all this
time. ather7" asked Ella. her gentle
eyes shining with happiness
In foreign land. In the first heat Of
resentment, l walked to the city. l did
not reach 1t till near morning, and there
Rnd'ng an old sea captain, friend Of
mine, ready to sail to China. l recklessly
took passage with him, as he had often
importuned me to do. Once out upon tho
great ocean, leaving home as l thought
forever, reason came to me. l began to
reflect upon my past life. and l could see
nothing but crime against society, nv
wife and family, aud my COD. There I
made resolve, that with help from ON
high. would become the man you once
thought me, Hecu-that | would never
return till | had conquered myself
Many dangers awaited nue., but l passel
through them all. l went to the golden
country, and while there alone. wrctcbed.
sick, and miserable, l found tho great
gilt that has made me what | amethe
gift Of redemption through our Saviour
NOW will make home happy. Here
WILL l erect an alter Of praise and thanks.
giving to Him who has so wonderfully
ls2t and returned me to you."
The whole village was in an uproar A
the news spread. Countless coujectures
arose as to whose vas the body they had
found. but the identity was never es.
tab'ished. Henry Remington was vel.
coined as one FROM the dead.
SO flowers blossomed once acai. aloro
the path OF her who had been that moss
unfortunate OF oil beings drunks,d IA
wiie.- Watchman and Reflector,