The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-01-08

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had died at sea. He knew that young
Aaron had been sent away that he might
be reclaimed.
After the bank had closed, and as Henry
Seaburn was thinking of going to his din
ner, he received note through the Penny
Post. 1t was from medical friend, and
contained request that he would call at
the hospital on his way home. The hospi-
tai was not much out of bis way, and be
stopped there.
"There is man in the lower wards who
wishes to see you, said the docter. "Does
he know me?" asked Seaburn. "He says
he does"
"What is his nap1e?"
"He won't tell us. He goes by the
name of Smith but am satisfied that such
is not his true name. He is in the last
stage of consumtion and delirium. He has
lucid intervals but they do not last. He
has been here week. He was picked up
in the street and brought here. He heard
your name and said he new you once"
Mr.. Seaburn went to the room where
the patient lay, and looked at him -.urely
he never knew that man: "There must be
some mistake" he said.
The invalid heard him, and opened his
eyes-such bloodshot, sunken, unearthly
looking eyes,.
"Harry," he whispered, trying to lift him
self upon his elbow; lis this Harry Sea-
burny"
"That is my name"
"And you don't know me?"
II am sure do not" And he would
have said he did not wish to, only the man
seemed so utterly miserable that he would
not wound what little feeling he might
have left.
"Have you forgotten your old playmate
in boyhood, Harry-your friend in other
years-your chun in College?" "What"
gasped Seaburn starting back aghast, from
a glimmer of truth burst upon him. "This
is not Alec Lomberg?"
Gall that is left Of him, my Hail." return
ed the poor fellow, putting forth his wasted
skeleton hand, and smiling faint, CULVER
ing, dying smile. Ah-Pater, Peccavi?"
alexander Lomberg?" said Harry, gaz-
ing into the bloated, dis6gured face before
him.
"You wouldn't have known me Hal?"
"Good heavens-no!'
IL know | am altered. All, Hail. sac
transit mundi."
"But Alec" " cried Seaburn, show is this?"
Why are you here?"
"Rum, Hal, rum! I'm abovt done for
But | wanted to see you. They told me
you lived not far away; and [ would look
upon one friend before I died."
"But heard you were practicing in your
profession, Alec, and doing WELL" $50 |
did well when 1 prscticed, Hal, 1 have
made some pleas; but have given up all
that"
"And your father, where is he?"
"Do not mention him, Hail. We've bro
ken. l do not know him; he taught me
and then turned the cold shoulder to me
when drank too much. But I'm going,
Hal-going, going.
Harry Seaburn gazed into that horrible |
face, and remembered what its owner had
been-the son of wealthy parents; the idol
of fond mother; the favorite at school, at
play, at college; light of intellect and ply
slcal beauty; and a noble, generous friend
And now, alas!
"Alec, can I help you?"
"Yes." And the poor fellow started
higher from his pillow, and something of
the old light struggled for moment in
his eye. "Pray for me, Hal, pray for my
soul. Pray that may go where my mother
is. She won'td.sowu her boy. She could
not have done it had she lived. O! she
was good mother, Hal. Thank God, she
did not live to see this! Pray for me-
pray-pray Let me 60 to her!"
And the wasted man sank back-he
fell to weeping, and in moment more one
of his paroxysms came on, and he began to
rave. He thought Henry was his father,
and he cursed him, and cursed the habit
that had been fastened upon him under
that fathers influence. But Henry could
not stop to listen. With an aching heart
he turned away and left the hospital. He
could not 60 home to dinner then; he
walked down town, and got dinner there.
At night he went to the hospital again.
He would inquire after his friend, if he
could not see him.
"Poor fellow" said the physician, he
never came out Of that fit, he died in half
an hour after you went out"
1t was dark when Seaburn reached
home.
"You didn't tell Bridget where to put
those demijohns, Henry" said his wife
She had not noticed his face, for the gas
was burning dimly.
"Ah, l forgot. Come with me, Cora,
and we'll find place for them" His wife
followed him down in the basement, and
one by one he took the demijohns and