The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-08-02
TIE ADVERTISEMENT.

g. B" THE ADVERTISEMENT. Y.,. >,
: "Dear John, do write, come, or let me
know your address, or meet me. have
much 10 tell you. Our boy Is gone. ! can't
70 home without seeing or hearing FROM
you, / am broken.hearted. Me-"
! cut these words in the form Of an ad-
verisemen', from my daily paper, and Pu,
the slip in. my vest pocket I can't tell
why did SO; the piteous appeal greatly
affected me-my name was John. But if,
as supposed, Il was some poor. wretched
wife who thus pleaded, It could not by sny
possibility be for me for though ] had one
boy-he was twenty six years old-my
good Snsan and had been welded twice
as many years, so tried to dismiss the
matter altogether, but some way 1t would
keep recurring. o..t'.....
'lresumed my meal, somewhat uneasily,
after had folded my morning paper. !
was no, sitting in my own cory breakfast
room, but in a little country inn, whittier
business had called me, and after satisfying
my appetite, ] though, less Of the circum-
stance that had made me almost miser.
able.
lam afraid did not ofien feel for the
sufIsrings Of Others. My life had been pass
ed, In an even manner. There had been In
my history neither ups nor downs, to speak
Of My circumstances had always been
easy, my wife cheerful and thrifty, my chill
dren lin my eyes) paugons Of beauty and
affection.
Particularly did boast, if ever boasted
-of my son Horace, William Horace his
name was, but we always called him Hor-
ace. He had never cnused me days
trouble. Always obedent given some.
what TO reserve-a trife secretive-he had
grown up handsome and trustworthy. I
never thought il possible for him to devate
from the truth; would have trusted him
with uncounted gold.
] almost worshippcd him, and often In
my heart accused my excellent wife Of cold
ness, because she did not prnise him as
much rs thought he deserved.
But Susan's judgment was better than
mine. 1, always turned out 10 be, in the
long run and many's the time I have
wished had trusted her in matters ofblisi.
ness, that went wrong as sure as acted
against her judgment.
About the brcakias, it was very good,
only dreadfdlly lonely. As soon as de-
spa,chcd it took the newspaper again, and
again that paragraph began to haunt me,
until letter was brought in. 1t was in
Susau's we'll known handwriting. In n
twinkling had the missive open. In five
minutes | was transported back, miles and
miles, and sat in that dear old parlor. !
srnelt the honeysuckles and the geraniums,
and l saw the fuchias all glowing and scar
let, and heard the soft pntter Of rain that
she told me about, against the window, and
felt old Toms black, almost sllapeless body
rubbing ugninst my knee lin fact | was
at home. One item in her letter surprised
me little. I, was this:
"You will, perhaps be as,onished that ]
have a companion-a pale, pretty little wo-
man. about twenty.tflree years old. Ms.
Mo-, rison told me about her. It would a
real uct Of charity to offer the poor creature
home, she said, when she came over for
one of her long talks Then she gave me
u hit ot her history. Tho girl was married
two years ago, and for a year past has been
deserted by her husband. She lost her
little child, and on the eve Of returning
home, heard that her mother had died sud.
denly Of malignant fever. She has very
lit,le property, not enough to keep her, and
Is in delicate health. You know how much
miss Molly" Chats my youngest daugh.
ter,) .'sinco she married. and sorne way !
felt my old heart warm In this desolate girl.
So said she might como. She came, and
lam glad oft. She's not very pretty
but there's sweet expression In her faee
thu, quite enchanis me. Her voice Is mu.
steal, and as listen to her, lhalf fancy
have Molly back again. hope you will
approve Of what have DONE" (God bless
her, when did she ever do any thing did
no, approve) "for an confident that, In
giving home to ber, I have taken an IN.
gel 10 our hearth.stone, anawarea Horace
is sill awsy, shootns-s his vacation not
over long 1'rI .r..I '.t- ..'.sr a1-'u
There. that's what surprised mo little.
and was also somewhat annoyed at the
long stay Of my boy. for he was 10 have
boon ut homo week before Bot thoughs
young men will Be young men, and Honcs
bad 70 few faults that must overlook his
pruracied visit. Tie has doubtless found
new friends from whom Il Is hard to tear
himself away. r''r .sT'af .f,.'a ?
Well, business was dispatched In q fsw
days, and OH my way homo. ! don't
think there was ever happier heart than
mine, when saw the first giimpse Of my
own hotss. Il wss always 50. Daily die
same joy WIS repeatsd-for my freside was
happy one. found my old wife a
blooming and radiant - ever, for ago could
not s,alo her chaTfnA Ia. my eyes; and ]
saw and approved OF her companion. Poor
girl IL shs did not look downright mslau-