The Shasta courier., 1867-06-08

note from her, blotted with tears. but saw
ing that father would not let her correspond
with boy who had disobeyed his parents
and ending with: but | NAV love YOU all
the same, Charlie and you will soon come
back great and noble man. How very
happy we shall be then ! Farewell dear,
shall pray for you nightly. Don't stay
long"
And SO the last link that bound him to
home was severed What wonder if the
boys heart grew cold and bitter What
wonder if the cares of this world sprang up
and choked the good seed Only choked it
for mothers tears and prayers must bring
forth fruit. He prospered, and riches came
to him. For him their wings seemed clipped.
His hand was open to the poor. His heart
only seemed closed.
Many years ago, he put Susie's one letter
and the shining curl which he had severed
from Ciarence's baby head at the moss
grown trough, away together; as time pass
ed he required less often to them-remem-
bered them more as sweet vision than a
reality-until upon this evening. When the
little strange children brought up to his
memory the buried past, reproved him for
his long delay, and urged his return to his
father.
Sunset in the country Above the whis-
pering trees, clouds of royal splendor are
lavishly piled, and clear Summer evening
is reluctantly approaching -softening and
melting the brighter tints Of the dying day.
Without the soft, sweet hum of insect life,
the sleepy chirping of the birds, the musical
tinkle Of the bells as strayng cattle turn
homewards, the goodnight growing of the
barn yard fowls, and the thousand happy
notes of the gay, hoarse katydids and grass
hoppers; within, the low whispered tones
and soft steps, the silence and solemnity that
tells the presence of death.
A tender mother lies back upon her pillow,
and watches the sunset as it hushes the
Western sky. An old man with light, thin
hair, and lines of care upon his face, holds
one thin hand in both of his, caressng it
gently from time to time. A pale, sweet
faced woman, with on inexplicable sadness
upon her face, moves softly about One son
bends tenderly above his mother; one only
son, of all her children, who were wont to
play about her feet, and share equally her
caresses-this one only is now near her to
receive her last farewell. ''Run to the gate,
Susie" she says family, to the sweet faced
girl g You may see him coming"
The girl obeyed; but made answer sooth-
lhSiy. W. yet, inoLuer ne IL De mere
after a while" 81 know it." said the
mother. HELL never let his mother die
without coming. He was always loving
tender boy. There, Susie, l heard his step
upon the porch" mo, mother, it was but
the branch of the tree against the house."
. Perhaps" said she wearily, he will be
here soon, for am going very fast. Lemuel,
father, you must be kind to him for my sake,
ba bar 7
Der to love him. You know, father that
we might have been more gentle with the
ladn
The old man groaned aloud. 'Henry,
my dear soul !" and the mothers voice
cadenced the words tenderly. :" You have
been my JOY and pride all your life. Be
heard Charities step upon the gravel
Just in time just in time. Henry, open
the door for our lost one, who has come
back" Have the dying quickened senses :?
As they near death, when the veil of the
mortal is rent in twain, are not their per-
ceptions brighter and keener than of old ?
think so.
No ear save the waiting mothers heard
that step; and yet, when Henry opened the
door, man, tall and bearded, came in. He
walked directly to his.mother's bedside, and
kneeling, cast his arms about her. my
mother o my mother forgive your son !"
My SON my son ! my darling son ''
Silently Susie stole from the room. Her
heart was full. He had come. lie had re-
membered them at last, and row she had
no impatience for the greeting. That, she
felt was his dying mothers.
. How brave you are grown, and how
hand ONE, my Charlie" said his mother,
fondly holding him from her. Father,
have you no word to welcome your son
Father !" and Charles voice trembled -
" Will you forgive me?D Forgive you
0 my boy, my boy, forgive your old father
As we draw nearer to death, we see things
clearer, my son. / have mourned my harsh
ness since-since-" And the old man
cboked, . since we laid our pretty Kate
away"
Brother Henry and Charlie drew their
old boyishway. You and George and lit
tie Clarence and | will have the old times
again. Where are they? And what did
father say of little Kate? Come here.
Charlie p Fainter and fainter grew the
mothers voice. Come here, and | will
tell you. Nerve your heart, my son I.
ocoISc, anu llttle OidTeuct anu hulc VIII ali
meet me in heaven. 1t was not many
months after you left that little Clarence
fell sick and oh, Charlie, the curl you took
that Summer evening is all that is left OF
our pretty baby. Then Kate, our eve
lamb. went next-three years ago. She left
her love for you, and some gifts. George fell
in the battle of the Wilderness, ready to die /;
and now, my darling, you and Henry are all
that we have left. And Susie-father,
where is Susie? call her. Oh, | am so
happy !"
A single quick drawn sigh-a loosening
of the hand that lay in father's-a bright
ening of the smile that fell upon her two
boys, and the mother had gone to JOIN her
dear ones in the better land. Weeks passed
before the sunshine seemed bright again tor
Charlie. Poor. repentant, mourning man
The graves of little Clarence and Kate up
braided him. The memory of Oeorge,
asleep on the battlefield, and the grIef-Worh
face of his old father, reproached him..
The dear mother. laid away, had soitenea !
that reproach with her dying smile ana
yet g had he staid," and Charlie shudaerea
- might not that dear mother have ilVeu
longer ~ These thoughts made Charhe
gentle and tender to the childish old man
whe clung to him with reawakened love. ana
very grateful to Henry, now a thriving