The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-11-11


1t was bitter cold night in Decor
Der, and they were seated around Z
kitchen fire. 1t was to be their Ia
: night at home, for the next day won
t be the sale, and then they would
homeless. Father Morton sat with
his head buried in his hands. At tim
he would raise it up and gaze on SON
cherished article, as if to take a la
farewell, and then bowing again wou
sob aloud.
"Come, come, father, don't be dow
hearted. Cheer Up, cheer up, ! Al
young yet, and if live and bard wor
will do it, you shall come hack to th
old place yet"
"I cannot hope for it, George. {
will require years of successful hb'r
and am old and cannot last long.
had hoped to die in the house, but / IN
afraid it cannot be, Sixty years have
I passed here, boy and man, and it is
hard to leave now"
They were interrupted by knockat
the door and upon opening it there 0-
tered a young man very shabbily dris-
sed. For a moment he stood survg.
ing the group with tears In his ey,s,
then reached forth his hand, exclain-
ing: .., ''. p!
"George, do you not recognize me?"
nFather, it is john" exclaimed
George, joyfully seizing his hand, and
leading him towards his father.
The old man arose, and turning to
wards him, exclaimed
"John, my soul !" at the same time
stretching forth his. aIms-then sud
denly drawing himself to his full height,
he said, "John, for thirteen years you
have been strange to me during that
time we have known neither where you
were nor what you were doing can
you give me the hand Of an honsst
man ?'
"I can, sir !" replied John, proudly,
and the next moment he was folded in
his fathers arms.
Next followed inquiries from John
as to how things had gone in his ab-
sence and the son learned the whole
story.
"As for you," said George, "I do
not need to ask how the world has gone
with you-that coat speaks for itself.
But never mind have some better
clothes up stairs, and you are welcome
to take your pick. But what. have you
been doing, Jack, trying to get living
by books Z" ~.r 90 ',.a - :
"Yes," replied John, "I have lived
entirely By books Z,
rand poor living you have had
I'll be bound" said the old man sI
never know book-worm yet who ever
turned out much"
"But it seems we shall be equals to-
morrow, father" said John, pleasantly.
"That's very truc," answered his
father, rather testify. "But had you
stuck TO the farm with George, this
would have not been"
"Never mind, father" said John,
'tgo 10 bed now, and George and 1 will
try and make some provision for the
future" ...-. ..
After the old man had left them,
John said that he was rather fatigued
and believed that he would retire also.
But, said George, you have not in
quired as to our future prospects. Do
you not Wish 10 know
"No, said John, rather shortly, not
to night; don't feel interested"
And taking his light, with yawn,
left the room.
George felt hurt. CATER all, tho't
ho, he changed. He don't seem 20
care what becomes of us. Never mind
poor follow, no doubt he has seen
hard tines, until they have hardened
even his Aeart."
The next morning found John Nor
ton, engaged in a noisy romp with the
whole of his brothers children. .-In-
deed, SO far did he carry it, that he re-
ceiged 3 cutting rebuke from his father,
for his heartlessness. -1iFfa -.
"I can't help it father, he replied,
everything reminds so much Of child.
hood, that 1 cannot realize that I am q
man."
"At twclve o'clock the auctoneer
appeared. in company with those who
were disposed to bid for the place
Immediately upon their arrival, John
took the auctionecr aside and conversed
with him earnestly for few moments.
Soon after the auctioneer mounted up
on the steps and said --
"GentlemeD, 1 have been requested
by the celebrated author, Morton j.
Hall, of Boston, to bid upon this place
for him as high as thirty, five hundred
dollars. If any of you feel disposed to
bid higher than that we will proceed,
otherwise, there is no need''
And as no one seemed disposed to
make any advance upon that bid, the
place was declared sold. and soon the
family was again left alone.
"Well," said the old man at dinner,
"the worst is over; and L shouldn't
wonder if we could hire the place from
this Mr.. Hall, who seems to be city
man."
ayes, said John, 81 knoW you can
he don't care anything about farming
1 know him WE'LL" 10
rDon't say any more !" cried George,
jumping up and seizing both his broth
er's hands, "that one expression betrays
you-"he don't Ike farming. .nd John,
you John, you are this Morton j HALL
1 half suspected it this morning, for you
didn't act the part very WE'LL"
The old man cried for joy. 81 see
now, john" said he, 81 did not un-
derstand you as boy ia Thought;
books would be your ruin but instead
they have saved me from want" ~ aim
worth to-day, ten thousand dollars, all
earned by my pen while had l stayed
on the farm. / should have been as
pOor-poorer than L found you; for
vo1r onI o. aro mod cort1,oFss Ia