The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-08

ears ana ringers, he added, blowing upon the
latter as he spoke.
Here is something for you, mother" re said,
seating himself stool at her feet, and tossing
INTO her lap shining piece OF gold.
W ny, Arthur, where did you get this =
The strange gentleman down at the tavern
gave 1t to me, mother. He asked me into his
room. and gave ire many nuts and raisins as
could eat, besides"
II wonder who ne is 2" she said musingly.
Il can tell you,' exclaimed her husband, his
eyes flashing angrily. al He is the owner ef Red
Stone Farmhouse. He is the man who bid
against me on the few articles l wanted TO re-
serve The curse of the homeless rest upon
him ~
Nay, john" interposed his wife, gently
perhaps he did not know how highly you priced
them" W "
YES he did Parson Brown stepped up and
told him. but he only smiled, and said he wanted
to buy everything just as If stood"
We'll" said tho boy gazing thoughtfully into
the fire. 81 can't hop plying him, he looked
so sorrowful. lie asked me great many ques-
and kept walking up and down the room, wiring
ing his hands and groaning il he was in great
trap bic"
ewill buy You new coat with this, Ar
6 said Mrs. Williams, as she examined anew
a. gold coin. "Y ou need ,ne badly enough,
y added glancing with sigh at his well
patched roundabout.
:" You shall do nothing Of the sort, mother
said the generous hearted boy. You shall buy
yourself and Sissy nice warm shawl"
Before Mrs. Williams could reply there was a
quiet inss at tho door. Farmer Williams
opens, 1t vas only boy who brought a
small for Mrs Williams. =.
"Aroy pr New Years gift, ] suppose" he said
bitterly, A he handed ii to her. for he was in a
bitter mood. Mrs. Williams glanced reproach.
fully at her husband.
"God grant that it may bring US much com.
fort" she said, laying her hand fondly upon the
head that was resting against her knee.
As she opened it she uttered an exclamation
OF surprise. 1t was deed of Red Stone Farm
house, and made out in her name On the inside
wrapper were these words
"Inasmuch &. We did it unto the least of these,
we did il unto Ne"
There were grateful and happy hearts beneath
the roof OF the old homestead that night, though
with Mrs. Williams Joy there was mingled an
uneasy feeling. She was we'll assured that il
was in some way connected with Arthur, and
tremblcd with apprehension lest some one should
appear wko had stronger claims to him.
This fear was dissipated the next morning, by a
letter that came to her in the first mail. 1t con.
tanned check tor five thousand dollars, together
4" The boy that you generously received ten
years ago, and have 30 tenderly cherished since
will never be taken from you. The mother
forced TO relinquish the babe. dearer TO her than
life, is now in Heaven. The father who SO base
| ly forsook his child is unworthy of so sacred a
| trust. In S. Bank you viii find the sum OF
twenty thousand dollars deposited in the namC
of your adopted son, OF which he is to come into
/ possession when he is legally OF age, and the III
terest of which is to be appropriated TO his sup
port and education during his minority.
| To this singular letter there was neither date
nor signature. There were various con- lectures
| in regard to the stranger. who had been i'll thu
village for some days and from whom it was ev
idcnt this letter came, we'll as the package re
ceived the night before.
Bat when Arthur recalled 70 his mind TIL
| look of sad. remorseful tenderness with which h
| had regarded him, he felt tina, it must have boel
his father. Yet he often said, rs he looked int
the face of his adopted mother, that he wante,
no dearer friends than those he already had
And as for Mrs. Williams, among all the bless
! ings that surrounded her, there not one tina
brought her purer JOY than he whom she hat
taken to her heart when triendless babe, he
New Years gift.