The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-01-11

Gun nave cnance TO Stuuy us 1nucn as y
please" u fia"I -ea ta r..Atls Il
'Oh, nonsense, Jack" said George -"you
will soon get over it, AS for my part, l can't
Esee what you find SO interesting in books I'd
rather 80 into the corn-Gcld and work tho
hottest day III SanMcr thaH to have to gct one one
lessonfoof ahyokihdnis oa- i4rs .I':ic~ arot na
II "I know tthat,i isaid John; "it,s your nature,
but I can't do the farm work, it isn't in me. /
was never meant for it, and therefore, to-mor-
row morning I'm going, come what may"
George tried to change his mind for some
time, but finding him determined, helped him
to get ready to tho best Of his ability forcing
him to ncocpt all his spare pocket money, tell
ing him that he. could rc:ay it, when he got
rich.
"But, one thing, Jack" said he, "whatcvcr
you do, be an hottest man You'll make a
smarter man than ever I shall, am sure of
that. And romcmber, L expect to be here as
long as I live So. if at any ti,nc tho world
goes hard with you, dont forget home"
The next morning ut breakfast, John was
missed. An examination of his room showed
that he had taken his little bundle of clothes,
and gave evidence to his father that he had
gone for good. i.
"Ne:ermind !" said he, "hc'll soon be back. ("
*
Thirteen years have passed since John Nor
ton left the old homestead and contrary to his
fathers prediction, he had not comc back.
| In the meantime, things had not gone on
smoothly at the farm. ]'armcr Morton had
givon up the whole charge Of the farm to
George, who had married a girl in the neigh
borhood, and was now the father of five chill
dren. Years before, in n ease of. emergency,
Farmer Morton had mortgagcd the farm to
| small amount and ever since the marriage OF
George, in spite of al his excrtions, the mort
gage had been gaining ground, until now the
place must be sold as he could not meet the
terms Of cgreemont.
| This was a terrible blow to George and the
old man, but there was help for it; their
| friends and ncighbors were no better off than
themselves, and therefore could not help thcn
had they been ever much inclined,
It WIS bitter cold night in December, and
they were seated around the kitchen fire. 1t
WAS to be their last night at home, for the
next day would be the sale, and then they
would be houselcss. Farmer Morton sat with
his head buried in his hands. At times he
would raise it up and gaze upon some cherished
| article, rs if to- take 4 last farewell, and then
bowins it again, would sob aloud.
| "Comc, come, father," said George, ':don t
bc SO down hearted. Cheer up, cheer up. l
am young yet; and if | live, and hard work
will do it, you shall come back to the old place
yet"
~ cannot hope for it, George" returned the
old man. "lt will require years of successful
labor and | am old aud cannot last long.
had hoped to die in the old house, but am
afraid it cannot be. Sixty years have passed
here, boy and man, and it is hard to leave
now-"' i'f
| They were interrupted by knock ut the
door, and upon opening it, there entered "a
young man very stability dressed; For mo-
mcnt he stood surveying the group, with tears
| in his eyes, and then reached forth his hand
Ee$cIaiihluS:
George, do you not recognize me p"
Gather, it is John," exclaimed George, ioy-
fully seizing his hand and leading him towards
his father. ut
The old man arose, ,and turning towards him,
exclaimed:
"John, my SON." at the same time stretch
ing forth his arnls-thcn suddenly drawing
himself up to his full hcight, lie said ''J ohm,
for thirtocn years you have been stronger to
nc; during that time we have known neither
where you were, nor what you were doing; can
you give nc the hand Of an honest man 7"
II can, sir p replied John, proudly, and the
next moment he was folded in his fathers
| arms.
Next followodiinquiries from John as to how
things had gone ill his absence; and lie soon
learned the whole story.
GAS for you, said George, 81 do not need
to ask how the world has gone with you--that
coat speaks for itself But never mind l
have some better clothes up stairs, and you are
welcome to take your pick. But what have