The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-02-08


years ago that he had 90 many mouths I
!, feed, has now only one child len him-thI
little fiaxen-haired girl that i sitting besid'
I his knee. The rest are sleeping 70 the littl'
s churchyard. 1 yF~4 'H
A heavy misfortnne hAs beialleo MIN
the thirst for vichss hes bcouehef its usus
curse. Possessed with the common mauiI
for speculation, ho nortgaged his farm
house and all u contained. The gilded buh'
BILE burst, and the cswning Of tlss New
Year found him Q rninei and ahomeicA
man. This was the lass might that he and
bis were 70 stay ia the OIL homsstesd,
that had beea in the family for generations,
and which was linked 10 his heart by q
many tender memories. On the morrew
they knew not whittier to 90. II 10 true
that many Of the old neighbors-kind, good
ls-had offered him temporary home;
but il was hard for the proud, seif-reliant
man 10 accept charity from anys
"Wbat can we dor Where can we 60
tor" be groaned, - he thought of the NOR
row. !.
''The Lord viii provide, john" said the
wife, lifting her patient eyes to his. "He
never has forsaken us. Neither will He
forsake onewho trusts In Him."
But the farmer lacked the gentle resigna-
tioa that made that Christian heart such a
haven Of peace and love.
"Aye, that's what you've always said,
wife, !" he retorted impatiently, sand you see
what we have come 10. For my part, doa< y
think the Lord troubles Himself abogt M
any way"
! Mrs. Williams might have said that he had
brought this upon himself, but she wisely
forebore. just then there came the sound Of
quick, buoyant step. and there burst into
the room fne, sturdy lad, Of about ten, his
eyes bright, and his cheeks glowing, from
the keen, frosty air.
cts bitter cold, tell you," he exclaim-
cd, as be flung his cap, boy fashion, upon
the kitchen settee, and stepping up to the
kitchen fire. sNot but what I've been -
warm ~ toast, all bat my ears and fingers" !"
he added, blowing upon the lztssr, ~ be
spoke. .,;-ar
There IS something for you, mother, be
said, seating himself on stool at her feet,
and tossing into her lap shining piece Of
gold.
IN 8 Why, Arthur, where did you get this2''
1Sc strange gentleman down at the tas-
ern gave IL me, mother. He asked me into
his room, and gave me as many nuts and
raisins as could eat, beside"
wonder who he isf" she said mu-
singly.
6 can tell you," exclaimed her hausband,
his eyes flashing angrily. " lie is the owner
of the Red Stone Farmhouse. lie j. the
man who bid against me on the few articles
| wanted edsexpserye<Nkhe curse Of the home
less rest upon him.
"Nay, John," interrupted his wife, gent
ly; perha 2s he did not know how highly you
5rized il.
Yes be did Parson Brown stepped upl
alld told him, but he only smiled, and said
be wanted to buy everything just as il
stood. - .Dn
Well," said the boy, gazing .shougbtful-
~ into the FIRE. g can't belp;Pitying him,
he looked SO sorrowful He asked me
great many questions about you, mother,
and all the rest Of as, and kept walking up
and down the room, wris6ing his hands and
groaning as if in great trouble"
Will buy yoa new coat with this,
Arthur said Mrs. Williams, ss she exam
ined anew the gold coin. ssYou aeed one
badly enough" she added, glspeing with q
sigh at his we'll patched roundabout.
"You shall do nothing Of the sort, moth
err said the generous-hearted boy. Yoa
shall bay yourself and Sissy . nice warm
shawl
Before Mrs. Williams could reply there
was a quiet knock at the door. Farmer
Williams opened it. 1t was only q boy
who t-ought small parcel for Mrs Will
lisms. ~A
"Anot1er New Years gift, suppose" !" be
said bitterly, as he handed 1t 10 her, for be
was in bitter mood. Mrs Williams glanced
reproachfully at her husband.
''God grant that it may bring us much
comfort" she said, laying her hand fondly
upon the head that was resting against her
knee. G
As she opened it she uttered an excla-
nation Of surprise. 1t was q deed Of Fed
Stone Farmhouse, and made out in hes
name. On the inside wrapper were these
words:
Tnasmuch as ye did 1t unto the least Of
these, ye did it unto Me-"
There we're grateful and happy hearts be-
meath the roof Of the old homestead that
night, though with Mrs. Williams JOY there
va singled an uneasy feeling. She was
we4. that it was IN some way con.
nected with Arthur, and sremOIed win Siia 11 sp-
prehension lest some one should appear
who had stronger claims to him. This fear
was dissipated the next morning, by letter
that ceme TO her in the first mail. Ia con-
tanned check for five Thousand dollars, to-
gether with these words:
il The boy that you 90 generously re-
ceived ten years ago, and have so tenderly
cherished since, will never be taken from
you. The mother forced to relinquish the
babe dearer to her than life, 10 now in
Heaven The father who 50 basely forsook
bis child, ard her whom he had sworn to
cherish, 10 unworthy Of so sacred . trust,
In S. Bank you will find the sum Of
twenty thousand dollars deposited in the
name OF your adopted son, Of which he is to
come into possession when he is legally o
age, and the interest Of which is to be ap-
propriated to bis support and education
during his minority"
To this singular letter there was neithsl
date nor signature. There we're varioui
coniectures in regard to the stranger, whs
bad been in the village for some days, and
from whom it was evident this letter cans
as well As the package received the nigh
before.
But when Arthur called to his mind III
look OF sad, remorseful tenderness will
! which he had REGARDED him. he telt that
u must have been his father. Yet he oftel
. said, rs he looked into the face Of his Adopte,
!. mother, that he wanted no dearer friend
; than those he already bad. And a 70
Mrs. Williams, among al the blessings tha
. surrounded her, there was not one taa
: brongh. her purer joy than he whon sh
9 had takes 20 her heart when frfsndlcs
Z bsbs, her New Years sift.
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