The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-01-11
SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY H. 1868.
can havei chance to study as much aia

can have d Chance to study as much as q
please" III ,is,5I d, -.of 4 uejle, 4.
l"0h, nonsense, Jack" said George "yop
will soon get over it.; AS for my part, l can t
Esee what you find SO interesting in books. I'd
rather go into the corn-Geld and work the
hottest dayih Summer thaA to HAVE t. got one
lessonEof ahyokihdni o.~ ise ,d'nos '~ob "a
II "Iknow that1 asaid:John; "it,'s your nature,
but I can't do the farm work, it isn't in me, Il
was never meant for it, and therefore, to-mor-
row morning I'm going, come what may"
| George tried to change his mind for somc
time, but finding him determined, helped him
to get ready to tho best Of his ability forcing
him to nccept all his spare pocket money. tell
ing him that he could ay it when he got
rich
"But, one thing, Jack, !" said he, swhatcvcr
you do, be an hottest iii; man hi' You'll make
smarter man than ever shall, am sure Of
that. And remember, L expect to be here as
long as:I live, Sc. if at. any time tho world
goes hard with you, don't 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. -a. r
"Ne"er mind, =. said he, she'll soon be back"
| ~ *
| Thirteen years have. passed since John Nor
ton left the old homestead, aud contrary to his
fathers prediction, he had not comc back
t., tlo ~: 4, 4
smoothly at the farm. l'armcr Morton had
givon up the whole charge of the farm to
George, who had married girl in the neigh
borhood, and was now the father of five chill
dren. Years before, in n case of, emergency
Farmer Morton had mortgagcd the farm to
| small amount, and ever since the marriage OF
George, in spite of'all his excrtions the mort
gage had been gaining ground, until now the
place must be sold, as he could not meet the
terms Of agreement.
This was terrible blow to George and the
old man, but there was no help for it j; their
friends and ncighbors we're no bcttersoff than
themselves, and therefore could not help thcm
had they been ever SO much inclined
It was bitter cold night in Deccnlbcr, 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 last farewell, and then
bowing it again, would sob aloud
| "Comc, come, father," said George, sdont
bo SO down hearted. Cheer up, cheer up.
am young yet and if live, and hard work
will do it, you shall come back to the old place
YETI
81 cannot hope for it, George" returned the
old man. alt will require years of successful
labor and | am old aud cannot last long
had hoped to die in the old house but l am
afraid it cannot be. Sixty years have passed
here boy and man, and it is hard to leave
| now-"' i';r
| They were interrupted by knock at the
| door, and upon opening it, there entered "a
young man very shabbily dressed For mo-
mcnt he stood surveying the group, with tears
in his eyes, and then reached forth his hand.
exclaiming:
George, do you not recognize me?
Gather, it is John," exclaimed George, joy
fully sezihg his hand, and leading him towards
his father. tr
The old man arose, and turning towards him,
exclaimed:
"John, my son!' at the same time stretch
ing forth his arms-thcn suddenly drawing
himself up to his full height, lie said, "John
for thirtocn years you havo been strangcr 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 honest man Z"
81 can, sir I" replied John, proudly, and the
next moment he was folded in his fathers
arms aa~
Next followodiinquirios from John as to how
things had gone in his ABSENCE; and he soon
| learned the whole story.
GAS for you, sad George, II 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 arc
welcome to take your pick. But what have