Middletown transcript., 1868-01-18


noble, generous son r 's, i8. t.slHf
One dark and stormy night while we
were sitting thinking Of him., the dogs ON
the porch gave quick, short growl, which
soon changed to q glad bark as they recog-
nized their old playfcllow. g 1t is he, ii
is he" / exclaimed, as [ heard his voice.
But | cannot tell of that meeting, words
will not describe our joy. l only knew
my husband had come, my own lost, be-
loved We were all weeping and enibrac
ing, when father said, 2 let us give thanks
to God, for this, my son which was lost is
found. SO saying, we humbly knelt,
while he poured forth a deep, heartfelt
prayer of thanksgiving. When we arose
from our knees, l saw how haggard and
worn my husband was, bcspcaking his
hardships.
After he had taken some supper, he
recouptcd his journey The faithful horse,
which had borne him most of the way, he
brought home with him. Many times
both were without food and drink, and
were ready to siuk with faintncss But
he was home at last, thank God and safe
from danger. -f.. ......,.s, .... ..lt
lie was much surprised and overjoyed
at finding us all together, and Alice's daily
cry for papa, papa, was now satisfied.
With what deep, unutterablc love he
turned to me and said :. Now my little
wife, | am with you once more hope
our sorrows are past" How sweet this
moment to me! Hope, which had we'll
nigl, gone, had ripened into full fruition.
But our happiness was of short dura-
ton. As the days wore on | noticed a
shadow on the face of my parents and
husband. l saw plainly that all was not
right. waited for Charles to speak but
he did not. Ipuzzled my brain to solve
the mystery, to no purpose. Finally, |
asked Charles what had happened to make
them all SO unhappy. g Does father feel
us to be burden and wish us away? or
is it something worse than that p said.
. He hesitatcd to tell me, but as urged
him, he said: " Emma, my dear wife, l
shrink from burdening your young heart
with this unforeseen sorrow; but you must
know it sooner or later, so as well now as
over 1t seems the fact of your coming
on alone some time before nc, and after
ward arriving at night, has attracted the
aided by the tattlc of our servants, they
have it we left the South in disgrace for
some unlawful act on my part; therefore,
y my former acquaintances and old friends
turn the cold shoulder, saying by theil
II actons-which speak louder than words
t /" Avaunt! you are not one of us" This
J. will explain why SO few have visited us
y since came home. And they, no doubt
}, eamc through idle curiosity. You now
Ct know, my wife, why have looked gloom,
I of late. For know / might as well b'
n guilty as innocent, for all the sympathy
d will get here, so have made up my mint
e to seek new home in the far West, wher'
d we will be unknown. cannot stay her
and always have the finger Of rcproacl
l. pointing to myself and family"
s. begged and implored him to stay an,
y live down the disgrace. They would se
's by his upright life that he was innocent
And if not, that / did not care what tn
r world said, if we could only be with cac1
Is other.
lie said "ah! no, my wife, this woul
"a not do, our children woul feel the disgrac
. as well us we; my father with me think
ID my best plan would be to go far hence
= ! must leave you and the children here I'm
m Ill find refuge for us. | dread thi
nc separation as much as you, and sometime
ut feel as if God had fosakcn me, the persc
OF cution is so bitter. If it were not for yo
tn my own and our helpless babes, shoul
''i care not for life This alone arouzes mt
id and for your sakes | will try to make
d home, where these sorrows will not follow
rs l shall leave tomorrow for / know nj
IN where; but will write you as soon as cal
e. Rcbellious thoughts rose up within mt
er ] murmercd against God for this bittt
ne cross, and cried out to Him in my distre
cd that He had indeed forsaken us, and ca
US us into the deepest pit of degradation.
ch prayed for death to release me from m
I'M woe, but az prayed these words came
me "Though he slay me yet will | tru
nd in Hiln.'' Yes" I said 7" I will trust
70 Him." He brought Job through great
Ie' trials than these, and win arise from n
ey mourning and '.hope against hope"
pc must be strong, and stand this beatir
storm" resolved to press back my gri
mt and try to bid my beloved cheerful go'
mt bye. But, when he was gone then can
~. the old despair, and the fearful thought ,
for should meet no more / lived, | scarce
ng know how, twixt hope and despair for maj
led weeks. Not line had reached me fro
re- my husband since his departure. l h;
hg began to feel that longer suspense was u
ler bearable, that would rather know he vi
dead than this awful uncertainty. So'
~, enough was put to the test. One NOR
led ing father came in and gave me lett
her all crumplcd and soiled. 1t was stran
ed' superscription, and bore Southern pc
the mark. Butt hastely tore it open and
re. | saw tho writing inside exclaimed sit
len from Charles" But my very heart seem
et. still as | read
III, My belored ones,-I am writing my knees
F, the road near Headly. l have but short I'll
l L 10 write or to live. | am surrounded by Q fer