Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-10-03

lnere IL no 0sej That 1 sboulo hii W
pace in transcribing our conversation on
nat occasion. Suffice it for me to say that
came away loving that unfortunate youth.
found him to be handsome. intelligent
Ind quick witted. his heart warm and large
= it'll generous impulses. and bis instincts
Ill bent in the right direction. Such
nan could rot beirsy friend; he could
not lie; nor could he witness suffering |
Without doing all in his power towards its |
,llcyiation. And, above all else, found o |
basis OF true religious feeling underlying |
his whole character-a religious feeling |
arising from conception Of his duty to |
God as Father and Friend, and Of his
duty to man 40 q member of cnmtncn
Once during the visit started to speak
upon the subject Of the old enemy under
whose power he had fallen but he stopped
me 10 an instant:
mot . word upon tha. subject" be
cried. II have borne oil Of reflection can
bear. Twas rum killed my father; and 1t
was rum that brought me here. II / live TO
90 forth again into the world. will hold up
my head II l can and il my fellows will be
kind TO the, and give to me the ben. dit Of the
good III try to do, I shall live in freedom
from that tyrant; I know what say, sir;
aud know that my resolution is strong
enough to ssve me-to save INC, and TO save
my mo,her-God bless herr
When I came our from that prison bore
IN my heart the will to procure Noel Pres.
tons pardon. returned to Hampton, and
upon conversing with the leading citizens
found them all Of one mind Ii they could
be assured tina. Noel would keep clear Of
the wine cup, they would gladly assis. in
the work of procuring bis release. But
would they patronizs HIM when he should
have once more opened his shop Yes
they said they would and Mr.. Bradford
said, il Noel could not find enough to do
in his shop, he would give him good place
10 his foundry. Jonas Bradford was the
great manufacturer Of the village, and the
father Of my college friend, Charles Brad
ford.
Ny next step was to prepare documents,
and obtain signatures; and when | had
done what could in Hampton, repaired
to Shireton, where obtained paper from
the good Warden. And thus armed went
to the Governor, and presented the case to
himself and his council.
II wss the day before Christmas. Towards
evening made my way to the humble cot
Of Naomi Preston. found the sno~ piled
up in n huge drift before her door, but
upon going ound to the end Of the cot
discovered clear track. . slight piszza-like
projection Of the caves havi ing kept The drift
away from the wall Of the building found
the widow alone, and more sad than had
ever before seen her. 1t Was aot the old
complaining sadnes, but deep, prevailing
melancholy, which asked for no relief. She
received me very kindly, however; for she
had come 10 respect me, and, in a measure.
to love me.
l told her that had come to see how she
WAS getting on, and also to warn her that
she should hang up her stocking. For"
said |. I'VE will make you present to-mor
row. On the day when oil are remembered
you must not be forgotten"
mo, no. she replied, shaking her head
with solemn decision. II want nothing"
l would have spoken, but she put forth
her band and stopped me.
An then asked her: ION the morrow
tine anniversary q the birth oithe Blessed
Son Of God, and the birth Of your own be.
loved son. may l not come and pray with
you,'
she looked into my face, and the tears
fell thick and ia. over her thin and fur
rowed cheeks.
In Gods name, yes - sho cnswcfe ed me.
"lou may come aud pray. | shall need
prayer. Yes-yes-praye to God earnestly
aod devoutly uttered, may be good for hin,
as well as for ne. But, remember no
ga'a presents for me. In memory OF my
suffering boy. | viii bow my head in sor-
row, and the day shall be to me one Of FAST
ing aud prayer"
left her, and hurried homeward. for l
had much to do in the way of preparing for
Christmas.
The morning came, and Christmas dawned
bright and beautiful. The mountains OF
snow cleaned grabdly in the sunlight, and
men aud boys laughed and shouted as they
wallowed through them,
At an early hour | went TO the widow
cot, accompanied by Mr. Bradford and Char
les-and one otper-but only we entered at
first. We found Mrs. Preston sitting by the
hre. her face covered Uy her apron, and she
had been weeping.
| For moment she was disconnected, and
seemed not at oil to like this intrusion, but
when we had greeted her kindly. and Mr..
bradford and his son had wished her a
merry Christmas SO earnestly and so
frankly that true friendship was apparent
IN the salution, she extended q warm vel.
come, and offered us seats. (She had chairs
now
Mrs. Preston said |, after We had ta-
ken our seats, have been forced to dis
obey you. After what you said to me last
evening, would not have taken any steps
towards procuring for you anything like .
| Christmas present. but we had one already
selected, and Is it will DO Of vastly more
proper to bring it,
Mr.. Ausnn," she said, in dsop distress.
FL am sorry you have done this. You
know what told you. ! want no joy to.
day. My heart would upbraid mo should
present It to joy on this sad OCCASION y
could delay no longer, for We were ecp.
ing some one out in the cold, 30 said:
look up, Naomi Preston, and thank
God for his goodness to you and yours on
this Christmas Day "
How did she bear it.
II seemed as though the sustaining power
Of the Rsdesmer Was with her. She started
up from beneath the weight Of my hand
when she heard the football coming from
the door that communicated directly with
the little shop, and when she turned she be-
held him. There was an earnest. eager
look upon her face, and during that brief
interval she saw that he was a man. noble
and true, with the Godliks seal upon his
fair brow. And then she became weak.
and tostersd like an infant into his arms
and was clasped to bis bosom.
"Mother-dear mother-fear not TO look
upon me now. God has given you back
your boy; and hencstorth. while life il
ours. he shall be joy and . blessing to
your declining years!"
And In . little while Naomi Preston
stretched forth her hapds TO me and said
BY your lips, sir, let rs return thanks
to God"
Anb we knelt down in that humble cot.
and lifted our hearts in Thanksgiving and
praise.
That was Rvs-and twenty years AGO.
Noel Preston did not 60 back INTO the little
snop, Tor the solitude Of tbs cd place where
ois iAsher bad work. d a. d .uaered vas on
psessive lie went into tie establishment
OF Mr.. Bradford. apd to day he and Char.