Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-11-26

90 about, ana Srand on 'Inerc s. plenty vi
sea-room left. - - y ~
And then told him story Of narrow
escape I once had from Ice shore in gale
of wind, off the coast Of Sicily. Finally I
led h i'm to tell me of some Of his adventures;
and as thus came out that l found him to
possess not only rare intelligence, but rich
fund of sense and humor. 7, e5 81
By and by I ventured to ask him concern
ing his friends and relatives, and after much
effort I gained from him that all his near re-
latives were dead save his mother.
s'And she-may be dead before thisp'
he said. but, if she still lives, she has
forgotten me-" He tried to speak calmly,
and as one who feels but little concern; but
his heart was too much for him, and his speech
faltered, and he rested his brow upon his
hand
"Ah," said I, ';you little heed mother $
love when you say that"
And then, as exactly and peculiarly fitted
for the occasion, I told to him the story Of
the poor widow and her mite. Itold it feel
ingly, and with earnest zeal. he buried
his face in his hands, and I saw the tears
tric1le down between his fingers His frame
shook, and once he was so nightly convuls-
ed that stopped /; but he recovered and |
went on. 4, ed 800. ~
fsWhere was it," he. asked, in a broken
whisper, when had concluded. Ill,
. Gin the town Of Woodford," I told him.
.ls ''And the widows: name 2 I'm s.
Bertha Morrison"
~Did YOU say you had that piece Of money
now p He looked up. and his face was like
marble. The tide Of life seemed to have all
settled back into his heart. ~ ,aolEsa i.
= I told him j had it and tonk it from my
purse ,oands handed it to him 8 He looked at
it-turned it over and examined where the
letters had been cut in with a knife, and
then his heaut sweled, and the surging food
burst forth - He wept and sobbed, and
called. IS mother mother mother !" Ri
nally, in broken, choking accents, he said -
10 II sent. her. this It was my last shilling
and when I sent it prayed that God would
turn it to some blessing for my poor mother.
I am here under false. name--I am Donald
Morrison p , - r: IS.
Again he sobbed until his heart seemed
ready to burst its narrow bonds, and when
he next looked up he stretched forth his
hands imploringly
sLeave me! Oh, go away for time, and
leave me to myself! Don't speak, but 60
Go now-leaye me little while-and then
come back. Let me keep this p
T. I called the turnkey, and went ouS; and
to him and the warden [ told what had tran
spired They we're both kind hearted men,
aud were deeply affected.
In half an hour I went back, and found
the prisoner upon his knees, with his head
bowed upon the edge Of his cot. He arose
as entered, and extended his hand. .......,,,-
/. please don't talk to me now" he said
II can't bear it, I am too full
"But," I ventured for [ had received
encouragement from the warden, - suppose
I could get you out from here,-could let
you breathe heavens free air, with liberty to
90 where you pleased" 81 1g' Vt
He grasped my arm, and new glory was
upon his handsome face. l.-.,..,.>i... q
3 "Oh, if you could do that [ should be
saved You would give to my mother a
son p n4.--t + "n- e' ~
That evening I went with the warden and
saw the Judge who had passed sentence, and
with him we visited the mayor. [ told my
story, and in a few hours Morrison was free
and iubilant. After time, he took my
hand and said -
II know they have given me into your
care The warden told me SO. But l don't
want you to go home with me. | want to
60 alone. I don't want them to know of this
until [ have proved to them what L can be.
You have given me back my manhood, and
I now ask you to trust it. [ will write to
you'll will write of everything as it is. Will
you trust me :" is fss
I trusted him; and 1 was glad to do it;
for it would have taken week of my time
to have accompanied him to his home, and
my engagements we're just then pressing.
Five years had passed before l visited
Woodford. I took dinner at the hotel, and
then sauntered forth in quest Of my friends
At the first corner inquired of gentleman
if he could tell nue. where the widow Morri-
son lived. He said she lived about half a
mile away, in cottage by the lake shore. 70
"But," he added, "you need not go SO
far to see her. She went into that store but
a few moments since" And he pointed to a
dry.goods store across theWay, before which
stood a new and handsome carriage. "Ah,
there she comes -.
r. Hooked, and saw a woman, put not the
woman had known. This woman was
blooming and handsome, and seemed yet
young. - ~ ~ .''@.'''' -';.,.' ...l.
II spoke Of Mrs. BERTHA Morrison" I
said Ia. ,.5,sj,llfN i. sss4U Ill -t..
"And that's she" pursued the gentleman
"Aye,-- and there is her son. 4 Perhaps you
haven't heard" 5'a ,4n .ao .I.4t-j.ss
lost the rest of the sentence. | had
turned to look at the man who had followed
the lady from the store-one Of the grandest
looking men I had ever seen. Our eyes
met and he recognised me. For an instant
he was like one transixed, but he quickly
recovered himself. He handed the lady int.
the carriage, and then came over to me.
Good bless you p he calculated, II an
glad you have come last. But my mother
must not see you here. 1t would be toe
much for her Go to the hotel-Wait there
I will come for you very SOON"
AS 1 walked back, the gentleman whom
had met upon the corner walked with me
I asked him if he was acquainted with Don
aid Morrison. He said he was. Could he
tell me what Mr. Morrison was doing?
"He's making a new town of Woodfordp
cried my companion, enthusiastically. !"Fiyt
years ago he hired little schooner, and useo
to run down to Erie, and Cleveland, and 81
on up to the Michigan shore. By and by
he bought the schooner; and before the veal
was out he paid for it, and took another
To-day he owns three of the best team-boat'
on the lake." ret
In less than an hour Donald Morrison
drovn nm To the door of the hotel and wen