Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1869-02-20
SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 2O 1862 OLD SERIE VOL NO.


small marble top table at an auction room
opposite, proiIered to the old man the job
of carving it to his residence IN Stockton
street. Not wishing to accompany the car
riei. he had selected the face probably giving
the best assurance of careful delivery OF his
purchase
Furnished with the number of the house,
the old cartinan, after pretty trying struE'
ole with the steep ascent of California sueet,
reached his destination and deposited the
table in the hall. Lingering u moment, the
lady did not su.;n,se tho reason, until lie
politely informed her that her husband ttor
such he took him to be- had probably omit.
ted accidentally to pay for ,hc carriage,
VERY well, | will pay you, said the lady,
stepping into an adjoining room.
! She returned, aud stating that she had
! no small coin in the house, handed the man
twenty dollar piece.
He could not make the change.
Never mind. | will Gull tomorrow" hr
said tuning to 60.
NO, no, replied the lady glanciug pity
inply at the white locks and trembling
. limbs. II will not put you to so much
: trouble and she handed the coin to BridE.
ct, with instructions to see if she could get
! it changed at one of the stores OF markets
in the neighb0rhoOd,
/ "Step into the parlor Unit! the girl returns ;
the air is chilly and you must Ge cold, con
tinued the lady. Come she added, as he
! looked at his attire and hcsitated there 5
/ fire in the CRATE, and no ones there but
| the children"
1T is somewhat chilly" said the old man,
! following her, and taking seat near the
: fire.
! Perhaps may find some silver in the
house. said the lady, leaving the room, "tor
| fear Bridget will not get the twenty dol
lar piece changed"
Come love little children and the
! child who had been watching him with cur
iosiCy ran behind the large arm chair ard
hcsitating!y approached.
What is your name, dear ~ inquired thu
( cartman.
Maria" lispcG the little one.
maria 2" he repeated, with the grca! tears
| gathered in his eyes. Il onrc had Il little
girl named Maria, aud you look very much
J Us she did.'
Did you 2" said the child with much in.
tercst, "and was her name Maria Eastman
too -
"Mcrcful God :" exclaimed the old man
starting from his chair, and then dropping
into it again, with his bead bowed upon
his breast This cannot Lc and yet Why
not -
, He caught tie child in his arms with m
eagcrness that frightened her, and gazing
into her face until he found conviction there
suddenly rose to leave the house.
Il cannot meet her without betrnyiug my
self, and dare not tel that. l am that
drunken father who attempted 10 take he!
life ana perhaps left her husband a cripple,
he groaued Us he hurried toward the door
/ The little ones were hewildered.
( You are not going r. snid the mother, re-
appearing, and discovering the old man in
( the act OF leaving the hail.
He stopped and apparently turned his
face, but seemed 10 lack the resolution 10
do aught else.
lie said he had little Maria once that
looked just like me, mother" shouted lht
child, her eyes sparkling with delight.
The knees OF the old cartman tIcmbied
and be leaned against the Gonr tor support
. The lady sprang toward him, took him hy
the arm, and attempted to conduct him to a
chair.
mo, no ?" he exclaimed, mot till you tel
me am forgiven"
4 "Forsiven--for what :" replied the moth
er, greatly alarmed.
"Rccognize in me your wretched father
and need not tell you"
My poor father she cried, throwing heI
arms around his neck, all is forgiveu-al
forgotten"
/ All was forgiven, and :he husband, when
7 he returned late in the afternoon, was scarce
is less reioiced than the good wife at the
discovery. Whether or not Bridget sue
! cceded in changing the double eagle | never
[ learned, but this | do know: it took that
: honest female all of two months to unravel
I a. In int, N.-hi h. 4,