Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-08-05
MR. THOMPsON'S PRODIGAL.
BY F. BRET HARTE.

BY F. BRET HARTE.
WE all knew that Mr.. Thompson wa,
looking for his son, and a pretty bad ont
at that. That he was coming to Califor
mia for this sole object was no secret u
his passengers; and the physica
peculiatities, as well as the moral weak
nesses, Of the missing prodigal were made
equally, plain to)us through the frant
volubility of the parent. "You wa.
speaking of young man which wa:
hung at Red Dog for sluice.robbing," saii
htr. Thompson to steerage passenger
one day !" be you aware of the color o.
his eyea?" "Black," responded the pas
senger. "Ah," said Mr.. Thompson, re
ferring to some mental y memoranda
"Char-les' eyes was blue" He then
walked away. Perhaps it was from this
unsympathetic mode of inquiry; perhaps
it was from that Western prediction to
take humorous view of any principle OF
sentiment persistently brought before
them, that Mr.. Thompson's quest was the
subject of satire among the passengers.
A gratritols adyertisement of the miss
ing Charles, addressed to "Jailors~ and
Guardians" circulated privately among
them everybody remembered to have
met Charles under distressing circum-
stances. Yet it is but due to my country
men to state that when it was known that
Thompson had embarked some wealth in
this visionary project, but little of, this
satire found its way to his ears, and moth
ing was uttered in his hearing that might
bring apang to fathers heart, or imperil
q possible pecuniary advantage of the
satirist, Indeed, Mr. Bracy1 1Tibbets' jocu-
lar proposition to forrnla joint-stock com
pany to "prospect" for the missing
youth, received at one time quite serious
entertainment.
Perhaps, to superficial criticism, Mr..
Thompson's nature was not picturesque
nor lovable. His history, as Impaired at
dinner one day, by himself, was practical
even in its singularity.J After hard and
willful youth and matrlrity-in which he
had buried broken-spirited wife, and
driven his son to sea-he suddenly ex-
perienced religion. IL got it in New
Orleans in 49," said Mr.. Thompson, with
the general suggestion of referring to an
epidemic. Enter ye the narrer gate.
Parse nae the bears,H Perhaps this prac-
tical qualify upheld him In his apparently
whereabouts of his runaway son-indeed,
From his Indifferent recollection of the
boy OF twelve, he now expected to iden-
tify the man of twenty five..s
Itwould seem that hewas successful.
How he succeeded WIS one of the few
things, he did not telL>; There are, be
Heve,% two versions Of the story. One,
that Mr.. Thompson, visiting hospital,
discovered his son by reason of q peculiar
hymn, chanted by the sufferer, in q deliri-
GUS dream of his boyhood. This version,
giving as it did, wide range to the finer
feelings of the heart, was quite popular.
The other was more simple, and, as I
shalladopt it here, deserves more elabo.
ration. N.
It-was after Mr.. Thompson had given
up searching for his son among the living
and had taken to the examination Of Gem.
eteries, and a careful inspection of the
"cold h6c facets of the dead" At thi;
time he was frequent visitor of "Lont
Mountain "a dreary hill top, bleak
enough in its original isolation, and
bleaker for the white faced marbles BY
which San Francisco anchored her de
parted citizens, and kept them down in 6
shifting sand that refused to cover them
and against fierce and persistent winC
that strove to blow them utterly away
Against this wind the old man opposed 6
will quite as persistent--a grizzled, hare
face, and tall crape-bound hat drawn
tightly over his eyes-and1 SO spent his
days in reading the nfOrtuary inscriptions
audibly to himself The frequency o.
scriptural quotation PLEASED HIM, and hf
was fond ~of correboratinga them by 8
pocket Bibles sslThat's froaIl Psalms, : lle
said, zone day, to an adjacent grave. digger
The man made no reply. Not at all re.
buffed, Mr.. Thompson atSonce slid down
into the open grave, With a more practical
inquiry, Did you ever, in your profes
sions come, across~ Charles Thompson p
Thompson be b ID" said the grave
digger, with great directness. =" Which
if he hadn't religion, think he is" re
sponded, the old man, as he clambered ou
of the grave. .a-Iass heiisj ia "a sri ii d
1t was, perhaps, on this occasion, thai
Mr.. Thompson stayed later than usual
As he turned his face toward the city
lights were beginning to twinkle ahead
and fierce wind, made visible, by afeg
drove him forward, or lying in wait
charged him angrily from the corners o.
deserted suburban streets, Z It was onFont
OF these corners that something else, quite
as indistinct and malevolent. leaped upor
him with an oath, a presented pistol and 8
demand for money. But it was met with
a,will of iron and q grip of steel The as
sailant and assailed rolled together on the
ground. But the next moment the ole
man was erect one hand grasping the
captured pistol, the other clutching a
arms length the throat of figure surly
youthful and savage.
"Young man," said Mr.. Thompson, set
ting his thin,lips together, f'Swhat nigh
be yosfr 1isfnefs sS1 ~ -
Thompson
The old mans hand slid from the throa
10 the arm of his prisoner, without relax
ing its tirmness aa
"Char-les Thompson, come with me,
he said, presently, and marched his cap
tive to the hotel. What took. place thert
has not transpired, butt was known th,
next morning that Mr.. Thompson has
found his son.
It is'proper TO add to the aboTe improb
able story, that there was nothing in tht
young mans appearance or manners t