The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-22
Misfellaueuus.
MIR. THOMPsON's PRODIGAL.

We all knew that Mr.. Thompson was
looking for his son. and pretty bad one
ut that. That he was coming to California
for this sole object was no secret To his
fellow-passengers and the physical Pc
culiarities, as well rs the moral weak
nesses, Of the missing prodigal were
made equally plain 10 us through the frank
volubility Of the parent. You are speak
ing Of a young man which was hung at
Red Dog for sluicc-robbing.' said Mr..
Thompson to . s;eerage passenger, one
day; be you aware Of the color OF his
eyesr Black responded the passenger.
All. said Mr.. Thompson, referring to some
memoranda, Charles eyes was blue
He then walked away. Perhaps IL was
from this unsympathetic mode OF inquiry;
perhaps IL was from that Western pfcdi-
lection To take humorous view OF any
principle or sentiment persistently brought
before them. that Mr.. Thompson's quest
was the subject Of some satire among the
passengers. A gratuitous advertisement
Of the missing Charles, addressed to Jail
ors and Guardians circulated privately
among them; everybody remembered to
have met Charles under distressing cir
cumstances. Yet IL Is due to my country
men to s.ate that when IL was known that
Thompson had embarked some wealth in
this visionary project, but little OF this
satire found It's way To his ears, and moth
ing was uttered In his hearing that might
bring pang TO n fathers heart, or imperil
n possible pecuniary advantage OF the
satirist. Indeed. Mr.. Bracy Tibbets jocu-
lar proposition to form joint-stock COM
pany to prospect for the missing youth. re-
ceived. at one time. quite serious enter
tainment.
Perhaps, to superficial criticism, Mr..
Thompson's nature was not picturesque
nor loyable. His history, rs impaired at
dinner, one day. by himself. was practical
even in its singularity. After hard and
wilful youth and maturity-in which he
had buried broken-spirited wife. and
driven his son 10 sea-he suddenly expe-
ricnced religion. .Igot itin New Orleans
in so said Mr.. Thompson. with the gen.
cral suggestion Of referring TO an epiden-
ic. Enter ye the narrer gate. Pass me
the beans Perhaps this practical quality
upheld him In his apparently hopeless
search. He had no clew to the where
abouts of his son, or. indeed. scarcely a
proof Of his present existence; from his
Indifferent recollection of the boy oftwelve,
he now expected to identify the man Of
twenty-five.
IL would seem that he was successful.
How he succeeded was ono Of the few
things he did not tell. THERE'S believe,
two versions Of tho story. One, that Mr..
Thompson. visiting hospital, discovered
his son by reason OF peculiar hymn.
chanted by the sufferer. In delirious
dream Of his boyhood. This version Civ
ing. rs Il did. wide range to the finer feel
ings Of TIE heart. was quite popular; and.
rs told by Rev. Mr.. Gushington. on his ro-
turn from his California tour. never failed
To satisfy an audience. The other was
less simple. and. as I shall adopt it here.
deserves more elaboration.
1t was AFTER Mr.. Thompson had given
up searching for his son among the living.
and had taken 10 the examination OF ceme-
teries. and careful inspection OF the
"cold hic facets Of the dead" At this
time he was frequent visitor Of Lone
Mountain'-ad dreary hilltop. bleak enough
in its original isolation. and bleaker for
the whitsGsced marbles by which San
FRANCISCO huCnOfcSi ucf uolsaso soa1ohs.
and kept them down in the shifting sand
that refused to cover them, and against a
fierce and persistent wind that strove to
blow them utterly away. Against this
wind the old man opposed will quite rs
persistent-a grizzled. hard face, and =
tall, crape-bound hat drawn lightly over
his eycs-and 80 spent days In reading the
mortusry inscriptions audibly to himself.
The frequency Of scripturl quotation
pleased him. and he was fond Of corrobor-
ating them by pocket Bible.
That's from Psalms he said. one day,
TO an adjacent grsve-digger. The man
made no reply. Not at all rebufied. Mr..
Thompson at once slid down into tho open
grave, with . more practical inquiry, Did
You ever in your profession. come across
Charles fhompsonr Thompson be
ID said the grave digger. with great
dircctness. (which. II he hadn't religion.
think he Is responded the old man. rs
hc clsmbered out Of the grave.
II was. perhaps. on this occasion, that
Mr.. Thompson stayed later than usual.
As he turned his fsce towards thu city.
lights were beginning 10 twinkle ahead.