Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-08-18
Selected Miscellany.
ME, THOMPSON'S PRODiGAL.
BY BRET HARTE.

We all knew that Mr. Thompson was
looking for his son, and pretty bad one
at that. That he was coming to California
for this sole object was no secret to his fell
low passengers; andlthe physical peculiarl-
ties as we'll as moral weakness Of the mis-
sing prodisal, were made equally plain to
US through the frank volubility OF the pa
rent, "You was speaking of a young man
which was hung at Red Dog for sluice-rob-
bing" said Mr.. Thompson, TO a steerage
passenger, one day; .'be you aware Of the
color Of his eyes" "Back,' responded
the passenger "Ah," said Mr.. Thompson
referring to some mental memoranda,
CHARLES" eyes were blue. He then walk
ed away. Perhaps it was from this sym
pathic mode of inquiry; perhaps it was
from that western prediction to take a
humorous view of any principle or senti.
ment persistently brought before them,
that Mr.. Thompson's quest was the sub
jet of some satire among the passengers.
A gratuitous advertisement OF the missing
Charles, addressed to "Jailors and Guar
dians," circulated privately among them;
everybody remembered to have met Charles
under distressing circumstances. Yet 1t Is
but due to my countrymen to state that
when il was known that Thompson had
embarked some wealth in this Missionary
project, but littles of this satire found its
way to his ears, and nothing was uttered
in hs hearing which might bring pang
to fathers heart, or imperi apostolic Pc
cuniary advantage of the satrist Indeed,
Mr.. Braey Iibbet's jocular proposition to
form a joint stock company to prospect fol
the missing youth, received, at one time,
quite serious entertainment.
Perhaps, to superficial criticism, Mr.,
Thompson's nature was not picturesque
nor loyable. His history, rs impaired at
dinner, 10y himself was practical even in its
.singularity After hard and willful youth
and maturity in which he had buried "a
broken spirited wife, aud driven his son 20
sea be suddenly experienced religion. 81
GOT in New Orleans IN 1859" said rhomp-
son, with the general suggestion OF refer.
ring 70 an epidemic, Enter We the narrer
cate. Parse me the beans" Perhaps this
practical quality upheld him in his appar-
emily hopeless search, He had no clue to
the whereabouts OF his runaway son-in-
deed, scarcely proof OF his present exis-
tence. From his indifferent recollection
OF the boy OF twelve, he now expected to
identity the man Of twenty-five.
IL would seem that he was successful
How he succeeded wa6 one OF the few
things he did not tell. There are, be-
lieye, woyersions OF tle story. One, thai
Thompson vieting 0 hospital discovered
his son by reason of peculiar hymn, chant
ed by the sufferer, IN delirlous dream OF
his bovhood. This version, giving as Il
did, wide range TO the finer feelings OF the
heart was quite popular; aud, as told 10y
Rev Mr. GUshingtou, on his return from
his California tour, never failed to satisfy
an audience The other was less simple
and, AS shall adopt II here deserves more
elaboration
Ii was after Mr.. Thompson had given NJ
searching for his son among the living, auy
had taken TO the examination OF cemetcr
les, and n careful inspection Of the "col,
hic iaoets Of the dead. Al this time h
was frequent visitor Of Lone Mountain
"a dreary hilltop, bleak enough in 1t
original isolation, and bleaker for tn
whitetaced marbles bywhich san Francisc
anchored her departed citizens, and KEEP
them down in shifting sand that reiuSeu
70 cover them, and against fierce AM
persistent wind that stroye to Low then
utterly away, Against this wind the eli
man opposed q viii quite as persistent
qrizzled hard face, and tail Grape houn
hat drawn tightly over his eyes and s
spent DAYS In reading the mortuary inscnr
tions audihly To himself The treguene
OF spiritual quotations pleased him, and b
was fond of corroboratlng them Gya poke
Bible. "Thats from Psalms he said
one day, to an adjacent graye-digger In
man made no reply. Not at oil rebnifed
Thompson q. once slid down into the ope