The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-02-03

D pOs6J anu nave ICSOlfCN OA GU 81
, ting to the west, where I may fnt
' opportunities of doing good, anc
: atone by real acts Of benev0lenee
l for the evils of my early life
Perhaps, my friend said /, i car
find means to change your determi
national least, can mike an ef-
fort
But he shook his head, and an
swered, save yourself the trouble,
young man, of opposing my resolu-
} tion, and waste not your eloquence
upon one who does not even hope
for happiness on earth. All that
was loved and dear to me this side
of Heaven, sleeps beneath the tomb
stone, and have no inducement to
go abroad into the world, and min
gle with its busy host in their COM
mon avocations. My journey hence
forth is a pilgrimage in search of op-
portunities of doing good to the hu-
man race, and endeavoring to find
favor with my God through acts of
kindness to his creatures
Then, if you will not listen to my
entresties, and are resolved that I
shall in no way manifest to you nv
gratitude, you surely will not deny
me the pleasure of your company at
dinner, at the inn, for have much
to say to you before we part.
My way lies through the the vii
lage, and your request shall be gran
ted. 1t is long siace have sat at
the family board, Of a friend or a
stranger.
His arrangements were soon COM
pleted, and we left the hut. After
proceeding a short distance, Mr..
Morris turned and gazed at all the
old familiar objects that had sur
rounded him in exile, and a tear
started from his eye, as he turned
away from the dumb iuanimate com
panions of his solitude. How strange
| " constituted is the human heart.
1T seekes increasingly some object
upoI which to fasten its affections,
something to love, to cherish, to
worship and adore. The mountain
oak, whose branches had sheltered
him from the summer sun and the
winter storm, supplied this object to
5fr. Morris, and he left it with re-
gret. Our progress down the noun
tain was slow and difficult, and the
sun was declining towards the wes-
tern hills, ere we emerged upon the
plain at the foot of the hill, and at
the further side of which stood the
village of B. We soon arrived at
the inn, and hurrying to my room,
l ordered dinner to be prepared for
foNr. Mr.. Morris heard my direc-
tion with surprise, and inquired ifI
had friends, IN company, with whom
l intended to dine.
l answered him in the affirmative,
and assured him he would be pleased
with their company. Ithen hurried
to the ladies, who were waiting with
intense anxiety for my return. Il
soon communicated what is already
known to the reader, and had scarce
completed my information, when
both mother and daughter, without
waiting to consider the effect of their
abrupt behavior, rushed unceremon-
iously to my room and throwing
open the dor stood in the presence
of the lost husband and father, l
turned hastily away, and ran down
stairs. 1 felt that 1 should be in
truding upon the sacFedness of that
meeting, and that l had no right to
remain a spectator of the scene.
What past / know not, and my rea-
ders can imagine as well as myself.
The movement was unexpected
contrary to what l should have ad-
vised, but the mischief was done,
and had nothing to do but patient
ly abide the issue.
An hour passed away-to me it
seemed an age,-and no word or
movement indicated the state of az
fairs in my room. Dinner was wait
ing upon the table,-and l ventured
at length to disturb the conference
of friends. My knock at the door
was answered by Emily, who invited |
me to enter, and welcomed me with |
So sweet smile, and such a silent
look of gratitude and joy, that fully |
compensated me for all my exertions |
in her behalf. AS l entered the
room, Mr.. Morris grasped me by the |
hand, and with all the eloquence of |
an over1owing heart, acknowledged |
the thousand obligations he was
under to me, for the unspeakable |
happiness of that hour. Both moth
er and daughter joined in his ex-
pressions of gratitude, and for a
moment was overwhelmed with the |
emotions that the affair excited. |
He that has known the luxury Of
ministering to the happiness of 9TH
ers-of being the instrument in the
hands of Providence, of di pensing
blessings to his fellow creatures, can
imagine my feelings at witnessing
the reunion of a scattered house
hold, after years of separation and
sorrow.
After dinner was over, l left the
family again to themselves, and
strolled out to review the scenes 1
had know in early youth. Strange
faces met me at every corner of the
names were displayed
upon the signboards, and so altered
was the whole aspect of the village,
that 1 could scarce recognize objects
With which / had once been most
familiar. 1 found myself a stranger
in the place where was born, and
so changed was every thing about
me, that 1 turned back disappointed, |
md sick at heart, without making
myself known to any of the few com
DaniOns Of my boyhood, who yet re-
in the place their fathers
had occupied before them.
1 saw no more of Mr.. Morris or
his wife and daughter, until the fol-
owing morning; when it was deci-
led that should return with them I
o the city. 1 found resistance vain {
excuses useless, and more than all, |
he silent pleading of the dark eyes t
# Emily Morris determined me to | :
,ield to their entreaties and accom- =
,any them home. The journey was i
performed without accident, or Incl
lent worth relating, happening upon +
he road,-and at the end of the fifth !
av we were welcomed by Mrs. Nor :