Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-07-06
90 Casting Bread Upon the Waters
That Returns After Many Days.

That Returns After Many Days.
1t was twenty-five years ago. 4 gentleman
that time in fact, solitary hoTseman -
was on his way back to old Virginia, TO
revisit the home of his childhood. His father
had moved to Kentucky from the Mother
Of Sta.es," aud settled in Todd County few
years before His eldest son at the period
mentioned, had just attained his majority and
being presented with, perhaps, bis first horse
handsomely caparsoued, he set out across
the mountains Of Eastern Kentucky, on horse
back, provided with the necessary adjunets OF
that mode Of travel, pair Of sadd.e-ba5s and
legsings."
This was before the era Of railroads in Ken
tucky, and hence the young gentleman did not
suffer the tedum one would experience on
such a Journey now-for going and coming
not only hoFseman but wagons, bugsies, car
riages, etc, relieved tw monotony, aud furnished
number of those triiling incidents so gratliy-
ing to solitary horsemen generally. These
were then the only modes Of travel over that
route-and long wagon trains Of families, aud
even of whole neishborhoods, setting West,
were met every day.
While crossing the mountains, one evening,
few miles beyond the Virginia border, he
came face 10 face with = spectacle which was
in all respects pitable and distressing. Sit
ting on the roadside was = man with his wife
and two or three children, whose woo-begone
and squalid appearance indicated not only pow
erty, but almost absolute starvation. 1t was a
poor family moving West Having become
completely bankrupt in Virginia ty some sud
den failure, they had gathered up what little
/ household goods the sheriff had left them and
started for kentucky. The two skeleton
/ frames Of horses which were used for drawing
/ their little stores Of plunder were enerseticaly
/ endeavoring to extract sustenance "by the
skin of their teeth from the barren sell, as
/ the young man rode up.
As be drew the rens for a moments chat
with this " boggarly account" he was saluted
by the head" with the Masonic sign, which
being himself Mason he at once recognized
and returned The poor husband aud father
thus meeting the first friend he had seen siuce
leaving home, poured out his whole heart to
the young stranger His story begat lively
Understanding as it did, a tale Of misiCT-
tune without crime. The young man was
soon impressed with the fact that, notwith-
standing outside appearances were decidedly
against this brother" he was not only re-
markably bright Mason, but gentleman OF
excellent manners, good education and high
breeding
Whom tell you that my poor wife and
children have scarcely eaten enough, to keep
them alive, for three days, you will excuse
these unmanly tears" said he, weeping freely
as lie gazed at the little hungry Innocent.
cliDging around him.
The young traveller was himself moved %
tears, and could not doubt his own eyes
though the picture was one he had not expect
ed to meet, aud one which lie had, perhaps
never met before.
He at once handed the unfortunate husband
and father $50, almost the last cent Of money
he had-re.aining only sufficient to take him
to the ond o! bis journey By q acaRt allowance
( not caring TO keep any 10 return on. The
stranger insisted or receiving only So trust
ing to Providence for enough TO complete bis
Journey to that part Of Kentucky whittier he
was moving but the young mans heart was
too large not 10 have given five times that
amount if be had been able Besides this, las be
himself relates III his eyes filed with tears, as
did those of the father and mother, while the
poor, hungry children literally devoured tho
fragments Of a lunch which the young Samar-
itan had brought with him from his las! break
fast.
Amid The tears and blessings Of the little
circle. the kind-hcarted stranger rode Of,
thanking God that it had been in bis power to
bestow so much happiness and so opportune-
ly.
Years passed By and the incident was about
forgotten, when the benevolent young gentle
man received letter, inclOsiug a $50 bill,
gratefully recalling the circumstance above re-
lated, announcing that tie family had reach
! ed their destination in Southwestern Kentucky,
aud that the father was again a merchant,
making money and living happily.
Almost another decade, including in It's
whirl and turmoil the bloody story Of the groat
| civil war, bad once more about shut on. all
memory Of the occurrence, when the hero Of
the story, now long since grown TO mans es-
tate, and become distinguished in the politi-
cal history Of Kentucky, was elected TO the
Lower House Of the Legislature. His talents
and influence were such that, with but little
difficulty, he was elected Speaker Of the
House. During the contest over the Speaker
ship. he had noticed that 4 strangor-and a
mcMOtr OF tAe opPOsiN'oH WIS On' "a H''
most active supporters. Meeting him few
days after the accomplished speaker remarked:
"Mr. -, have been curious to know
why you were among my warmest fricas;
during the election-doing oil you could foi
me. never net you before 10 my life-youI
very name is unknown to me-we are opposed
in politics-and, while thanking you kindly
for your Partially, have enough Of the wo.
man in me to insist on hearing why it was 50.
"Sir," replied tie member, you will re-
call, when mention it, little scene that oc-
CURED when you were boy on your way C
Virginia (relatiug it, it was you who saved
my wife from starvation. She has told m'
time aud again that never did c morsel Of food
taste so sweet--so utterly delicious, as that yot
gave her then. She was but six years old a.
that time but when she saw your name, dur
ing the late canvass, among the prominent
probable candidates FOX the Speakcrship shC
laid down :hc law as 70 how ! was to vote
/ This is all Neither she nor her father anc
mother, brothers and sisters, nor myself, cat
ever forget you.
L. r e.