Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-08-27
Stlftt Storp.
AN ADVERTISEMENT.
A STORY THAT WAS TOLD ME.

DEAR JOHN: Do write. come, or let me
know Your address, or meet me. have
much 10 tell you. Our boy is gone.
can't 90 home without seeing or hearing
from you. | am broken hearted.
N B.
cut these words in the form of an AL
vertisement, from nv daily paper. and
put the slip in my vest pocket. can't
tell why ! did so; the piteous appeal
greatly affected me-my name Was John.
But il. rs supposed, it was some poor,
wrctched wife who thus pleaded. it could
no, by any possibility be for me. for
though had one bcy-he was twenty
six years old-my good Susan and | had
been welded twice as many years. so |
tried to dismiss the matter altogether. but
some way it would keep recurring.
resumed my meal, somewhat uneasi-
ly, after had folded my morning paper.
| WAS not sitting in my own cosy break.
fast room, but in little country inn.
whittier business had called me, and after
satisfying my appetite. thought less OF
the circumstance that had made me al.
most miserable.
am afraid did not often ieel Tor the
suffering of others. My life had been
passed in an even manner. There had
been in NY history neither ups nor
dnwUs. ia speak OF. Ny circumstances
had always been easy, my wits cheerful
aud thrifty. my children Gin my eyes(
palagons OF beauty and affection.
Particularly did boast, it ever
boaSted-ot my son Horace William
Horace his name was. but we always
called him Horace. lie had never eaus
ed ulO days trouble. Always osedient.
given somewhat TO reSsrve--a trihe Sc
erelive-he had grown up handsome and
trustworthy. IEeysi thought ID possible
for him TO deviate from the truth; |
would have trusted him with uncoupled
gold.
Wife and myself had for thirty years
been church members. / trust consistent
ones; but strangely enough, it never had
seriously entered my head that Horace
needed to be saved What had he ever
done to merit punishment? Who 50
strict in every matter of conscience MS
he? Always first in goad Words why, !
often declared, boastingly, that my
Horace Was pattern for II clergyman,
and fully expected him to take up his
church duties whenever he saw his way
cls ar.
If you could have seen Horace. You
might have justified me, somewhat He
was the fines. looking fellow in our town,
and was not the only one who said SO.
| have stood and watched him many n
time. when he did not know it, with II
swelling heart, aye. and thankful one.
that God had given me such q son. l
almost worshipped him, ond often in my
heart accused my excellent wife OF cold.
ness, because she did not praise him rs
much as thought he deserved.
But Susan's judgment was better than
mine. Ii always turned out TO be in the
long run; and many's the the time have
wished that ] had trusted her In matters
Of business. that went wrong as snre as
l acted against her Judgment. The fac.
is. Susan can look a long way ahead, and
| can't, though in general I'm successful.
However. why should be running on
this way about my excellent vile. don't
know you'll pardon an old mans gar.
rulity.
About the breakfast, it was very good,
only dreadiully lonely. As soon as des-
patched il. l took up the newspaper
again. and again that paragraph began
to haunt me. until letter was brought
in. 1t was in Susan's vellknOwn hand.
writing. In a twinkling had the mis-
siye open and-I wish | had one of my
wiie's letters by me. Old as she is--and