Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-09-27

Tic character or the mObner hau DeeH Teplaceu
by the stern and incorporating possibili.
ties Of the father.
He spoke but one sentence aloud. 1t was
near midnight when he stood in the centre
of the room, and smote his hand upon his
breast.
eff live,' said he, "Cap'ain Richards
prayer shall be answered If nv life is
spared, will not rest until stand, &C.
knowledged by the world, as the equal, at
least, of Andrew Bishopp'
Then be clasped his hands, and raised
them toward heaven and upon his Bonded
knees he added
Good help me to win the victory in honor
and in truth p
On the following morning the boy called
Capt Richards apart, and asked that he
might be permitted to go forth and seek his
own fortune
eff do not find good home, J" said he,
"where can do as know you would wish
me to do, will come back to you and
work for you as you shall direct"
The captain saw the new man in that boy,
ish face, and he was resolved to trust it.
"Have you any money! he asked.
"Yes-I have enough"
''Then go-and may the blessing Of God
90 with you p
David Carlton went forth, on that spring
morning of 1852, with the will to be a MAN.
Under all was the same gentleness and good
ness which had marked his early boyhood,
but brought now to the surface was the
quality of iron which had lain so long DOR
nant. He had a single aim Of exalted man.
hood, and he would mount the ladder and
climb, if the strength were given him =
Nothing should swerye him from his purpose
no lust of gain, no craving of appetite,
and no seduction of pleasure. He had count
ed the cost; he had measured the distance
be had considered his resources and he
had computed the time All be asked not
already within his control was life and op-
portunity; and for these he prayed.
He would 60 far away from his New Eng
land home, and he struck for the great
West. He found work upon the road-he
never begged and the autumn found him
in young and vigorous city Of the new en-
pire of Industry and Development And
he was stronger than he had been when he
left the Poor Farm Ct Winford-he was
stronger in body, and his confidence in him
self was stronger. Could such youth fail,
while truth and honor we're his chosen
henchmen? Such failure were next to
impossible.
David Carlton had no taste for mercantile
pursuits. He sought first to occupy bis
mind, and to that end he found his way in
to the Office of good lawyer; and here he
worked hard worked so hard and SO we'll,
that he was called to the bar before he was
twenty one. AS his mind grew stronger
and broader he developed an organizing
quality, and very soon he assumed the lead
in important matters of social and political
economy. He sought to develop the re-
sources of the country about him, and thus
he became interested in improvements of all
kinds His GROWN manhood strengthened
as it grew; and while in the management of
grave affairs he could be stern and uncom-
promising for honor aud right, in his social
relations the old gentleness and mildness,
coming to the surface in bright ripples and
in sunny glowing, made him beloved by all
who were admitted to his confidence And
so the years passed on.
Many of our readers remember the start.
ling social event which transpired in GER
tain New England town during the month
of July, 1870 We shall call the town Win
ford, as we have called it heretofore. And
on that July day came man to Winford
who was received with honor and with pub
lie ovation. We could call name which
all the country would know-a name which
has sounded with praise from the Atlantic
to the Paci6c-the name Of one whom thou
sands have delighted to honor, and who is
| to-day the idol Of the people among whom
he lives, and for whose good he labors; but
we will call him DAVID CARLTON, as we
called him before.
And David Carlton came back, after the
lapse Of the years, to visit the place of his
clouded birth He came beralded by the
newspa pers-came the representative Of a
great and grateful people-came shining
with fame and renown-came possessed Of
material wealth equal to more than was rep.
resented upon the books Of the Assessors Of
the whole town of Winford. He came, and
he met Mr.. Andrew Bishop; but he did not
/ find it in his heart to accept Mr. Bishops
eagerly extended hospitality. He found
Capt Tom Richards, now grown old, but
hale and hearty still-found him, not upon
the Poor Farm, but upon little farm Of his
own in the same old school district and he
spent two days and two nights beneath the
old mans humble roof
1t was grand season for Captain Tom.
His joy was so big that broke down in its
utterance. He could hardly believe his own
senses. Could it be possible that the man
of fame and the pauper boy Of the other
days were one and the same person?
eyes, said Carlton, with proud and
happy light in his eyes ''and it was your
prayer, Captain Tom, that first lifted my
heart to its grand purpose. When l had
heard Mr.. Bishop brand me and cast me
out, my heart sank within me but when I
heard your words of fiery reproof, my heart
leaped with gratitude and when, in that
mans presence, you prayed God that L
might stand his equal, the resolve was born
within me which hath borne this fruit =
Thou hast been to me father, and hence
forth be it mine to make the burden of thy
life, light and blessed"
And in the soft twilight of the summer
evening, David Carlton and Captain Tom
walked out upon the verdent lawn, and their
hearts were attuned to that blissful wor-
ship Of the Infinite Goodness which only
those can know whose lives have been spir-
itually pure aud truthful.
, Remember, that if thou marry for beauty,
thou bindest myself all thy life for that