The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-24
Young Folks.
The First wlie's Wedding Ring.

little more, and i'll live snail return"
said he.
SO the father gave him his blessing |
and his mothers wedding ring, say.
ing, "Keep this ring, and then, how.
ever long you stay away, and how
ever changed you may become, by |
this token shall know you to be my |
true son and heir"
In a short time after, the father
married his second wife, and by this
marriage also he hada son.
Years past by, and the eldest son
did not return. They did not hear
from him, and at last every one be-
lieved him to be dead. But in reality
he was alive, and after long time
he turned his steps homeward. He
was so much changed by age and
| travelling that he did not seem like
the same man who had gone away,
but he had the ring tied fast and safe
around his neck. One night, how.
ever, on his way home, he was too
far from shelter to get bed, SO he
slept under a hedge, and when he
woke In the morning the string was
united and the ring was gone. He
spent whole day in searching for 1T,
but in vain; and at last he resolved
| to go on home, and explain the matter
to his father should he find him alive
and well.
The old man was overjoyed to see
his son again, and fully believed his
story about the ring, but the second
wife was greatly displeased to think
that her own child was not now to be
the sole heir of his fathers goods
and 80 she pestcrod and worked upon
the old man by artful and malicious
speeches that he consented to send
away the new conner, till he should
have found his mothers wedding ring.
"Is the homestead l have taken
such good care Of" she cried, ito go
. to the first vagrant who comes with
, brown face and ragged coat, pretend
/ ing that he is your son ?"
So the soldier was sent about his
, business; but his father followed him
r to the gate, and slipped some money
t into his hand, saying "God. speed you
, back again with the ring"
t 1t was Sunday morning, and the
f bells were ringing for service as he turn
ed sadly away.
1 "Ding, dong" rang the bells, "ding,
0 dong! Why do you not come to church
. like others? Why are you not dressed
in your Sunday clothes and wherefore
J do you heave such doleful sighs, while
we ring merrily ?" The soldier replied,
"This day l am turned out of home and
heritage, though am indeed the true
!, heir"
Nevertheless, keep up good heart
and trust in God, and do your duty.
, We shall ring for your RETURN" sal d
the bells.
AS he went, the sun shone on the
green fields, and in the soldiers eyes
and said, "See how brightly shine
: But you, comrade, why is your face
so cloudy?"
q SIS there not good reason" replied
the soldier, "this day 1 am turned
out of home and heritage, and yet l
am the heir" =,
} Nevertheless, keep up heart. shall
shine on your return" said the sun.
Along the route the hawthorn
8 hedges were white with bloom. "Hey-
! day." they cried, "who is this that
I comes tramp. tramp, with face as long
' as poplar tree? Cheer up friend it is
r spring; sweet spring; all is now full OF
a hope and joy, and why should you look
4 so sour?'
"May 1 not be excused" said the
@ soldier, "This day am turned out o.
home and heritage, and yet l am the
true heir"
Nevertheless, keep up stout heart
. we shall blossom when you return
:, said the hedges.
When he had wandered for three
days and nights, all he had was spent
> and there was no shelter to be seer
!. . but dark, gloomy forest, which
!, . stretched out before him. Just ther
= - he saw a small, weakened old women
q who was trying to lift bundle of sticks
- on to her back.
"a "That is too heavy for you, good
II mother" said the soldier and he rails
IS ed and adjusted it for her.
d "Have you just come here?" asked
the old crone ; "then the best thanks
3, can give you is to bid you get way a
Al fast as you can"
g ~ never retreated yet, dame, replied
the soldier, and on he went.
Presently he met with giant, VIII
Y was strolling along by the edge of tn
I'd wood, knocking the cones off the top
Or of the hr-trees with his finger nails
" He was an ill-favored looking monster
it but he said, civilly enough, "You loo
re in want of employment, comrade; wi
is you take service with me?"
IN 81 must first know two things" an.
,e wered the soldier, "my work and M
d, wages"
ce "Your work." replied the giant, ."i
,e to cut path through this wood to tn
10 other side. But then you shall have
is year and a day to do it in. If you do
K; within the time, you will find at tn
It's other end magpie's nest, in which
d. the ring of which you are In search
he The nest also contains the crow
jewels which have been stolen, and
you take these to the King, you wi
need no further reward. But, on tt
%. other hand, if the work is not dor
at within the time, you will always be m
n. servant, without wages.".
,r at is hard bargain" said the so
n. dier, "but need knows no law, nd
m agree to the conditions"
"a. When he came to the giants abot
h. he was greatly astonished to see Il
no little weakened woman. She shove
,t, no sign of recognizing him, howeve
nd and the soldier observed like di
np cretion. He soon discovered that 81
I'm was the giants wife, and in great drei
,er OF her husband, who treated her wi
IcA 0raaf oruaIk,.