American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-04-05

ing, he saw his wife standing beside him.
She had only caught the last words.
"What can't be done, Dick' Your face
is SO solemn, one would think it was
something important"
81 was thinking of father and mother"
he said, land wondering if we might not
do something that would set me all right
again"
Il wish we could, Dick, for do not
want to keep you and your parents apart;
| would go to them gladly, but fear l
would but make matters worse. wonder
if they thought of us while they listened
to the sermon to-day. l found myself
growing happier as 1 listened to the
| preacher, and feel sure there is pleasure
yet to be found with your father and
| mother in this house. We have been so
| happy together fear | have not thought
of others as l should have done, but from
| to dsy we will study up a plan TO set us
all right again"
Alter the sun had disappeared and the
candles were liz, in the old house over
the hill, an elderly gentleman sat near
| the light with his weekly paper in his
| hands, while opposite to him was his
| wife, who was reading also. Her mind
| would not stay on her book, however. 1t
was too full of Dick. "How lonely the
| their only son And for that girl! Half
of life left the house with Dick. How
strange" she thought, "that a man should
become so infatuated as to leave his own
father and mother for pretty face! Were
they happy over there?' she wondered.
mo doubt they thought they were" She
pictured to herself the way Dick was sit
ting in his home and reading some book or
paper to his wife, just as he used to read
n
house would be so dreary after he did go.
well, well, parent must expect moth
ing but ingratitude." She always heard
mothers say that, and she believed 1t
now; "but-but-Dick had been so good
q boy-sbe had hoped he would-he
would" but she had to wipe away the
tears that were filling her eyes.
Her husband. though he appeared 10
be SO intent on his paper, saw her wiping
away her tears. He well knew what they
were for, and his mind ran back to the
THAT was a good sermon to-day he said
to himself; Honor thy father and thy
mother is good text to build a sermon
on. 1 saw Dick at church and his pink
and white wife. l must cay she is pretty,
though; but man ought to have more
sense than to be carried away just by
pretty face. i think that sermon must
have awakened some remOrse in his heart.
How was it the parson put ite that God
did not say, children, obey your parents"
in His grand commandment; for many
would have held that obligatory only on
young children; but the command was
broad as the world, and deep as the life
of man, "Honor thy father and mother. ~
[ fancy he must have felt his conscience
prick him as he listened to that. Yet he
was always a good son till this one thing.
Yes. l must say this, Dick was always
good boy, and obcyed lovingly and cheer
fully. The house is quiet since he left.
Perhaps if we had been gentler with him
all this might never have happened.
Perhaps we are as much to blame as he.
1 thought of this when the minister spoke
of the duty of parents to their children.
l wonder what l would have done it my
parents had interfered with my mar
riagei / am certain / would have done rs
Dick did. What fools we were; see it
now. | might have avoided this had l
Seen more fatherly. What do he and his
wife think of lis, | wonder! Hate us,
most likely. l would if 1 were in their
place"
"SIother!'
''Well, Richard"
81 have been thinking of Dick"
$50 have II
81 am afraid we are most to blame for
all this unhappiness; Dick Was always
good boy"
81 know he was"
"Dont cry, dear; it may be all right
yet"
"Oh, bow?''
Il don't, just now. know the best way;
but there mus: l,:. way"
I am s;raid, Richard, their hearts have
ha.11dened towards us. We ought never
to have let anything come between us
and our child
81 see that, now; but 1t was a dear les
son to learn. But l think we will be
happy in our children yet. / watched
Kitty in church to day, and her face was
very sweet / think we could love her
for Dicks sake
''Yes, yes" said his wife, 81 can love
her for her own sake. She has a good face
We let pride carry the day against her.
We ought to have honored her for earn
ing her living. l see it all now, when it
is too late"
"Not too late yet, please God" said
he; "stop crying, dear, and before an
other hour is over let US go to our chill
dren"
"Whati we go to themr'
"Of course, my dear; it was we who
drove our child away, and now let us
bring him back into our hearts"
"Iou are right, Richard; we will 60"
quickly they were out unuer tne moon
lit sky, and walking toward their sons
house. at is a tasty house." they said
to each other; and the lighted windows
looked as if it was happy home be-
hind them.
Within the house husband and wife
were sitting together in silence, but both
were thinking of the lonely house over
the hill, that looked down on them coldly
and knowingly. They heard a click at
the gate, feet on the path, and then rap
at the door. ''Some one come to the
wrong place." said Dick, 81 will go to
the door"
He opened it, and woman caught him
and kissed him, raining tears on his face
and saying, "My boy! my boy!'
''Ohl Kitty! Here are father and
MOTHER
eyes, Dick, both father and mother
come after their children. Is your heart
hard toward US, Dick?"
Not a bit! Oh, L am so glad! Where
is Kitty"
''In your mothers arms"
"And you forgive us, father"
awe have nothing to forgive.''
"Thank Godl"