The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-05-16
Communications.
ITnPFA- NIaN 4. 1SI3.

UTOPIA, May Z, 1873.
DEAR FREEMAS-You will judge by the
tenor OF Miss LIghtfoot's note, sent with my
last epistle, that it behooyeS me TO act more
cautiously in the future Still l am deter
mined TO let slip no opportunity for benefit
ing my fellow beings, and especially the fair
sex, or amusing the readers OF the Freeman
both of which am OF course doing with 4
vengeance
Business or pleasure, ! disremenlcr now
which, tocS me from home the other day
On the way L overlook a hale old farmer
whom l judged to he not more than siSty
years OF age. As we were both going in the
same direction for some distance anu as he
seemed To be a 'conversible codger." | took
the liberty of asking why he was so early
at"ot. Il am going he replied, ''to put in
some of my crop: / have raised a lal sc fam
ily-fvc boys and three girls-and my word
for il, sir, you could not find more healthy
looking groupin Pennsy lvania. We thought
that when God in His goodness had blessed
us with them, they wUtild be oar main SUP
port in our declining years. We thought,
too, that they would smooth the last DAYS OF
our earthly pilgrimage and care for us when
old age and iufirmity had rendered us help
less. But, alas for the children OF this
country" :" The old gentleman seemed to be
struggling with sOfEe inteSnal emotion, but
after a short pause he continued My Old
est son, at the time when he would he of
most use to me, conceived y disgust for cOun-
try life. He said there was not enough ex-
citement in our quiet village for him. He
said he wanted to zee the wOrid-Sce some
life, as he himself expressed it. His mother
and l represented to him the dangerous
snares that were laid for the young and in
experienced, and begged him with tears i'll
our eyes Tot TO bring down our gray hairs il
sorrow to the grave. But all our entrcaties
were in vain. lie even went - far as TO
laugh at our fears in regard 10 his future
well-being.''
The old man + words stungme to the quick,
for H. had portrayed in most faithful terms
my own traHSgrcSsionS when l first had the
misfortune TO spurn the advice OF my good
father and mother. ] asked him il he had
heard ANYTHING concerning the boy after he
had left home Yes, he replied ''about
two years after leaving rs he wrcte a letter
informing us that he had married very fine
young lady-a perfect beauty, rs he termed
her. We surinircd what kind Of life he
and his beauty would lead and il ter!nlna-
ted aS we expected, for in less than one year
after their marriage he ayai!ed himself OF
that lag which is the biDe of society, and
the two were divorced. What became of
him afterwards know not. Perhaps he was
killed in the war; or he may still be drag
gilg out u miserable existence sOlneW here.
We have had no word from him since he anG
his wife separated well, what ahnut
Your other sons ?" ] inquired "surcly they
Igofited by the sad example OF their bv0Gher.'
y o indeed, my friend" he replied with a
deep sigh. ''WOuId to God that such was
the case It would be some consolation il
one or two Of them would remain at home
and help us on with the heaviest part of the
I work; Int uo-when spring time comes they
generally pack up and start on a tour OF OBJ
serVatiOn, as they call il. Can not say wit
truth that l have brought up children and
they despised me-maHiug me often wish,
II it was Gods holy will, that l might be re-
moved from This vale of tears
/ fain would have continued the converse
! ti0n, but the old farmer was 1T the end Of
/ his Journey, and there was nothing left for
me 10 do but To go my way, pityiug the desc
late condition OF the poor old man.
More anon. ROVER