The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-11-26
only boon he had ever denied her-for.

giveness for their absent son.
Father! father! I cannot forget tina
we have two children away from us an,
home tonight. How can / sit down t
another Thanksgiving feast, with all m,
loved ones around me save one, and tina
one is forbidden to join me?"
I'VE cannot help his absence; he lief
of his own free will. Tomorrow it il
our duty as well as our pleasure to for
get the trials and crosses of our lives
and be thankful for the many blessing
and the great degree of prosperity tina
have fallen to u.s."
Cannot we help his absence? d.
you think our boy would not come to u.
with Joy if we asked him to come
II have no boy to ask home. HI
ceased to be- child of mine when he
disowned my authority as a parent. II
is not l but greater than I who has pro
nounced the penalty upon those who
honor not their father and mother.
cannot remit it if would, and dare moi
if could. As he sinned, he must suffer
and we suffer also, the innocent for the
guilty. He denied his father, and have
no son."
He turned impatiently away, and the
mother sank back in her chair with a
heavy sigh. Here, too, she could only
wait.
"They are coming" cried Esther's
clear voice. "Father, mother, l hear
the bells on the hill. They are almost
here"
my precious child," cried the mother
starting up.
THAT is right, wife. We must not
meet her with clouded faces tonight
Nor may we forget she brings with her
one to whom she owes her life. Brave
fellow! When I think of Hope, alone
and forgotten, in an upper room of a
burning house, feel as if all could do
for him would in no manner repay the
debt shall always owe him. At least
we can give him a hearty welcome to our
home and hearts,"
The sound of the bells grew nearer and
clearer. Then the drivers voice was
heard, shouting to his horses as he drew
up before the gate. Esther and Mary,
with Hepsa and Mrs. Grimalkln follow
ing. flew down the path. A strange, quick
silence followed their first noisy greet
ing. A moment more and Hope was at
her mothers feet, clinging to her mothers
neck.
"Dear mother, dear father, it is so good
to see you and the old home again." The
mothers arms were around, the mothers
voice and kisses were giving her welcome,
but from the father to his favorite child
came no word or sound of greeting Erect
and firm he stood, his hand resting
heavily upon the chair beside him, his
eyes fixed upon the strange group outside
the door before him.
Esther and Mary, with an arm of the
stranger around each, had hidden their
faces from sight upon his shoulders,
while Hepsa, alternately laughing and
crying, walked around the group, APP
parently distracted between love and
There he stood outside the door in the
darkness and the cold, refusing to enter
until the master of the house babe him
Welcomed stranger no longer-his dis
Obedient, banished son. Recalled by the
sudden stiffness, Hope sprang to her feet.
Father! father" she cried, "he saved
my lite" =,
"Oh, no, father, alone am response
Die for this act. But for him l should
never have seen you and home again. l
thought you would want to thank him
for yourself. know you love him. faith
,r, and he had nowhere else to go to-
With cry OF yearning love that could
not be suppressed the mother rose to
her feet and laid one trembling hand
upon her husbands shoulder, stretching
he other toward her son in greeting.
"Oh, my boy" the words were over.
lowing with tenderness, "you are sure
y welcome. For NV sake come in. Re-
husband, the debt you owe him.
Remember he is your son-you cannot
last him away" Hope threw herself at
lis feet, and caught in hers the hand he
vas about to raise.
"Go in, girls, out of the cold, and you,
1epsa," said the young man. Trem-
,lingly his sisters obeyed him, but Hepsa,
lropping her "curtsy," answered: "Af
err you, sir"
"Why do you not come in also:' the
words were harsh and cold.
The young man bent his head and an
wered sorrowfully, II have not yet for
,otten, sir, that l have been forbidden
0 do so. await your permission to en-
err"
You had your choice between going
md staying once. And you went readily
nOugh. If you made sorry bargain,
hat is your affair, not mine. lhave done
With it,"
Father! father!' cried his children
n concert.
"Be silent, all of you," was the COM
handing answer.
With low moan of pain the mother
ank back upon her chair. She had
waited, and hoped, and feared so long.
lard was her husbands nature, and
eeply as she knew his sons disobedi-
nee had wounded him she had trusted
he sight of the Once-loved face, the
ound of the unforgotten voice would
ave conquered him.
The young man crossed the thresh-
Id and fastened to his mothers side,
nd Hepsa, stepping in behind him, tri-
shut and bolted the door,
Darling mother, am sorry to give |
GU pain. Your pale face has been a
onstant reproach to me through all
hese long months. Say you forgive ME,
0 take one look at your sweet face and
D hear your dear voice call me son once
lore"
wy sui: my oOu ClC ulOIucI UcuI
yer him, reading eagerly the open, hon
st face. uplifted to meet her scrutiny
You have been good boy, haven't
ou:" Oh, holy mother love! unseltish
nd unworldly!-asking gifts for it's
,ved ones beyond the power Of earth to
i've, and seeing them granted in answer
0 it's faith.
"Oh, mother, have never forgotten
GU an instant"
Then he rose and stood before his
ather
II do not come to disturb your Thanks
living festival, sir. 1 will go away
gain. But think we shall both be
appier if you will forgive my past DISC
edience. am not sorry 1 went away. 1t
J best for US both, as l was not born for
farmers life. But / am sorry left
GU in anger. / am sorry for the disre-
pectful words have said to you, and l
ave come here tonight to ask you to
Drgive them"
lie bent his head toward the stern old |
ian and awaited his answer.
oh, father, he says nothing of how he
isked his life to bring me back to you,"