Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-11-28
Saturday, November %, 1874.
Cvrtls Ford Temptation.
A Thanks living story.

You'll be expecting company to-day, SIR z
Simon Clayton looked over the top OF the
newspaper he was reading, to see bis house.
keeper waiting for an answer.
Why to-day he said, in suTly tone, asit
annoyed at the interruption. Why to-day,
more than any other day? Do ever have
companyY
But It is Thanksgiving Day. sir, and most
folks have their kin around them, or perhaps
you are going out amongst your own relaIvesf
MOI have no kin There Is no relative
Of mine with whom break bread, either on
this day or any other.
The newspaper screen came between the
master of tue house anl the old housekeepeF
once more, but it could not quite shut from
his eais the murmur OF the good woman, as
she left the room:
Dear, dear! What a pity And so rich
toor
Simon Clayton was reused from thought By
a knock at the door, and in answer to his
"C0me iu,' a IaJ eutered carrying iettec 1t
was brief letter, scarcely more than note,
reading:
.DEAa SIMON am dying, AMI l may call
you so now, will you give helping hand to
my son who will bring this to you after have
lett this world Five children lay beside my
husband 10 the cburchyard, bat my youngest,
Cyrus. my only one, sits beside me while |
write. We have scarcely enough of worldly
wealth to save me from paupeT's grave. and
send NY son to you; but by our old love, ST.
mon, implore you to help him TO obtain an
honest employment. | have been true wife
and a good mother, as far as | could, Simon,
vet on NY deathbeG know that my only love
was given To- you when they parted Us, and
will be yours if We meet in another world.
MINNIE"
There was deep silence in the room as ST.
mon Clayton read the letter, and ne was forced
to wait many minutes before his voice would
obey him to ask Your mother is dead ?"
She died in the summer, sir
why have you waited 50 long to come to
me?
1T took all we had to pay our debts and the
funeral expenses, and had to work to earn
my travelling money to come from Illinois
You want employment now
4 shall be very grateful, sir, if you will help
me to iud work"
To-day is a holiday. You will be my guest
for the present., and will see what | can do
for you
As Simon Clayton spoke, be reached out his
band and tou;hed bell upon the table near
HIM His housekeeper answered the summons.
You see I have company, Mrs. Grey, he
said, and the housckeeper wondered at the
change in his face and voice, lacking all sever
ity, yet so sad You will have a room made
comfortable for Mr. Ford
The woman courtesied and was gone, and
Simon questioned bis young guest. His eyes
were misty more than once over the straight
forward story Of privation the boy told, bis ev-
ident devotion to his mother, who had been
widowed when he was a baby. lt was not
difficult 10 see that the boy, ground down by
poverty, had yet a craving for education, and
had profited by all his mother could teach him.
His very touch upon the books 90 tie table,
his eyes, when they rested upon the well-lilled
bookcase told tie brain hunger better than
spoken words. So before Mrs. Grey called
them to dinner, Simon Clayton was planning
the lads future as his adopted son.
True Thanksgiving fare the kind-hearted
housekeeper had prepared for the unexpected
guest, and Simon Cayt0n's heart was nearer
thankful prayer than it bad been for many
long years, as he looked at the bright, grateful
face opposite to him, and knew Minnie's child
looked UP to him for kindness aud protection.
Before a week had passed the lad was en-
tered as a student in one Of the city colleges,
living with his new friend.
You had better call me Uncle Simon, The
latter had said to bin, FOR your mother was
dearer than a sister to me, my boy, aud If the
people who hear you think you are nay nephew,
leave all explanations 20 me-
But the world troubled itself very little a.
bout Simon Cayton's new relative, some Of the
more kndly-hearted hoping be would have
comfort 10 the lad, others plying poor Laura,
whose chance Of forgiveness seemed lessened by
she arrival Of this handsome boy
-Four years glided by uneyenifu!ly and hap
ply. The stern old man seemed TO renew bis
Youth in bis Intercourse with the son Minnie
had sent 10 him, the talented scholar who was
winning college honors, aud who Kept himself
siugularly pure in the whirl Of the great city's
vices.
The fatherIy love that Simon Clayton had
though, buried in the graves Of bis own boys
at Greenwood, spraDg TO new life and vigor,
as Cyrus gained firm stand in bis heart. He
kept the boy from the temptations Of vicious