Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-11-20
New Series. VOl..G. no. "a.
I Old Series. Vol. 35, No. 81.

ness seemed lesSened by the arrival of thi
handsome boy.
-Four years gided ny uneventfully ant
happily. The stern old man seemed to re
new his youth in his intercourse with TIN
son Minnie had sent to him" ahc talented
scholar who was winning co}ege honors
and who kept himself singularly pure il
the whirl of the great city's vices.
The fatherly love that Simon Claytor
had thought buried in the graves of hi:
own boys at Greenwood, sprang to new
life and Vigor, as Cyrus gained firm stand
IN his heart. He kept the boy from tht
temptations Of vicious company by giving
him Tree permission to extend the hospita
lities of his home to his fellow students
and the boys own refined instincts led him
to seek only the association of gentlemen.
His love OF animals being discovered, he
became the pOssessor of 4 fine horse.
lie was encouraged TO join q boat club,
and Simon himself accompanied him
! TO such places of amusement as he desired
to visit. Yet, suddenly risen from poverty
to riches, from bitter self-denial to an in
dulgence of every wish, from the necessity
of bread winning, to the supply of luxuries,
Cyrus Ford vas not spoiled.
With his heart full of gratitude, be look
ed upon all his opportunities for improve
ment as a preparation for making his own
way in the world. He was studying law,
and he studied with the thought that his
daily bread would soon depend upon his
legal knowledge. The idea of ever inher-
iting any portion of the wealth that was
smoothing his path in college, never pre-
sented itself to his mind, and his most con-
slant thought of future prosperity, resting
upon his own exertiOns, was the hope of
one day proving his gratitude by repaying
the money spent so freely for him, though
he could Dever by a lifetime devotion re-
turn the fatherly love and kindness lavish
ed on him.
He had heard of Laura Clayton from
one of those dear friends who try to poison
all happiness by anticipations of misery.
You bad better keep on the right side
fyour uncle by never contradicting him.
this friend had told him, he was awfully
fond Of his daughter, but he never forgave
her for marrying against his will
Il thought his children were all dead,'
was the reply.
Not at all. Mrs. Cameron lives in
little room in Pearl Street, and runs sew
ing machine for living. She has one
daughter, but all the rest of her children
are dead. Hard lines. amt it, sewing for
a living when her father is rolling in
wealth.
In Pearl Street =
Yes. She makes my shirts, so l keep
her address. She is at No. - Pearl
Street.
The conversation left a deep impression
upon Cyrus Ford. Once, in the generous
impulse Of youth, he had approached the
subject with his adopted uncle, but he was
so sternly silenced that he never dared
speak again the name of the disObedient
daughter. In October, when his twenty
first birthday came, Simon Clayton led the
young man one morning to his library.
Cyrus, he said, you are man to-day,
and you have a right to know what are
my intentions regarding you. In the
course of the next year you will be admit
ted to the bar, and l shall make you the
agent of my property. Together We will
go over all my investments, and you will
be able to relieve me of some burden of
care, as well to learn where your own pro-
perty will one day lie. For to-day make
my will, and you will be my sole heir.
Not word Your mother gave you to
me Be my loving son, Cyrus, it is all l
ask OF you.
Your daughter
Not n word of her She died to me
fourteen years ago.
The tone was so stern, Cyrus could only
bow his head in silence, and register VOW
in his heart that his life service should
never waver toward his beneflctor.
1t seems sudden adoption when told in
the limits Of my story, but, in truth, il was
no caprice that Influenced Simon Clayton
in his resolve. During four years of con-
slant intercourse, he studied Cyrus Ford
with the close scrutiny of stern nature,
soured by many disappointments, and
keenly alive to every defect in human ma
ture.
He found in his CLOSETS study of the young
protegee, so unexpectedly placed in his care,
no deceit, no time serving, no servility.
An honorable ambition, 4 respectful gra-
titude that was never iavoring nor cring-
ing, and upright integrity, and close at
tentiOn to he studies that were no child's
task for cOuntry-bred brains, all wakened
the respect Of the old man. His love was
more easily won. Minnie's son, looking
into his face with Minnie's great, tender
eyes, moved his heart to affection before
the first hour of intercourse was over and.
once given, the affection never wayered,
growing with every days intercourse, till
the gnawing pain of his own boys gone was
lost in the love for the son sent to comfort
his old age
Thanksgiving came again-the fourth
since Cyrus Ford came to Clayton-and
with it came q sorrow. The first time
in his life Simon Clayton felt the pressure
Of physical pain. He had been q model of
manly strength during the entire period of
sixty years of his life, but some unwODteG
exposure had brought on an attack of fever
that, setting its fanss deep in the strong
frame, brought it very nigh the grave.
Cyrus had been watching all night when
Thanksgiving Day dawned, clear and
bright, though the first fall Of snow cover
ed the streets The invalid, turning rest
lessly upon the pillow, spoke of some un-
finished business his illness had delayed,
and seemed to have his intellect clearer
than they had been before during his i'll
ness.
Il wish you would caA upon HoSkins this