The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-06-24

They were rather shy st first Of
stranger, and a little proud and
naughty, perhat- People vino have
seen better days, and are down upon
their luck, are apt 70 be so. But
the psrson, with his pleasant
ways and CHEEKY voice, soon made it
all right; and in jifIy, he and Mr..
Vincent were talking about college,
for they had both been to the same
university. And there was even
soon a smile, tOO--a wan smile enough
upon the poor invalid's sharp-cut.
thin face, with the hollow, far-away
eyes, which looked at you as il out of
q cavern. He was the wreck of q fine
young fellow, too of one who had
been used to his hunting and shoot
ing, and all the fine country sports
which make broad-ehested, strong
limbed country people the envy Of US
poor, thin, pale tOwnsioik
Mr., Rroadman came direct to me
when he left them. did not live far
of, and he thought that might lend
them a neighbours help. "Dayis,"
says he "that poor fellow is dying
l can see death in his eyes"
"What is he dying Of?' re-
piled.
He looked ut me steadfastIy mo-
ment, and I could see q moisture in
his eye, as be said slowly and solemn
Iy, s'Of starvation, Davis-of actual
want of food"
"A gentleman starving in London,
in Isiington, q baroneps son, too!
Why, it's incredible.n
Ill NJ
'ithese are the very people who die of
cities. Not the poor, who know
where the work house is, and who
can get at the relieving officer, IL tile
worst comes to the worst but the
well born, who have fallen into desti-
tute poverty, and who carry their
pride with them. and dive lntO q
back alley, like some wild animal in
to hole, to die alone. Mr.. Vincent
wants wine aud jellies and sll sorts of
good things If help hasn't come too
late. No, no, my friend" he con-
tinued, putting back my hand, for /
was ready to give my money in a
proper cause. 'No, no l have left
them all they want at present, Davis.
But jill tell You what you can do; you
can, If you like to play the good
Samaritan, 90 and see them, and
cheer them up a bit. Mrs. Vincent
hasn't forgotten your kindness to her,
[ can assure you. And / think her
husband would like TO thank you too,
and it would rouse him up bit, per.
haps.D And then Mr.. BfOadman told
me, shortly, OF what these two poor
things had gene through-she, loving
and trusting him so /; and he, half
mad that he had brought her to this
pass, and could do nothing for her.
Mr.. BrOadman wrote that very day
to the baronet, a proud, hard man,
Pun told. But the letter he wrote
back was soft enough, ard melting to
read it was so full of human nature,
You see-the fathers heart swelling
10 at the thought of getting back his
son and bursting through the thick
crust of pride which hal prevented
him from making the first advances.
And the parsOn says to me "Well,
Mr.. Dsyis,n he said, "there are many
people kept asunder only for want OF
somebody to go between them, you
see, and make peace"
And 1 said, partly to myself
"Why shouldn't Christianity itself be
siich a general peaeemaker as that ?'
"Ay," replied Mr.. BrOadman, "if
people only believed in it properly"
That very day We got the baronet's
letter, was on my way, in the after
noon, TO Cambridge Terrace, to psy
my respects to Mrs. Vincent-and |
had sent in a few bottles of good old
port wine from my own wine-mer-
chant-at least as good as can be got
for money or love. Well, when l got
near the door, 1 saw an old gentleman
walking up and down, a little dis
turbed, apparently, In his mind at
finding himself in such queer local.
ity, and as If looking for something,
or somebody. A short, rosy-faced per-
son he was. clean shaved as pin, and
very neat and old-fashioned in his
dress ard with that sort of air about
him which marks an English coun-
try gentleman wherever he may be.
Well, we soon got into talk, for I'd
spotted the baronet in moment. and
he was anxious to find out something
about his son, as soon as he heard That
l knew a little of the young couple.
"And you do not think sir, that my
that Mr.. Vincent is dangerously
i'll ?' said the old baronct ; and there
was a sob in his voice as he spoke,
and his hand trembled as he laid It
upon mine.
"Here is the house, sir" said,
Sand you will be able to judge for
yourself"
We went in. At least the baronet
went into the room, trembling in
every limb with the excitement of see
ing his son. But when he set eyes on
him, the poor old man was so startled
that he could scarcely speak. His
son saw him and tried to rise. but
fell back feebly into his chair. ''Dear
father,n he murmured, stretching out
a thin, trembling hand, "forgive-"
But the father was on his knees by
the chair in a moment, clasping his
sons head in his arms, and fondling
him as he had done when the man
was baby.
"What have I to forgive? ? You
must forgive me for being so hard.
my dear boy, and get better soon,
Wilfred, my son, my son !"
I too had come into the room
could not help it, was so interested
and excited. But / saw that in the
young mans face which made my
heart sink in my bosom like lead.
The young wife saw it too, and
gave one, two, three sharp screams,
as II knife had been thrust into her
side.
Mr.. Broadman saw it; and quietly
kneeling down, commanded to God
as we'll as he could, for sobbing-the
soul OF His servant departing this
life.
And I-welI, why should / be
ashamed to confess ?-I knelt down
too, and cried like a child for the
young man had died in his fathers
arms, at the very moment Of recon-
oiIiafion