Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-07-31

. Caftef's love for his father was simpl
{ alteration. Il was o depending. trusI
ing love which had strengthened a
D from babyhood. he had never full
realized his fathers danger until th
? last few days. when his decline ha
been so pa,pable. With the needless
} ness Of youth he had blindiy hope
on, silenced fear and hoped agains
hope. Now, bis fearful decline cam
upon him with awful suddeness tha
! aroused his dreaming faculties. Will
had been vigilant and hopeful unit
the last few hours. She had stood b.
his side soothing him, but now, wheI
! the death paroxysms came on, sh,
sicksned with terror and turned aside
She felt as though she could not see
the last quiver steal over that worship.
ped form. Her brain reeled hel
heart seemed to hush its throbbings
and with one last effort she tottered
| from the bed and threw herself in the
abandonment of grief on the sofa,
Physician and friends were there
among the mourners. aud they mar
veled at this mute, terrible grief. The
suffering became more intense and the
Doctor raised some colorless fluid to
his lips which seemed to revive him
and with great effort he spoke.
Ruth. my darling. I sm soon to
leave you. The end is near, very near !;
but, Ruth. viii I see you no more |?
say my child is the parting to be eter-
nal ?" The smaciated hand wandered
over her bright head and deep sobs
choked the answer that arose to her
lips. Her grief was too much for him
and be sank back On his pillow ex-
hausted. When the long shudder
again wore OF, he unclosed his sunken
eyes and they fell upon Willis. All
the ysarning tenderness Of his heart
seemed to go out after the proud, mis-
ersbls orphan who had nestled so
firmly in his hearts great love. He
had watched her from girlhood up to
woman's proud heights, and she had by
her valid truthfulness and exemplary
morality won his deepest respect. He
knew she was possessed Of prejudice /;
again he knew she would not deign to
dissemble. She had hung over his
bedside at midnight's dim hour, had
cooled his burning brow and lulled his
raeked senses, had stolen out at dawn
to snatch few moments rest and was
back again v$th the long, tiresome
day hours TO relieve and smuse him.
Verify, she had by her faithfulness
liquida.ed the debt of gratitude. She
had no godly reverence, no sanctifed
hope. Must he leave her thus Leave
her 10 toll and weep few years and
then 20 down 10 lawless retEibution 2
Her mothers image came before him
with her sad. sweet face framed in
clustering curls. In his dying vision
he beheld q crown of life upon her
brow. and falling from the angel lips
were the words, Save my child"
Gathering up his waning strength, he
walled forth prayer for the orphan,
his precious foster child.
The words were thrilling and impas-
stoned and they fell on Willis heart
as no holy words had ever done before.
She trusted her father implicitly; she
reverenced his religion. In her wor-
shipping eyes he seemed q demigod,
faultless and pure, and up from her
sneering, calious heart came q prayer,
the FIRST that had passed those coral
lips since her mothers exit from this
shadowed life. She pleaded wildly,
fervently aud in faith, and when her
petition was ended there was a glim-
mer of rest, holy calm in her soul
that che had not felt for long, long
years. Ahi the redeemed millions in
the courts above must have shouted
long anthem of joy as the reviler Of
faith turned her back upon the Sodom
of her soul.
Mr.. Clifford turned to Carter. His
boy, his baby. was now man, wrsst-
ling With the sorrows that come to all.
He put forth his hands as if to en-
brace him and said in broken accents,
''Oh my boy. long life stretches out
before you; make it one Of usefulness.
You have been my pride-the light Of
my heart--and now / commend you to
Horace. He will" The voice fail
ed, the sunksn eyes drooped and there
was silence in the room save his quick,
irregular breathing. HE will make
man Of you. my boy. just aad upright.
Obey him always, and Carter. my boy"
A crimson food came pouring from
his lips that sileneed them forever.
Mrs. Lee laid him back on his pillows,
and throwing herself down beside him
she sobbed psssionstely. He had lin
gered long on the threshold Of suffer-
ing and at last he had passed the por-
tails that reveal all mysteries. He was
with his God in a shadowless home.
The sufeting, painting lips are now
fraught with the melody Of glory. He
is free from all anguish, can sorrow no
more. The withered brow is retoueh-
ed with heavens bloom to wear the
crown eternal. The tired feet have
sandals of light. There, in view Of
the cross, BY the river of lifs-zud in
bloom perpetual, be will wander for
ever. There. by wisdom and mercy
surrounded, he is happy, and shouts
that, "All's for the best.
TO BE CONTINUED.
"OId Irsnsides."