Litchfield enquirer., 1876-05-11

Then he suddenly remembered little farm not far from Paterson, which had E been part of his mothers fortune, and hir- ing horse and buggy, he tried to find it. Itwas onlya low stone cottage, surrounded by cherry-treeS that were now old and bare. The fields around were white and still; the little stream bound in icy fet- ters, the cattle staring piteously at the barren earth, and dumb in their cold, hunger and comfortless life.
 A rude, unpainted fence divided small yard and garden from the general waste of desolation, and walking slowly across the yard was figure which, in spite of shabby clothes and aging years. Robert easily recognized as his father.
 The old man saw the approaching buzz gy, and, going to the gate, called, queru- lously:
 "You need not alight, sir; we have no room to entertain strangers. We never do it, sir! No, indeedr
 Then Robert saw pale, weary-looking woman come for a moment to the door, and, after vacant stare, close it again.
 It was all very discouraging, but he never for one moment hesitated in his in- tentions. Leaving the horse tied to the fence, he walked up to the closed gate; and, stretching his hand across it, said:
 Father"
 The old mans face grew suddenly gray and the lines about the mouth deepened invohntarily, he dropped his eyes, but raised them quickly to say:
 Ham poor man, now, Robert-there is nothing to be got by seeking me out" "I want nothing, father, but your for giveness and love. am rich man now, unless you shut your door against me. Then shall feel poor enough" Come in, then"
 The tone was not a gracious one. but Robert knew what it cost the old man to humble so far, and he accepted the inyi- tation with 'Thank you, father"
 Earnestly as they walked up the little path, Robert spoke to his father, and it must have had some effect, for when they reached the house-door he opened it and with much softer tones, called out:
 "Lucy, here is your brother Robert"
 Lucy's welcome made made up for all deficiencies, and the evening, which had promised so little, was passed in such confidence as had never before existed between this father and his children.
 They spent few days together in New York before leaving for the West and the elder Hammond, attired once more in irreproachable broadcloth, visited such of his old haunts as were willing to know him, making no small boast of the immense wealth of his ''son Robert" and the gigantic business they were going to do together in Chicago.
 I should do wrong if led my readers to infer that Ralph Hammond's charac- ter essentially and immediately changed. | His avarice never left him until his dy- ing day. .# But, in the beautiful companionship of l his sons wife and his grand children some of the toughest and most selfish l traits were toned down. He could not disbelieve in sthe unselfsh affection of Robert and his family, when they bore so patiently with all his faults, and had nothing certainly to expect in return. Lucy, in the quiet and peace of her new life, regained her youth and pretty looks, and is to-day happy wife and the mother of brave sons and. beautiful daughters; and in her redeemed life, and in the comfort and improvement of their fathers later years, Robert and Mary Hammond found abundant cause for rejoicing-in that having recognized their duty, they had gone after it, and