River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-10-05

TO save his gray hairs from shame and
disgrace.
There was. as we have said, public
sale. 1t comprised the store and
household goods, and included val
liable horse, which Mrs. Phillips fail
ing health had induced him to buy,
and which he would not part with
after her death. The man had ten
der spot in his heart after all. His
first question, when the man who had
been his clerk came into his solitary
room at boarding house, the night
after the sale, was -
''Who bought Fleetwood q
81 did not know the man. sir. He
was a stranger. There were many
strangers there, and | did not learn
the name of him who purchased the
horse. lie was in the house a good
part of the time, and | noticed that
he bid for a number of things"
81 hope Fleetwood has kind mas
ter" observed Mr.. Phillips, after a
pause.
The clerk was going, but returned,
after short parley with some one at
the door.
Here's a man, sir, who wishes you
to meet him at the house you Occu-
pied, at half-past nine this evening"
"What can any one want of me
there g. said Mr.. Phillips, with an I'M
easy gesture.
~ cannot tell, sir. | did not know
the man, but from the dim glance |
had of him at the door, should say
it was the man who was bidding upon
tho xrhnF, / ami tho
same who bought Fleetwood.
Il must go, suppose yet, if he is
a gentleman. should hardly think he
would expose me to the pain of going
there"
Mr.. Phillips walked to his own
house with trembling steps. He
looked old and feeble, like a man who
had numbered twice his years. He
reached the door that once opened to
his familiar touch and rang the bell.
The woman who had so long kept his
house opened it, and ushered him to
the sittting-room, from which, years
ago. he had ordered his boy from his
sight forever.
This thought flashed into his mind,
and was more vivid from the circum-
stance of his own armchair being re-
moved out of its ordinary place, and
set in the middle of the room, and a
low chair directly in front of it, on
which Samuel had leaned in passionate
weeping. The boy on that night, had
left his cap hanging on the corner of
that low chair and, as if to deepen
the fathers anguish tonight, boy S
cap hung there again. How well he
remembered it How he shook with
the memories that rose up 10 his mind!
His fearful eyes scarcely took in the
figure of noble looking gentleman
who now entered the room, and de-
sired him to walk around the house.
| every piece of furniture was in its old
place. In his own chamber, the little
arrangements of his dressing table were
precisely as they always were; and in
little bedroom beside it. were the two
small beds in which his boys used to
/ sleep.
/ He looked up at his conductor
through his fast falling tears. Some
thing in his face, in the bright, flash
4 ing eyes of the stranger, went to his
heart. They had returned to the sit
| ting room, and the stranger held his
hand with a warm, loving grasp. lie
| heard the words, This is all yours,
dear father !" and then the two men
sank together upon their knees, while
/ the Younger breathed out fervent
\ thanksgiving that he had been spared
I to comfort and console him in his hour
of adverse fortune.
/ Stung with his fathers cruel words,
/ Samuel Phillips had deserted his home,
and, driven almost TO desperation, had
/ wandered away from the place that
knew him, to a far city. Providence
raised up friends to the desolate boy.
4 He found himself trusted, hOnored, re-
1 spected and at the death of one who
| had been as a father to him, he be-
came wealthy. He saw the notice of
the sale in newspaper-hurried ON to
prevent it, and arrived only when it
1 had already commenced.
! He had heard of his mothers death,
and from that time resolved never to
return. But when he found that his
| father was in real distress, all was for
gotten, save the thought that he might be
/ in time to save him from open disgrace
or actual want. Everything had fall
/ en- into his hands, for the by-standers
saw that he was determined to possess
all, they gave way to his evident de-
\ sire and ability to crafty it.
The reconciliation was complete.
/ The pride of the father was Suhdued.
Reinstated in his old home, his liabili-
| ties all met, and his business re-estab-
lished, by the son he had banished,
his heart had melted to a child-like
humility that was touching to behold.