Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-06-03
BURG, A1EGANY COUNTY, MARYLAND,
Darkness and Liqht.

Leave the house instantly + You
are no son of mine from this time.
will not harbor one who has thus de-
graded himself, and disappointed me. i"
Hard words were these from the
lips of any one still harder from those
of father.
Mr.. John Philips was a proud man
proud of himself, of his family, of
the reputation he had acquired for
honesty and upright dealing, and of
the notice he received from people
who were just step farther up the
ladder of fortune than himself. To
increase his wealth and consequence,
he had ground down his family to the
most pitiful and pinching straights in
private to atone for expenditures to
meet the public gaze with a show of
riches, that honestly belonged to his
wife and children for their ordinary
comfort.
His eldest boy was placed in store
where there were many other clerks.
Young Philips scanty clothes his evi-
dent destitution of money, even to
Withholding penny from poor
child when others gave freely, accord
ed i'll with the reports of his father s
wealth; and the lads sometimes touch
ed the sorest place in Samuel Philips
heart, by reproaching him with sordid-
ness
One day-a cold wintry day-a lit
tie girl, shivering and pale, came into
the store. Her wan, blue look touch
ed his heart with pity. He had mon
ey in his hand, but it was not his own.
How could he send her away? He
thrust two glttering half dollars into
her hand, and bade her go and buy
some wood. The money he thought
could be replaced; but he was watch
ed by another lad who was glad of an
opportunity to degrade him, and when
the cash sales were made up that night,
young Carroll reported that the miss
ing dollar was taken by Samuel Phil
lips.
The boys bushes and confusion as
he tried to make an honest statement
Of the case, were taken for guilt and
note to his father, which he was
obliged to take home from his employ
er, distinctly told that Mr.. Sampson
no longer wished to employ a person in
his store who had been guilty of steal
ing.
In his first passion Mr.. Philips ut
tered the above words to his son. In
vain he pleaded why he did it. Per-
haps the excuse embodied more sin in
his fathers eyes, than the deed itself.
To give dollar to beggar! What
an enormity And then, that John
Philips son should so outrage his faith
er's good name The mans pride was
stronger than the parents affection.
Samuel took him at his word and
that very night in the cold and dark
ness, the boy set off, making his first
step into the unknown future of his
life.
Had his father believed him, point
ed out what was wrong in his act, and
forgave him for its mixture of good,
his son might never have sinned again.
His pride and cruelty sent him forth
a wanderer, distrusting all, holding in
his heart a root of bitterness which
might turn his whole life to gall.
When the family was aroused to
the conviction, the next morning, that
Samuel Phillips was actually gone,
Mr.. Philips tried to sooth the distress
ed mother with the thought that he
had disappeared for time, and would
soon be with them again, glad enough
to return and ask pardon for his con-
duct. He did not tell her with what
wild and unforgiving words he had
driven him away.
Years passed away. No tidings
came of the fugitive. The mother,
yearning for her first born, dropped
and died and the only remaining son
soon afterward was drowned. Two
daughters married and went away,
and Mr.. Phillips was left alone. 1t
was not possible that concience did
not sometimes bring back the image
of that poor boy, as he stood trembling
that night under the weight of his first
crime. A crime, too, committed un-
der the intention of repairing. But
pride kept up his Indignation against
his son instead of pitying him for be-
l. i l Il