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

Leave the house instantly J" You
are no son of mine from this time.
will not harbOr one who has thus de
graded himself, and disappointed me.
Hard words were these from the
lips of any one still harder from those
of a father.
Mr.. John Phillips was proud man
proud of himself, of his family, of
the reputation he had acquired for
honesty and upright dealing, and of
the notice lie received from people
who were just step farther up the
ladder of fortune than himself. Toin
crease his wealth and consequence, he
had ground down his family to the
most 'pitiful and pinching straits 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 otner clerks.
Young Phillips scanty clothing, his
evident restitution of money, even to
withholding a penny from poor child
when others gave freely, accorded i'll
with the reports of his father S wealth,
and the lads sometimes touched the
sorest place in Samuel Phillips heart,
by reproaching him with sordidness.
One day-a cold, wintTy day-a lit
tie girl, shivering and pale, came into
the store. Her wan, blue look touched
his heart with pity. He had money in
his hand, but it was not his own. How
could he send her away! lie thrust
two glittering half dollars into her
hand, and babe her go and buy some
wood. The money he thought could
be replaced &: but he was watched by
another lad who was glad of an OppOr-
tunity to degrade him, and when the
cash sales were made up that night,
young Carol reported that the missing
dollar was taken by Samuel Phillips.
The bows 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
stealing.
In his first passion, Mr.. Phillips ut
tered the above words to his son. In
vain lie p eaded 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! Ard then, that John
Phillips son should SO outrage his IA
| theirs good name! The mans pride
was stronger than the parent S affec-
| ton. Samuel took him at his word I;
and that very night, in the cold and
darkness, the boy set off, making the
| first step in the unknown future of his
! ife.
Had his father but believed him,
| pointed out what was wrong in his
act, and forgave him for its mixture
of good. his son might never have sim
ned again. Ills pride and cruelty sent
| him forth, a wandeTer, distrusting all ,
holding in his heart a root of bitter
ness 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..
| Phillips tried to soothe the distressed
mother with the thought that he had
only disappeared for time, and would
soon be with them again, glad enough
/ to return and ask pardon for his con-
duct. lie did not tell her with what
wild AM unforgiving words he had
driven him away.
! Years passed away. No tidings came
/ of the fugitive. The mother yearning
] for her firStbOrn, dropped and died ;
and the only remaining son soon after
/ ward was drowned. Two daughters
were married and went away, and Mr..
/ Phillips was left alone. 1t was not
/ possible that conscience did not some
times bring back the image of that
poor boy, as he stood trembling
/ that night under the weight of his
| first crime. \ crime. too, committed
under the influence of the best feel
! ingS. and with full intention of repair
/ ing. But pride kept up his indigna-
/ ton against his son; and instead of
pitying him for being a castaway, he
/ only pitied himself for not being able
| 10 keep up the family name.
At last there came a day when even
Mr.. Phillips proud spirit was crushed.
/ More than the loss of his wife and
/ children. did his trial bow him TO the
/ earth. Loss after loss had come TO
1 him in his business, until at length he
was obliged TO give UP all into the
/ llttlluS OF HIS CItulttIS. lie SuIIeuutI-
ed everything-hOuSe and household
goods, not even taking the benefit
which the law allowed him. Yet there
were not wanting some among the in.
juTed. who openly asserted their be-
/ lief that Mr.. Phillips had actually
saved money by the operation. and
even cited his utter REIMBURSEMENT of
the visible property as proof that he
was Temunerated by that which was
unseen.
His friends f0TsOok him one 10y one
dropping off, unable 10 Youch for his
innocence. His health failed, and
| if il had not, he could have witnessed
the public sale which was now an
normced, of his household treasures.
He had tortured himself by throw
ing into his creditors hands even lit
! tie trifing mementOes of the past-lit-
orally leaving everything in his house,
save his own clothing and his private
desk, which, whatever others thought,
contained little but family letters, and
the miniature of little child, with
curl of golden hair az the back of the
.ocket. That child Oh, if he could
but now recall the past If he had
but spoken kindly and forgivingly,
,,av.r haau mar