Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-10-05

SOmeWh here Ill the DF!Snt1leSS lies
Though only stars may he dlscerned
By mans shortsighted eyes:
DARKNESS AND LIGHT.
leave the house instantly - 70,
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 a.; still harder from those
Of 4 father.
Mr.. John Phillips was q proud MAJ
proud Of himself, of his family, Of
the reputation he had acquired fol
honesty and upright dealing. and OF
the notice lie received from people
who were Just step farther up the
ladder of fortune than himself. To in
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 4 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 penny from apoor child
when others gave freely. accorded i'll
with the reports of his father wealth,
and the lads sometimes touched the
sorest place in Samuel Phillips, heart,
by reproducing him with sordldness:
One day-a cold, wintry day-a lit
tie girl, shivering and pale, came into
the store. Her wan, blue look touched
his heart with pity. lie had money in
his hand, but it was not his own. How
could he send her away! He 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 boys bushes and confusion as
he tried to make an honest statement
of the case. were taken for guilt; and
q 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 he 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 a heggar What
m enormity! And then, that John
Phillips son should so outrage his ia
theirs good name! The mans pride
was stronger than the parents affec.
ton. Samuel took him at his word;
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. His pride and cruelty sent
him forth, a wanderer, distrusting all,
holding in his heart 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 a 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 anil unforgiving words he had
driven him away.
Years passed away. No tjdings came
of the fugitive. The mother yearning
for her frstborn, 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. It 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. A 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
plying him for being a castaway, he
only pitied himself for not being able
to keep up the family name.
At last there came 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
him in his business, until at length he
was obliged to give up all into the
hands of his creditors. He surrender.
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.
jured, 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 remunerated by that which was
unseen.
His friends forsook him one by one
dropping off, unable to vouch for his
innocence. His health failed, and
if it had not, he could have witnessed
the public sale which was now an
nounced, of his household treasures.
He had tortured himself by throw.
ing into his creditors hands even lit
tie trifiing 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 4
curl of golden hair at the back of the
locket. That child! Oh, if he could
but now recall the past! If he had
but spoken kindly and *forgivingly,
that child might now have been near
to save his gray hairs from shame and
disgrace.
There was, as We have said, public
sale. It 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 q ton.