The Van Buren press., 1877-02-06
Ths uia Man Who Smiled.

The uid Man Who Smiled.
Detroit, Free Press One time there
" IS agood old man living in Detroit
His back was bent, his step was slow, and
men who sa2ed upon his snowy locks
and wrinkled faces, whispered to each
other.
He il good old man, who has not
long to live"
The old man had been well of, in his
day, but when he found himself on the
shady side of life. wife dead. and home
sNtokenur. he said to his only SOM
Here. William, take all / have, and
let your home be my home until die
The son took the papcrs--you bet he
did land the father was given cozy
corner, big chair, and a corn cob pipe.
Allwsutwe for a year or 50, md then
the son and Tue sons wife began to make
it uncomfortable for the nice old man in
the cornef. They threw out hints, de-
prived him Of his comforts, and one cold
dsy lie was told that be had better 60 to
Halifax Nova Scotia.
The Cd mans heart was sore, as he
went out into the world to battle against
hunger and cold, and when night came,
he covered in a door way, and wept like
child.
"Who is making that chin music, up
there p called reporter, VIII Jse steps
had been arrested BY the sobs, and he
went up the steps, pattcd the old man on
tue head, and by aud by the story was
told.
"Come down 10 the station with me"
said the reporter. taking the old mans
arm. " Yonr son is first cousin to the
man who preferred buxzard to lamb, and
Ill help you to fix him =
Next morning, one Of the daily pa.
pers contained an item to the effect that
an old gentleman, by the name of Good
heart, had been found wandering the
streets at night, and that. when taken to
the station, 10000 worth Of bonds were
found on him. The old man read it over
three times, slapped his leg, as he saw
the point, and n beautiful smile covered
his face, and climbed up through his hair
nfabout all hour his son William rushed
into the station and called out:
Father, dear father, come home All
of US were crying all night long, and my
wife is now lying In a comatose state on
yoar account"
The old man went home with him,
winking at the lamp, post, and smiling as
be turned the corners, He had all his
comforts back, and tho son bought him
costly pipe, and pair Of box toed boots
that very day. st
We'll, as the time went on, the son ven
turcd to saggest that the bonds had bet
tersbe turned over TO him. and every time
ne said bonds the old man would turn
the subject to patent milk-cans. and the
necessitv OF counterfeiters taking more
pains with their lead nickels, accompany
ing his remarks with smile. The Other
day. to die, and he smiled oftener than
before, as ha lay waiting for the sum.
mons. The son said his heart was break
ing. and then went through the old man.
clothes to find the bonds. He didn't find
any. He searched the barn and the gar
ret and the cellar, and finally, when he
saw that death was very near, he leaned
over the bed and whispered
u. - Father. do you know me q I'll
OH, yes-l KNOW you IKE Dook,
replied the, dying man. a.,jr
Il" And, father, don't you see that this
thing is almost killing me! r I
Eyes, William, see it," 90
And, father. se-those-bonds,
you know. I suppose you want them
used to purchases monument"
Correct, William" whispered the old
man. winking CHASTITY wink, and as that
same old smile covered his face, death
came to take him to better home.
When evening fell, and the son and the
sons wife were wildly searching in the
straw bed to get their hands on those
bonds,a reporter stood under the gas.
lamp across the street and with his
thumb on his nose, he sweetly called out
Sold agin, and got the tin--the next
filial son step forwardl' @f