Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-02-24
The Old Han Who Smiled.
1Detroh Free Press.l

One time there was a good old man livins
In Detroit. His back was bent bis step was
slow. and when men gazed upon his snowy
locks and wrnkled face they whispered to each
other:
"He is good old man who has not long
to live"
The old man had been well of 10 his day
but when he found himself on the shady side
of life, wife dead and home broken up. he said
TO his only son
Here, William, take all have and lie. this
be my home until die
The son took the pape''-you bet he did
and the father was given cosy corner, big
chair and a coTn-cob pipe. All went well tor
year or So aud then the son and sons vile
began 10 make il uncomfortable for the nice
old gentleman in the corner. They threw
out hints, deprived him Of his comforts, and
one cold Gay 10 winter he was told that he
had better 60 to Halifax-Nova Scotia.
The old 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 aud wcpt like child.
who's making that chin-mus;c up there z
called reporter, whose steps had been ar
rested by the sobs, and he went up the steps,
pstted the old man on the head, and by and
by the story was told.
Come down to the station with me" said
the reporter, taking the old mans arm. Your
son is first cousen 10 a man who preferred
buzzari to lamb, and I'll help you fix him."
Next morning one Of the daily papers con-
tained an item to the effect that an old gentle-
man named Goodheart had been found wan
dering the streets at night aud that when
taken 20 the station ten thousand dollars worth
of United States bonds were found on him.
The old man read it over three times slapped
his legs as be saw the point, and beautiful
smile covered his face and climbed up through
bis hair. 10 sbout an hour his son William
rushed in the station aud called out:
Father, dear father, como homel All Of
US were crying all night long, and my wife is
now lying in comatose state on your ac-
count"
The old man went home with bin, winking
at the lamp-posts and smiling as he turned
the corners He had all his comforts back
and the sou bought him costly pipe and a
pair Of box-tced boots that very day
Well as things went on the son ventured
10 suggest that the bonds had better be turned
over to him, and every time be said "bonds'
the old man would smile and turn the subject
to patent milk-csns or the necessity Of coun.
terfeiters taking more pains with their lead
nickels. The other day the father went TO bee
to die, and he smiled oltener than before as b
lay waiting for the summons. The son saiC
his heart wss breaking, and went through th'
old mans clothes TO find the bonds. lie ddn'
find any lie searched the barn aud the gar
ret and the cellar, and finally when be saw
that death was very near be leaned over tht
bed and whispered:
Father, DO you know mc7'
"Oh, yes-I know you like book, re
piled the dying man.
And father. don't you see that this thing
is almost killing me?"
"Yes, William, see it.
"Aud, cr-those-tbose-b bonds, 30,
know. suppose you want them used t.
purcha.e you a monument"
Correct, William" whispered the father
winking q CHASTITY wink. and as that same ole
smile covered his face death came to take bin
to better home.
When evening fell and the son md the son
wife wildly searching the straw bed to &c
their hands on those bonds, arepoiier stoot
under the gas lamp across the street and will
his thumb on bis nose lie swectly called ont
9 Sold again and got the tin-pexl flial sol
step forward J"