The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-06-19
A DISAPPOINTED FATHER.


a gentleman who had been absent from
England nine years. All that while he
had passed under the burning suns of
India. He had suffered as soldiers do.
He had fought as soldiers fight. He had
met the soldiers fate of scars and wounds
and one of them had invalided him
home to England.
1t was the first time he had trod her
shores for nine years, as we have said,
and for the first time in any year he was
going to see his son, the little boy born
after he left home, and whose birth had
been his mothers death.
Captain Penryn had only been married
year when he was ordered abroad with
his regiment. Six months from that day
letter had reached him, telling him
his wife was dead. The letter was writ
ten by an old nurse, the only friend who
had been with her. 1t ended thus
"The baby, as fine child as 1 ever
saw, is thriving I've done my best for
it. Its mothers last wish was | should
keep it, and perhaps, sir, as some one
must, you'd as leave | as any other.
shan't be unreasonable in my charges,
and I'm very fond of him already.
With my duty to you in this dreadful
trouble, Your servant,
ANN GOLDEN"
The poor, broken-hearted man almost
sank under the awful news. He had
loved his wife passionately; and when
the baby was old enough to travel, she
would have come to him in India, brav-
ing its terrible climate and the life of a
soldiers wife abroad, because they could
not live apart. Now he did not want
little baby on his hands, and he wrote
to Ann as soon as he could command
himself to do so, appointing her his
nurse.
Every quarter since that time he had
sent money to her for the child's board
and clothes. A receipt was always re-
turned with cher duty, and the young
gentleman was doing well )" and this
was all he knew of his Ellen's boy-the
child of love that had been as strong
as it was tender
Now that his foot was upon England's
shores again, and the meeting was very
near, Capt. Penryn felt new thrills of
father-love through his soldiers heart,
and longed for his boys presence.
I" He would then take him to him
self" he said. "They would live to-
gether, sharing each others joys and
sorrows. He would make man of the
boy-not soldier, for he knew the trial
of soldiers life too well; but some
thing very honorable and creditable. He
should be proud of him, and he hoped
ah, how he hoped that Ellen's child
would have Ellen's face.
"My beautiful girl" he said to him.
self, with the tears standing in bis eyes,
chow little thought of this hour when
1 kissed her good-byel"
And then his heart grew even warmer
to the pledge of their mutual love.
He had the address that Mrs. Golden
had given him in his pocket. He glanc-
ed at it now to refresh his memory as to
the number. A plain, respectable street
in one of London's suburbs; he remem-
bered it well.
"But my boy shall see better things,
now that l am here" he said to himself
g I am not rich, but 1 can deny myself
many things to make him happy. VIII
he love me, wonder ?"
Then he thought how his own heart
had been won by toys and sweetmeats,
and coming to shop where the former
were sold, paused before the gay window
and began to make a mental choice be-
tween red and gilt stage-coach and
horses and train of bright blue car
riages. He had discarded both for box
of scarlet-coated soldiers, when suddenly
he felt tug at his coat tail, and turning
round he found grimy little hand half
in, half out, of his pocket. He caught
it at once, with his handkerchief in it,
and gripped it tight.
He was a soldier, and to soldier the
keeping of law and rule is great thing.
To give the little thief to a policeman,
and appear against him next day, was
his first thought; but as the creature
stood there, shaking and whining, the
fact of his diminutive size struck the
Captain forcibly, He perceived his
youth, which was extreme; and he saw
that, besides being young and small, and
wan, and dirty, and ragged, he was de-
formed. His queer little shoulders were
heaped up to his ears, and his hands
were like talons, so long and honv were