The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-26
# ever I'm surgeon I'll manage to ge,

part with anything that belonged to pa
pa"
81 know" and Toms firm mouth, so
like his fathers, quivered slightly; ,"but
she'll have to like it, child. There's no
help for it; won't see you turned out
of doors. I'm going, Maudie; III take
the box down to Doffrafeld's, and see
what can do. Don't breathe word to
mamma until come back. F."
Meantime, Mrs. Delafleld, in the other
room, was wearily getting her few et
fects together, in order for their sudden
removal, A great many empty caskets
passed through her hands; one box had
held lace, another jewels, another rare
linens; all we're empty, The contents
had gone for daily bread, as Tom had
said; she was looking with sort Of
vague hope if there was anything to
lseil. a' '55 roe p"
At the very bottom of one trunk she
came upon a coat which had belonged
to her husband; worn and familiar in
Hook, handkerchief In one pocket, a
tletter in another; she put it back with a
sudden cry Of pain. : e'i' s.'i'
"Oh! can't, can't! Heaven help
fme!" she cried, and buryiug her face in
her hands burst into tears.
Her husband had been Surgeon John
lDela6eld, Of the United States service +;
and for the first two years after their
marriage she had gone with him over
seas and into many foreign lands. Such
happy years they we're! But after that
Maudie was so fragile that she was COM
PEELED to remain at home. Her husband
went alone; and from one voyage he
hever returned. There had been sue
cession OF great gales at sea, and his
vessel had never been heard from. Ten
dreary, endless years! Yet how green
This memory lived in her true heart still
She pu. back tie coat as something too
sacred to be touched, and closed the
trunk. ''S
| Meantime Tom made his way to Dof-
lfrafeld's, a sort of marine Institution
near the harbor, whose proprietor made
his living by buying up odds and ends
from INDECENT seamen. ..., y.
| Here be offered the box of surgical
instruments for sale, and received pal.
|try offer for them. - 49,
"Only that? Why they're worth five
times that much" cried Tom, indignant,
lily. -. ~
"Twenty times as much would better
express it," put in q stranger who stood
looking on, Boy, what are you selling
those instruments for2 How did you
come BY them2"
| Tom faced about like lion, his hand.
some eyes flashing fire. ~,
81 came by them honestly, sir, though
don't admit your right to question me
They belonged to my father"
The stranger smiled admiringly.
"It was impertinent to ask; bu. l
might buy them il could feel sure you
are right in selling them"
81 am right, sir. They belonged to
my father, and-and-You see, sir, we're
hard up and they've got to 60"
4 The confession cost the hoy strug-
| gle and brought the blood to his fair
forehead. es.a
"Who was your father, my fine fel-
Ilow?' il
"My father, sir, was Surgeon John
lDela6eld: he is dead" ta5 }}
! "What! What do you say?" cried
the stranger ''Gracious heavens Why.
Tom! Tom, don't you know me? I'm
Iyour fatherp p . @g e5i q
Tom wheeled around and looked hard
at the bronzed face. The tender, hand
some eyes were not to be mistaken. He
had seen them too often in the little
locket his mother always wore upon hel
heart. i'7a esaa- - il IA :
He made astep forward and tried to
speak; but the words failed he fell to
the floor in heap Poor, brave, self.
confident Tom had tainted like girl. u
But the keen air soon restored him.
I"Come, fathers Oh! do come, father n
he cried, tugging at his fathers ARM
Only think of 'em at home! In such
awful trouble, too! Oh, think,of nam
ma and Maudie! Father, do come on
fastm "a
1 iTheyahurried on through the increas
j ing storm. .sgob cd Ire 81 se8' sa4 r.
"There's the. house, father; you set
that light yonder ? We couldn't afford
to live in New York any longer, and had
to come to this cheap place; but even
here we're starving. Oh, my precious
little mother, won't this be the jolliesi
night of her whole life? To think ot
|. the trouble she's in! Ordered to leave
4 the cottage to morrow, too. That's why
= wanted to sell your Instruments, yor
see,i father" 'roT s-nt ~ IA gi.i .
u The cottage was now athand, al
q their knock MRS. lDela6eld opened tn,
!, door. 7IIer husband rushed forward ant
caught her to his'heaftgI hGs bna 81
a'sIt isl, dear n Don't you know me
, Not dead, but saved by miracles, afte
these many years." 5joi: Te' ~ as ST
[. pHurrah !! It's fathes!'a cried Tom
whirling his cap in the air. 9h.ss
' She did not faint as Tom had expect
ed; her great sorrow ihad never beel
I boisterous, neither ~as her great joys
Maudie looked up at the san bro wnet
!; face, when she, too, had heard the won
! derful news. tsil ~ 2dias,l. el~ 81.
J 7f"Where have. you been, papa2 Il
heaven? and has Godisentyo back t.
us ?" tesatt 3'''s3 si''ii - tga r5s
"Not to heaven, Maudie. The othe
i. place would better express it. Wrecke
/, off the South Sea Islands, and as goo
g as roasted and eaten by cannibals, the
i. aprisoner for years; butfhere ] am I
n last Tom found me- "a -a a9d3t
] Maudies' shining eyes sought he
e mothers. ir 'sfi 2nelb ~.
"Yes, papa, Tom found you; but
k believe, all the same, 1t was Gods Or
{ portunity..' Peterson's Magazine. SIR
n - & r.