The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-18
Bread Upon the Waters.

EARS ago, young S0nOOl-tedcner
in one of the Eastern States had for
salary nominal sum per month and
the CONGRATULATIONS privilege of board
ing round. He had the temerity to get
a fever which brought him to deaths
door, and, not having contracted to run
a hospital as well as a school, the trus-
tees considered their engagement with
him Cancelled He was stricken down
in the house of an old farmer, whose
wife proved to be a devoted, self-sacri-
ficing nurse to the young man, doing
more than doctors or medicines to bring
the patient back to health. A friend
ship was formed between the young
man and his benefactors, which was
cemented by an affection on both sides
equal to the delicate and noble service
re94eged to hip5 neIpGt taaGf Eenegab1e
for their kindness of months was as i'm
portant as it was a touching fact to the
young man, for he was entirely without
means, and, when he came up out of
the valley of the shadow of death, with
out the strength or prospects to COM
mand them by labor. After a further
and long period of convaleScence, spent
in the home of his benefactors, he got
chance to labor as a teacher Event
ually he entered on business, and the
old gentleman and lady died in green
old age.
Years afterward, as a man of affairs
and fortune, the former school-master
visited the village where so much sick
ness and so much kindness had made a
graphic chapter in his personal life.
He quietly learned that an adopted
daughter Of his old friends, to whom,
in lieu of having no offspring of their
own, they had devised the homestead.
had married an excellent merchant of
the village, but that business embar-
easements and resolution to be fully
honorable in their settlement had made
the sacrifice of the homestead immi-
nent. The gentleman with much deli
cacy and tirmness insisted on coming
into the case, by right of an obligation
and desire to interfere on behalf of
the successors of those who had ran
somed him from death. He bought the
place and gently compelled the Young
lady and her husband to keep on living
there, nor would he let them paw any7
thing to him for the privilege. His aid
enabled them to start again even with
the world. They soon began to pros
per, and, with a self-respect that was
most creditable and characteristic. thev
would not allow the gentleman of whom
we are writing to have the deed of the
homestead made out in their names.
A short time afterward they insisted
on beginning to repay to the gentleman
in installments the several thousand
dollars he had, without any embarrass-
ment, advanced to them in their emer-
gency. He protested, but to no pur-
pose, and in the course of time they re-
paid him every cent of it. There was a
veritable battle of will between them
and him; they insisting that he had
discharged, in loan to be paid back.
all obligations he felt toward their fos-
ter-parcnts for their Kindness to him,
he insisting that they should regard it
as very inadequate part payment of
an invaluable service; but their view of
the case won, and all the concessions
they would make to the gentleman's
was to comply with his
really indignant demand that interest
should not be returned on the sum he
was made to take back against his wish.
To-day that self-respecting couple are
in plenty and honor on the
old family farm. To-day their bene-
factor lies dead across the river, and
The greatest corporation in the land, !
all society and the Government of the !
nation mourn him as one whose integ- |
rity was spotless, whose administrative |
genius was of the first order, whose
name came to eminence and honor round |
he world, and whose patriotism, cour-
ige, executive ability and magnificent
Energy, purity and fidelity made his
life fragrant, and make his memory
oval and redolent with example and
Inspiration among men. Those whom