Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-12-24

~
stunned and. dizzy. is kicked BY the respeo>
table l.ud lord into the gutter. 4 little beggar
girl on tie corner Is singing her Christmas
hymn, aud above all the noise her voice rings
on. cleAr and sweet on the air. Charles
Wren raises himself from the gutter aud
listens asS4
'syy hile shepherds Watched their neekssJ night.
All seated on the ground,
she sings. Surely, somewhere in the long
ago he heasdsthas hymn. Tho words come
70 him on the keen and biting Wind ike
echoes of dead; voices
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone aroUnd-
Before him arises picture loF. the psst-a
mother holding her boys hand, tho father
nodding by the FIRE, aud Alice softly singing
the christmas hymn. Tears come to the
eyes, all unused to weeping, and rising 20
his feet, he staggered up the street. More
music and the same aud this is a9ohurch;
it is warm in there, they will net kick him
out, aud he steals in and seats himself IN the
pew nearest the door. The organ peals out,
and single voice rings out upon the air
..He was wounded for our transgressions.
the iniquities of US all wcro laid on him.
&c remembers now the story ofthe GROSS. how
long aud how weary time it has been since
he heard il; now his lie comes before him
the happy home, she face of Alice, the war,
the fight the imSrisonmert, the escape, the
SLOW descent Of crime, evea down to tho
lowest dregs OF city ile--the drifting
away from alhthc good until now when il is
too late TO turn bsck bEt s0mothiDg IN tho
tone of the minister's voice catches his
wandering thoughts
sAnd when he came to himself ne said,
1 will arise and go to my father"
He listens as the man of God describes
the prodigaTs life-the leaving homo, tho
wasting of his substance, the iamine,- tho
coming Co himself, his resolve, the return
and the fathers. welcome. His head is
bowed between his hands now. and the tears
fall like rain he does not know that tho
people are leaving the church, but now q
hand is laid on his head. and voice says:
"You are in trouble Z"
Looking up, the kidd and beneGcent face
of the pastor greets him, aud he answers:
GOOD bless you, sir, you have told my
own story TO night. / am wanderer, an
outcast, from home; but 1, unlike tho prodf>
gal, cannot SO home"
The minister sits by him and listens to his
story then, graspins his hand warmly, he
says:
"Charlss Wren. 1 thank God that he has
broughtyour wandering footsteps to my church
me, but We were schookboys together. Do
you remember George ThornT You saved
my life once, snd now, through tho blessing
of God, will save yours. Como with mo
to my home"
But he only answers:
Il am not fit, let me go George. re-
member you, but let go back to my old
| life of sin l an not lit 10 enter any mans
home"
No answer, but the arm of strong man is
around him, and half walking, half carried
he is borne into the street and lifted into
waiting carriage.
"Drive home quick" tho Rev. Geo. Thorn
says to the driver. At the open door merry
faces peep ont to meet tho father, but tho
children are hushed aud the sleeping man is
carried in and placed by his friend on his
Own soft bed. In the morning the soft ligbt
steals in through the heavy curtains upon the
sleepers face. Sleep, ike death, besutifesj
and it gives TO this wanderers face \ calm aud
restfuI look. Slowly opening his eyes, he
looks around; paintI1g on the wall uttrnots
his attention surely TINT face is the Christ
face, looking on him in al its purity and
peace, Then he remembers Ehero he is; tho
door opens and George Thorn enters. "YOu
will go home to>day, Charles; the train leaves
al ten O'Clock. But he answers, II cannot
60 home, / am not ct, have no money.
aud"-he.e he breaks down, but being urged
by his friend, arises, dresses himselfi in clothes
provided by his friend and is at the depot
and on the train before he has HEsa tNr'.'1
Slowly his thoughts COM - :|t.
goiDg7 home /? and wb57 4 ~ = - + ...-
are the f.ttsr snd pfother Sire. "a. { -
is she at home Sizteen l1sg JsaTs have
| passed since he has geSn a home face. And
| now the conductor calls out
..Quiet Doll, your station, sir"
eyes, yes; 20 il Il"
The train has gone and ho is left standing
on the platform alone; he walks into the
depot and asks: =
ssDoes farmer Wren live in the old place."
"Yes, sir; it is just two miles. You go
over the hill aud take The 1rst road 10 the
.eft."
..TbaDk you, sir"
How veil he remembers the way. With
nervous haste he starts along the old home
road.
Around the Christmas board, laden with
good things, the little household has gathered.s :
| Farmer Wren and mother Wren are there,
and Alics-by her side vacant chair it has
always been placed at tho table.
eff he should return" the mother said.
There is knock at the door. Trembling,
che knows not why, Alice opens it. The
haggsrd, sin>msrked face of Charles Wren
| meets her; she knows him, and with q glad
cry her arms arc around his neck and she is
| weeping on his breast. a moment more, and
proud and happy, Alice leads the long lost
| SON to his father and mother. Thero is joy
| and peace at tho Wren's Nest. The lost ia
| fouud. the Prodipal IL reclaimed, and in the