The Van Buren press., 1878-07-30
TUE OLD MAN.


One time there was an old man whose
back was bent, his step slow, and men
who eazed upon his snowy hair and
wrinklod face shook their heads and Wits
pcred to each other, He is . good old
man, who has not long to live.
The old man had been we'll of in
his day, but when he found himself Oh
the shady side of life. wife dead and
home broken up, he said to his only
son
Hero, William, take all have,
and let your home be my home until
| die"
The son took the papers--you bet
he dd--and his father was given
eozy corner, a big chair and corncob
pipe.
All went well for year or so, and
then tho son and tho sons wife began
to make it uncomfortable for the good
old man in the corner. They threw
out hints, and deprived him of his com
forts and one cold day in the winter, he
was told that lie had better go to H--al
flax
The old mans heart was sore as he
went ou. into the world to battle against
hunger and cold, and when night came
he covered in doorway and wept like
child.
"Who is making that chin music up
there 7" called reporter, whose steps
had been arrested by the sobs. and be
went up the steps, patted the old man on
the back, and sat by him until bis story
was told
"Come down to the station with me. >
said the reporter, taking the old mans
arm "Your son is first cousin to the
man who porferred bdzzard to lamb; aud
I'll help you to fix him"
Next morning one of the daily pa
pers contained an item to tho effect
that an old gentleman named Good
heart had been found wandering the
streets at nights, and that when he was
taken to the station $4,000 worth of
United States bonds were found on
him. The old man read it over three
times, slapping his leg as he saw the
point, and beautiful smile covered
his face and climbed up through his
hair In about an hour his son vii
liam rushed into the station and called
| out.
II Father, doar father. come home! All
of us were crying all night long, and my
wife is now lying in conatose state
on your account
The old man went homo with him,
winking at the lamp posts and smiling
as he turned the corners. He had all
his comforts back, and his son bought
him costly pipe and pair OF boxtoed
boots.
| Well, as time went on. the son ven
tured to suggest that the bonds had
better be turned over to him, and
every time he would say bonds" the
old man would smile and turn the sub
ject.
The other day the father went to bod
to die and be smiled oftener than before
as he lay waiting for the summons.
The son said his heart has breaking, and
then went through the old mans clothes
in search Of the bonds. He didn't find
any. He searched the barn and garret
and the cellar, and finally when he saw
that death was near, he leaned over the
bcd.and whispered;
"Father, do you know me p
"Oh, yes, know you like book," +"
replied the dying man.
"And, father, don't you SEQ this is kill
ing me?'
YES, William, see it,
And,--- father those. those
bonds, you know l suppose you
want them used to purchase monu-
mcnt?"
"Yes, correct. William whispered
the father, winking ghastly wink,
and as the same old smile covered his
face, death came to take him to better
home.
When evening came the son and the
sons wife were wildly searching the
straw bed to get their hands on the
bonds.