The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-07-25
The Old Man.


back was bent and his step slow. Men
who gaZed upon his snowy hair and
wrinkled face shook their heads and
whispered to each other: "He is good
old man, who has not long to live"
The old man had been well off in his
day; but when he found himself on the
shady side of life, wife dead, and home
broken up, he said to his only SOM
"Here, William, take all have, and let
your home be my home until | die."
The son took the papers-you bet he
did; and the father was given a cosy
corner, a big chair. and cOrn-cob pipe,
All went well for a year or so, and
then the son and the sons wife began
to make it uncomfortable for the nice
old man in the corner. They threw out
hints, deprived him of his comforts, and
one cold day in winter he was told that
he had better go to Halifax-NOva
Scotia.
The old mans heart was sore as he
went out into the world to battle against
hunger and cold; and when night came
he covered into doorway aud wept
like child.
"Who is making that chin-music up
there9" called a reporter, whose steps
had been arrested by the sobs; and he
went up the steps, patted the old man
on the back, and sat by him until his.
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 preferred buzzard to lamb, and I'll
help you fix him."
Next morning one of the daily papers
contained an item to the effect that an
old gentleman named Goodheart had
been found wandering the streets at
night, and that, when taken to the
station, ten thousand dollars 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 a beautiful smile covered his face
and climbed up through his hair. In
about an hour his SOD William rushed
into the station, and called out
"Fatherl dear father! come homew
We were crying all night long, and my
wife is now lying in a comatose state on
your account"
The old man went homc''
wlnking at the lamp-postP. ANGEL,
as he turned the corners. Tenn.
his comforts back, and +
him a costly pipe and p
boots that very day.. -
Well, as time - n
tured to suggeSs M \ u N y M
better be turned oFca3yo'him; and every
time he said "bonds" the old man
would smile and turn tie subject.
The other day the father went to bed
to die, and he smiled oftener than before
as he lay waiting for the summons. The
son said his heart was breaking, and
then he went through the old mans
clothes to find the bonds. He didn't
find any. He searched the barn, the
garret and the cellar; and finally, when
he saw that death was near, he leaned
over the bed and whispered:
"Father, do you know meP"
"Oh, yesl | know you like book" "
replied the dying man.
"And, Father, don't you see this
thing is killing mer"
"Yes, William. see itl"
"And. father, those-those bonds,
you know. | suppose you want them
used to purchase monument"
"Yesl correct, WilliamW whispered
the father, winking aghastly wink, and
as the same old smile covered his face,
death came to take him to a better
home.
When evening fell, the son and the
sons wife were wildly searching the
straw bed to get their hands on those
! bonds.