The Van Buren press., 1879-01-07
citemant, and at the invitation of his good

by his friends, and the sealed envelope
and its contents both gone.
The shock sobered him. He got up,
and with his head beating like a trip
hammer walked back to his native vii.
lagc, and seeking his employer, confes-
sed all that had happened. Mr.. Robin
son was greatly provoked, and at once
put the matter into the hands of the law,
and Dick Arnold was arrested and sent
to prison.
When the news came to his fathers
ears, he refused to give his son either aid
or countenance,
I'm done with him. Let them send
him to the State Prison; he deserves
it"
But the mother, hNr faithful heart GO
ing out in yearning pity for her erring
boy, stood and pondered how she might
save him.
In little while she turned, and en-
terng the pleasant cottage went slowly
up up stairs, and int 2 the chamber where
her daughter Rose sat sewing on her
bridal robes.
Sitting down beside her, she told her
the story of her brothers trouble.
Rose understood her mothers mean
ing even before she could put it into
words There was little box on the
table, which contained her marriage dow
ry Little by little the father and mo TIL
er boarded it in their only daughters
name that she might not be dowerless on
her wedding day.
Pretty Rose took the box and put it in
her mothers hands.
Take it, mother she said, "and do
with it as you think best"
e Heaven bless you, my daughter,
but it is hard to deprive you of your
marriage dowry, and your wedding day
so near"
Roses fair cheeks bloomed like her
namesakes in the little garden below, and
her blue eyes lit.
"Neyer mind that mother" she said,
"Charlie will be willing to take me with.
out the dowry-I ain sure of it."
SO Mrs. Arnold took the box and went
her way. Before the day ended she had
refunded tue moneyto Mr.. Robinson, the
charge was Withdrawn, and her boy was
out of prison.
~ cant go home, mother. Father
doesn't want me he told me SO" said
Dick, as they stood under the green
locust trees beyond the cottage lawn.
Let me go out In the world and work
my way up, and then I'll come back"
She put her arms about his neck,
and looked up at him with streaming
eyes.
will do better--younSS,l Dick, for moth.
er's sake p
Yes. mother, God being my helper,
will I've caused you so much trou
BILE. and you've always been good and
gentle to me, mother. Forgive me now
III come back and be a comfort to you
yet"
"My boy, forgive you, and l believe
in you Here, Dick" and she drew a
purse and worn little Bible from her
bosom, stake these. You may need
the money; the Bible is mine, Dick
mothers Bible, don't forget that
Mother has read in it every day and
night for the last thirty years. You'll
think of that, Dick. and you'll read it
for mothers sake 2
"Yes, mother"
"Every night, Dick, no matter where
you may be, you will read a chapter,
and get down on your knees and pray,
the little prayer mother taught you. if
nothing else2 Promise me, Dick. Ev-
cry night at ten O'Clock, at that hour
shall be on my knees praying for you,
my boy. l shall never miss night,
Dick, while live; promise me you won't,
Dick Promise me you'll do it, for m 9TH,
er's sake p
"Dick tried to promise, but he let his
handsome head drop down on his moth.
er's bosom instead, and wept there like
child
AS the sun set they parted.
"Good.by, my boy, and God bless you,
iou'l keep your promise for mothers
sake"
"Yes, mother, with Gods help. Good
byH
Across the fields, with the little Bible
in his bosom, and his bundle on his arm,
went poor erring Dick, and down the
pathway Mrs Arnold returned to the
cottage.
"l'll never give up my boy" she said.
My prayers shall prevail with God for
him He will return to us yet and be the
comfort of our old age"
But her husband, bitter and remorseful
Of heart, laughed her to scorn.
Month followed month; summers
came and went haryests were sown and
gathered in; winters heaped their white
SHOWS, and spring sunshine came and
melted them.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Arnold. busy with her
daily tasks did not lose hope
Pretty, dowerless Rose, had married
and gone to live in happy home of
her own, and as the years came and
went the master of the cottage, cnfee-
bled and made helpless by disease, sorely
repented of his harsh severity to his on
ly son.
"If had dealt kindly with him he
might have done better" he said, in his
remorse; "but ] drove him from be
ne9th my roof with reproaches, and
now in my old age am child!ess and
desolate.'
The mother held her peace, but eve
ry night at the appointed hour she knelt
down and prayed for her wandering