The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-07-07

father who would come back to us
some day Forsnrely he would come,
Most surely Gods mercy would
vouchsafe some compensation, some
pardon for such repentance as my
soul had poured forth
The third spring was peculiar;
somehow the far off sky seemed to
drop down in nearer, hluer folds; the
sun wore a softer.radiance, the trees,
the grass, the flowers, a diyinen ten,
'dsrer beauty IsFqss ssrg m0rnihs
ailll lgpEa IQlli u nsss littIes'wilttl9ss
~ a. nl,ssl
with a teelihe G d stf:if lllls
expectation | seemed 70 feel the
shadow Of some groat event that
winged as lightabose me--one pray
er Of my heart seemed about to be
answered.
One evening oh, that evening"
A May sky, soft and blue, hung over
a green, 4 blossoiniug earth; the tir-
tie dove cooed in The distant wood
and the robin twitteredto her yonng
brood amid the milky bloom Of the
orchard. Gods love shone in the
golden brightness Of the westward
going sun. My child, little Etiie, sat
on the doorstep talking to her doll
aud watching the birds. Allat once
she clapped her dimpled hands and
bounded to her feet.
NANNY she cried gleefnlly,
''pappy comm pappy COMM Ellie
go meet !"
The words stirred my heart to ut
most depths; and dropping my work
/ followed her out of the door. A
man was coming UP the garden path
his garments tattered, his step
slow and uncertain. A beggar, no
doubt. | called Etiie to come back,
but she ran on, needless Of my COM
mand. Toms little spaniel, that /
had petted and taken care Of for his
sake darted from his kennel with a
peculiar cry, such as | never heard
from it before.
What did it all inean2 My heart
throbbed and nay knees trembled.-
Little Eliie ran on holding out both
dimpled hands, her golden curls
blown all about hefrosy face. "How-
do-do, pappy? Use your Eflie, she
lisped, as she reached the mans feet.
lie stopped and raised her in his
arms and then glanced at me. And
such q glance-such a facel Pale,
haggard, worn by sorrow and suffer,
ing to mere shadow, Toms ghost
came back from the gravel Not
that, either, for my arms grasped
some tangible form.
s0h, Tom cried, ais it you?-
Speak, speak and tell mel"
"Yes, Lucy it's me. l could bear
it no longer. Pm dying, | believe
and couldn't 60 without seeing you
and the little one again"
My arms held him fast, tattered
garments and ali; my kisses fell on
the poor, pale face like rain. would
never let him go again.
"Tom, Tom" I sobbed, getting
down on my knees beside him, ooh
forgive me! forgive me! 1 have suffer
ed so much"
ut is l that must ask forgiveness,
Lucy he said humbly, mot you; l
was wrong"
But stoppedhim short.
"No, Tom, my cross words did it all;
but for that we might have been hap
py all these weary years"
NANNY, nanny" interposed Ef-
tie, twisting herself around on her
fathers shoulder. "don't cry no more;
pappy's come back"
Yes, thank God, he has come back,
poor, tattered and hungry-like the
prodigal-but my Tom, my husband,
nevertheless. l would never speak
cross to him any more. ItisSpring-
time again. The sweet May sun
light steals in at my window as |
write, and | hear the turtle dove
down in the distant wood. My hus-
band is a man now, standing up
proudly, his feet upon the grave Of
old temptation. l know that Gods