The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-10-14

haste she threaded her way into the
room from which the noise of strife pro-
ceeded, the gamins making way for her
in silent wonder ss she advanced. And
we'll they might gaze at her in startled
surprise. Such face and presence were
never seen in the purlious OF that region
before save to pass by in public Convey
ance, perhaps. and then as rapidly as
possible, as If to avoid contamination
with the coarser elements of the de-
graded resort.
Tall. stately, with streaming eyes and
quivering lips. her black robes sweep
ing behind her as she walked, she en-
tered and saw her son just as he reeled
from the blow inflicted by the cruel
knife of his vindictive foe. His glance,
full of terror, despair and agony in that
dreadful moment, saw and recognized
her, and his bleeding form fell into her
loving, faithful arms with the stimuli
taneous exclamation: "Oh, mother!"
and "My dear Frederick, my precious
boy!" fell on the ears of the astonished
multitude.
A hush of respectful sympathy moved
those rugged hearts as quickly and care
fully they assisted in removing the suf-
ferer from the dreadful scene. Speedily
summoning aid, the mother drove to
once strong and athletic, now weaker
and more frail than herself.
A physician was called in, and to her
great relief the wounds, though danger
Gus, were not pronounced fatal. A faint
hope still fingered, and with care and
watchfulness he might survive. And
need it be added that there would he no
lack o { affectionate care, when devoted
mother keeps sleepless vigil beside the
couch of her suffering, yet youthful and
only son.
Reader, would you follow the fortunes
OF Frederick Balfour, go with me to a
great city in the West, where the lap
ping waves of peaceful ocean caress
the beautiful concave of the Golden
Gate: where, amid the hum of business,
the dreams of the most visionary are
often bright reality; where the for
tunes, like the far-famed palace OF Alad-
| din, rise in a night and gladden. the sur
rounding plains with their splendor at
the rising of the morning sun.
1t is the holy Sabbath day, and as the
voice of deep-toned bells, calling to
cathedral and chapel, linger family on
the air, the throngs of expectant and de-
vout people hasten to the temple OF
worship. In cne of these, the young
minister takes his place behind the pui-
pit, and for a few moments bows his
head in prayer.
In this vast assemblage there is one
whose heart throbs with far deeper and
grander Joy than it ever pulsated before.
There she sits. Her pale face has bor-
rowed from excitement q faint tinge oil
youthful bloom; the clear dark eyes are
true and earnest as of yore; and the
slightly curling threads of hair which
touch her placid forehead SO carelessly
are now quite silvered, yet seeming to
wear heavens holiest benison nesting
among their waves of snow.
The choir began their solemn anthem,
"God is the refuge of his people," and
as the deep, sonorous chords melt and
iningle in the lofty temple, and then
! float away to heaven, a solemnity broods
| over the hearts and minds OF the eager
and expectant congregation.
| The anthem finished, the minister
rises. 1t is the same Frederick. changed
more, perhaps, from within than with
out, for the frank, earnest eyes are still
there, the scarlet lips, surmounted now
by brown mustache, the waving locks
are brushed smoothly back except W here
here and there a way ward curl will stea
from it's restraint, and hint that boy
hood was scarcely passed, though sterr
yet noble manhood, on the brow and in
the heart, now reign supreme.
His voice, deep and musical, enchain.
and enrapts the hearers, as, filled witt
reverence, fervor and holy enthusiasm
he leads them in prayer, and points will
unerring distinctness to the snares an(
pitfalls of the path once trodden by hi
own youthful feet, and with glowing
zeal invites them to tairer road ,wher,
| hln0cnna 10 fNFn "
the refreshing haunts of wisdom, who's
ways are ways of pleasantness and al
her paths are peace. ."-LouisUille Cour
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