The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
with what wild and unforgiving words
he had been driven away. fu-

|
yearning for her boy, dropped ant
died and the only remaining son wa
soon afterwarl drowned. Two daugh
ters married and went away, and Mr.
Phillips was left alone. 1t was no
possible that conscience did not some
times bring back the image of tha
poor boy, as he stood trembling thai
night under the weight of his frs
CRIME. A crime, too, committed un.
der the influence of the best feelings
and with the full intention of repair.
ing the wrong. But pride kept up
his Indignation toward his son; and
instead Of pitving him for being &
castaway, he only pitied himself fol
not being able to keep up the family
name. ...I
At last there came day when even
Mr.. Phillips proud spirit was crush.
ed. More than the loss of wife and
children did this trial bow him to tho
earth. Loss after loss had come to
him in his business, till at length he
was obliged to give up all into the
hands of his creditors. He surrender
cd every and household
goods, not even taking the benefit
which the law allowed him. Yet
there were not wanting some among
the injured, who openly asserted their
bcliefth Mr.. Phillips had actually
saved money by the operation, and
even cited his utter relinquishmcnt of
| all visible property as u proof that he
was amply renunerated by that which
was not seen. -..
His friends forsook him; dropping
off one by one, unable to vouch for his
Innocence. His health failed, and even
ii it had not, he could not have wit
messed the public sale Of his household
treasures which was now announced.
He had tortured himself by throw
ing into his creditors hands even, tri-
fling lneInentos of the past-literally
leaving everything in his house, save
his clothing ami his private desk,
which, whatever others thought, con-
tanned little but family letters, and the
miniature of a little child, with curl
of golden hair at the back of the locket.
That child! Oh, if he could but recall
the past! IT he had but spoken kind
ly and forgivingly, that child might
now have been near to save him from
disgrace.
There was, as we have said, a public
sale. 1t comprised the store and
household goods, and included vaIu-
w
ing health had induced him to buy,
anu which he would not part with
after her death. Inc man had a ten
der spot in his heart, after all. When
the man who had been his clerk came
into his solitary room at a boarding.
house, the night after the sale, his first
question Was,-8. tf... I'D.
"WhO bought FleetwoOl?"
sI did mot Enn<v tho mon ii TTo
was a stranger. There were many
strangers there, and 1 did not ask the
name OF him who purchased the horse.
lie was i'll the house a good part of
the time, and l noticed that he bid for
a number OF things"
81 hope Fleetwood has kind mas
ter,'' observed Mr.. Phillips.
The clerk was going, but returned,
after short parlcy with some one at
'.iIere's man, sir, who wishes you
to meet him ut the house you ocea-
pied, at half-past nine o'clock this
evening""
'.What can any one want of me
there?" asked Mr.. Phillips.
IL cannot tell, sir. l did not know
the man, but from the glance had OF
him at tie door, L should say it was
the man who was bidding upon the
house when L came away, and the
same who bought Fleetwood"
81 must go, 1 suppose; yet, if he is
q gentleman, 1 should hardly think he |
would expose me to the pain OF going
there"
Mr.. Phillips walked to his old home
with trembling steps. He looked old |
and feeble, like u man who had num- |
bered twice his years. He reached !
the door that once opened to his ia
miliar touch and rang the bell. The |
woman who had SO long kept his
house, opened it, and ushercd him in
TO the silting-roOm, from which, years
agO, he had ordered his boy from his
sight forever.
This thought flashed into his mind,
and was more vivid from the circum-
stance of his own arm chair being re-
moved out of its ordinary place, and
set in the middle OF the room, and
low chair directly in front of it, OH
which Samuel had leaned in passion
ate weeping. The boy, in his misery,
1n that night had left his cap hanging
0n the corner OF that low chair, and,
hight, boys cap hung there again.
How we'll he remembered it! How
ne shook with the memories that rose
lp to hiS mind! His fearful eyes
scarcely took III the figure of noble
looking gentleman who now entered
The room, and desired him to walk
lround the house. Every piece of
was in its old place. In his
own chamber, the little arrangements
of the dressing-table were precisely as
they always were and in q little bed
room beside it were the two small
beds in which his boys used to sleep.
He looked up at his conductor
through his fast falling tears. Some
hing in his face, in the black flashing
ayes of the stranger, went to his heart.
They had returned to the sitting-room
md the stranger held his hand with
warm, loving grasp. He heard the
md then the two men sank together
ipOn their knees, while the younger
brcathed out q most fervent thanks
giving that he had been spared to
comfort and console his father in his
hour of adverse fortune.
Stung with his fathers cruel words,
Phillips had deserted his
home, and, driven almost to despera-
lion, had wandered away from the
place that knew him, to a far city.
Providence raised up friends to the
lesolatc boy. lie found himself trust
,d, honored, respected; and at the
leath of one who had been as n father
10 him, he became wealthy. He saw
.he notice OF the sale in Il newspaper
-hurriei on to prevent it, and arriv-
ed only when it had already commence
I'll. f..... Oh.
He had heard of his mothers death,
md from that time he resolved never
TO return. But when he found that
his father was i'll real distress, all was
save the thought that lie
might be in time to save him from OPP
I'll disgrace or actual want. Every
hing had fallen into his hands, for
the bystanders saw that he was deter
mined to possess all, and they gave
way to his evident desire and ability
TO crafty it.
The reconciliation was complete.
Tho nride Of the father WAS Subiued.