The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-09

might not awaken him. But alas
he did awake and the scene that en-
sued was awful.
Meeting the stupified boy on the
stair landing, he ordered him to leave
the house at once he could stay only
at the peril of his life. The pool
mother begged that ne might be ali
lowed to remain until morning; but
no. into the street he was driven. with
the threat that if he entered the house
again he should be expelled with still
greater harshness. Lorraine crept si-
lent to the most con venient shelter
which was the carriage lsouse, an6
there slept on the carriage cushions
till morning. There his mother found
him, as she arose before her husband.
my dear boy" she said, winding
her arms about his neck, "it will not
answer for your father to find you
here, so l will bring you out some
breakfast, and some money with
which to get out of this towr. where
you will find something to do and be-
come good and steady. After a few
days write me where you are, and l
will send you trunk of clothes and
another of books. In future shun
all evil company, and when you next
meet your father let him see one who
has entirely reformed, and VINO will
bring him no further dishonor."
II will, dear mother. do just what
you say. | did not mean to get into
disgrace last night. l started for
church and should have been at home
at AN early hour only that l was
fairy dragged in another direction
by my companions. l think if father
had taken different course with me
| would not be where l am now.
You know how stern and grabbed he
has been, and never since | left col
lege have | felt that / could enter
his office and study under his tuition.
Had he been kind and gentle like
you, dear mother" said Lorraine,
kissing her fearful cheek, "he might
have induced me to do just what he
wished but after this | will endeayor
to do right. That text, 'As ye sow,
so shall you reap is continually in
my mind, and L an going to begin
anew and try to do right"
-Four years passed, and his name
| had never been mentioned in his
fathers household to his hearing.
And just four years from the day he
left home Mr.. Bliss, from no one
knew whittier, had an appointment to
preach at the congregational Church,
where Loraine's parents usually at
tended. On this occasion the old gen
tleman said to his wife:
"W@ must go, / suppose, to hear
this Bliss; perhaps he may be some
relation of ours no telling, although
L have never known relative OF
mine to be a minister"
"Yes, we will 90" Mrs. Bliss re-
piled. "and if we learn that he is a
relative it would he very proper to
ask him to come home with us and
spend the night"
II do not know that | would have
any objection to that her husband
replied.
Somehow he appeared to be in a
more melting mood than common
probably he was reminded that it was
the anniversary of the fourth year
since his son left them at all events,
he this evening, on his way to ochurch.
spoke Loraine's name for the first
time in his wife's hearing.
ut is four years to-day" he said,
"since Lorraine went away, isn't it ?"
Yes" she said, mournfully.
"Wonder where he is now? Some
times, wife, 1 think | was little to
hasty with him"
Then you would be glad to see
him, perhaps"
"If could be sure he had reform
ed"
By this time they had reached the
church, finding they were little late,
as the minister was giving out his
text: "As ye sow, so shall we reap"
Quietly they entered the door, and
there for a moment Mr.. Bliss speech
less stood, and then trembling moved
along to his seat, where his wife was
sitting with her head leaning on her
seat ahead of her. Could it be possi-
bic, he asked himself, that the long
lost one stood before him mot as be-
fore but still the same ?-Yes, it was
most assuredly his son, whom he
drove as a vagabond from his door.
clothed in the garb of holiness. a
commissioner from God. And he
listening to him stood like guilty
wretch, transfixed to the spot. His
injustice toward the one now SO supe-
rior to him rose before him and he
felt condemned.