Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-12-24
Once he wrote :

"1ou might give my love to father, II
he would care but he wouldn't, 1 sup
pose"
And Mrs. Raymond accidentiy left
that letter where her husband would be
sure to pick it up, and came back for il
just in time to see him give it toss on
the table as she opened the door, with q
muttered expression that sounded like
Poor, foolish boy!"
October came again.
Two years since Frank Raymond went
/ from home.
Deacon Raymond was taken sick. He
was not dangerously sick. but little
ailing, he said, and he would stop work
for few days.
He would not have doctor, and Mrs.
Raymond fixed various harmless doses
for him, but he felt no better.
His wife watched his symptoms and
was sure the trouble was mental one.
"Mary," he said, one evening, after
he had hung about the house for a week
in an aimless. dispirited way, "I am
afraid I was little too close with our
boy. was saving for him. but may be
if I'd given him little more liberty he
would have stayed at home"
Mary Raymond's heart beat audibly,
but she dared not trust her voice.
A long pause ensued, then the deacon
asked:
"Do you think he would come homo,
Mary, if should send for him ?"
"I feel sure that he would" his wife
answered. in low tone.
The deacon frightened up.
'I'll tell you what we will do, Mary
he said, eagerly; eve will fix that south
front chamber for him. Use your good
taste and make the room as pretty as it
can be made. You shall have all the
money you need and get things that
are good. Get pictures, get a book
case full of books, and-well, you know
" hat he will like. I'll see if we can't
have our boy again. 1t was mistake.
see it now. / was too hard with him,
but thought must hold tight rein
or he would go to ruin; the wonder is
that he wasn't ruined from the course l
took with him."
The deacon had found a potent rem
edy for his allment, and he convalesced
rapidly.
He was able to oversee the repairing
of the south chamber.
Fresh paint, with delicate paper on
the walls; a soft, mossy-looking carpet,
that harmonized with the paper, then a
costly set Of furniture with the uphol-
stering to correspond.
Blue and drab were the prevailing
tints-Frank's favorite colors. Cur
tains of delicate drab hung in rich
folds from the windows, garnished with
blue lambrequins and inner curtains OF
frosty lace.
Fine paintings and engravings were
hung upon the walls. 4 richly carved
walnut bookcase in one corner Of the
room showed a carefully selected col
lection of books for study and recrea-
tion.
There was q violin in another corner
to crafty Franks often-repeated wish
for one; and there were brackets, and
husts, and various ornaments in pro-
fusion.
Mrs. Raymond had transformed the
room into an enchanted chamber When
the south chamber was in readiness, the
deacon proposed that the parlor and
sitting room should be freshened and
refurnished, and piano was placed in
the parlor.
The changes made in Deacon Ray
mond's house had required an immense
amount of hard work, but love had light
ened the labor and it was a magical
transformation.
Their preparations were at last COM
pleted, aud Mrs. Raymond wrote to
Frank, inviting him to come home and
spend Christmas. She wrote, too, that
his father would be glad to see him.
Frank Raymond was surprised, but
thankful that his father had relented,
and lost no time in returning home.
Deacon Raymond met his boy on the
threshold with outstretched arms, and
the patient wife and mother, as she
looked with tears of JOY running down
her face, felt that her years of waiting
had received rich reward.
Frank Raymond was speechless with
emotion when, at bed time, ne was shown
to the south chamber prepared for his
comfort, and he was too happy to sleep,
but he felt as though he was in dream
land with his eyes open, everything
seemed SO unreal.
He slept at last, and was awakened
by his father in the morning to go to
the barn, where fresh surprise awaited
him. Kitty, the chestnut colt, full
grown and well-trained for service, and
bought by the deacon for his sons
especial use.
Frank Raymond resigned his position
in the mandatory at Weston, not
without the deep regret of his employer;
but at last home and happiness were
held out to him, and famished for affec-
ton as he had been all his life, he would
have refused throne for his fathers
love.
A Female Nihilist.