Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-28

said, from watching for him, and his
father had awakened three or four
times, angrily inquiring for him. But
he was now asleep, and she wanted
Lorraine to creep noiselessly TO bed, so
he might not awaken him. But alas |!
he did awake, and the scene that en-.
sued was awful.
Meeting the stupefed boy on the
stair landing, he ordered him to l,ave
the house at once he could stay only
at the peril of his life. The poor
mother begged that he might be allow
ed to remain until morning but no,
into the street he was driven, with the
threat that if he ever entered the
house again he should be expelled
with still greater harshness. Lorraine
crept silently to the most convenient
shelter, which was the carriage house,
and there slept on the carriage cush-
ions till morning. There his mother
found him, as she arose before her hus.
band.
"My dear boy" she said, winding
her arms about his neck, "it will not
answer for your father to find you
here. 50 | will bring you out some
breakfast, and some money with which
to get out of this town, where YOU
have had SO many vile associates aud
| hope you will find something to do
and become good and steady. After
few days write Inc where you
are, and | will send you trunk of
clothes aud another Of books. In fu-
ture shun all evil company, and when
you next meet your father let him see
one who has entirely reformed, and
who will bring him no futher dis
honor
Il will dear mother, do just a. you
say. | did not mean to get into dis
grace Ia.t night. ! started for church
and should have been at home at an
early hour, only that was fairly
dragged in another direction by my
companions. think if father had
taken a different course with me |
would not he where | am now. You
know now stern and grabbed he has
been, and never since / left college
have | felt that | could enter his office
aud study under his tuition. Had he
been kind and gentle like you, dear
mother" said Lorraine, kissing her
fearful check, "he might have in.
duccd me to do just what he wished
but after this | will cndeavor to do
right That text. As We SOW, 80 shall
We reap, is continually in my mind.
and | am going to begin anew and try
to do right
-Four years passed, and hi- name had
never been mentioned in his fathers
household to his hearing. And ja-t
four years from the day he left home
Il Mr. Bli-s, from no one knew whittier,
had an appointment to preach at the
Congregational church, which IL
rainc's parents usually attended. On
this occasion the old gentleman said
to hi- wife
We mu.t 20. suppose, to hear
this Bliss; perhaps he may he some
relation of oor- no telling, although
| have never known a relative of mine
to be a minister"
"Yes. We will CO. Mr. Bliss re.
piled, "and if We learn that he j. a
relative. it weald bc very proper tn
ask him to come home with W. and
spend the night
II do not know that | would have
any objections - that, her husband
answered.
Somehow he appeared to be in
more melting moosl than common
probably he was reminded that it wa-
the anniversary of the fourth year
since his son left them at all events
this evening. on his way to church. he
spoke Loraine's name for the first
time in his wite's heariug.
at is four years to-day he said.
"sincc Lorraine went away, isn't it,"
Yes" she said. mournfully.
wonder where he is now ? Some.
times, wife, / think was little has
ty with him."
Then you would be glad to see
him, perhaps" J"
"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 the
text: "As We SOW, so shall We reap"
Quietly they entered the door, and
there for moment Mr.. Bliss speech.
less stood, and then tremblingly NOV
ed along to his seat, where his wife
was sitting with her head leaning on
the seat ahead of her. Could it be
possible, he asked himself, that the
long lost one stood before him-that
he really beheld him again--not as
before but still the sameH Yes, il
was most assuredly his son, whom he
drove as n vagabond from his door,
clothed In the varb of holiness n