Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-07-15

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: to the conditions" Iaughingly sal
= LOudoun.
: and us | have the care Of Ned o
my shoulders" said Lester, and mus
play escort to him, seeing that he j
my guest during his stay in old Charlie
county, why, shall divide my tim
between helping him in the sick room
and taking care of the ladies, for fea
that they may get sick, out of sympa
thy, you know
always "a season at hand for you
nonsense, Charlie" replied the Colo
mel. at seems to me, MIR. Loudoun
and the ladies are pretty well able t,
take care of themselves. But how OF
earth can you play escort to Mr.. Lou
doun here and attend to Mr.. Neal
and Mr.. Gardiner, whom you have in
vited to be your guests at Oakland
| think | have you in dilema, Mas
ter Charlie, for once in your life"
Not at all my dear Colonel,
promptly responded Charlie. 9Th,
solution Of the difficulty is as clear a
noon-day. lou must know ladies
and gentlemen, that your humble ser
want is by far the least attraction, tina
draws my friends, Neale and Gardiner
to Oakland. | have sister there
whom Mr.. Neale considers pretty, ant
4 cousin, that Mr.. Gardiner raptur
ously saws Is handsome. Don't blush
. old fellows, All the bows like prett,
girls, Aud 'JoYs mW be boys vou
know. And more over you know By
personal experience, my most worthy
F Colonel, that when Young man il
trying his level best TO play the agree,
able to fascinating young lady. tive
are company enough and three are ]
crowd"
\ perfect argamenfum cd h0miHem
Mr, Lester. You have struck the col
onel again very forcibly : and the old
doctor laughed and nudged Colonel
>paldiug numerically.
We'll, if you behave yourself and
don't get into any more midnight en-
counters, | suppose Mr.. I.oudonn will
accept your escort" said the colonel.
And the party separated, the doctor
and Colonel Plunkett promising to re-
turn IN the evening, and Lester and
London the next morning after break
fast.
On his return in the evening, DR..
Grayson found his patient awake and
conscious, though very weak. When
he had administered strengthening
cordial, he summoned Col. Plunkett
and Col. Spalding to the room. aud
then after stating 10 the young man
where he was, and into whose generous
hands he had fallen, he desired him to
give his name and his place of resi-
denue.
On seeing Col. Flunkett the wound
ed maa extended his hand, which the
warm hearted old gentlemen grasped
and pressed fervently. He then said
that his name was Gaddis, that his
father resided in Baltimore; but that
ne himself had no home at present ;
and added, after long pause, that it
would be useless to send for his father
who had discarded him, and peremp-
toriIy refused 10 have anything TO do
with him.
Bitter tears rolled down the paliid
cheek, Of the young man, rs with fal-
tering lips and heaying chest, he ut
tered this confession, and all in the
room were visihly affected.
Each Of the gentlemen spoke words
OF consolation and comfort to the un-
fortunate stranger, and the venerable
Col. Plunketr, who had known him in
better days and bad seen him in more
auspicious circumstances, treasured
the sin laden aud sorrow stricken lad,
by telling him, that he himself would
60 to Baltimore and act rs mediator
With the father. for his erring and pro-
dIgal son.
The good colonel's heart WAS in the
right place, His principles and his
heart kept pace with each other, His
religion was not that false cant and
hypocritical fastidiousness of the world
ly phariSee, that condones not sin
aud pardons not u disgrace, if the sin
or the disgrace be, by any means made
public. Sin as much AS YOU choos-
IN private, says the world, but be caree
full 10 parade SanctlmoniouS appear
ance in pubIic.'
Like the master whom he served,
and the SAVIOR whom he loved that
Savior. who looked with eyes OF com
passionate love upon the penitent thief
on the cross, the colonel could see geod
and truth and virtue, even in crimi-
nal provided that criminal recogniz-
ed the error OF his ways and repented
Of his sins.
The world kicks man when he is
down, and contemptuously bullets. him
when he tries to regain foothold on
the pedestal, from which he has fal-
len-and the hypocritical followers of
the maNims of the world and the re
ligion of the world, follow complacent
ly in the wake of the world. Protect
and gild and ornament the outside,
SAYS the world !; no matter how decay
ed and rotten and disgusting may be
the inside Of the structure.
The Colonels religion was not that
of the world; it was that of Christ =
and like Christ, he could pity the suf
fering, sympathize with the unfortu-
nate, and extend Il helping hand to the
repentant prodigal.
Telling young Gaddis to be of good
cheer and to pray to his God for mer-
cy and pardon, ColoAel Plunkett press
ed his hand and left the room, to con-
ceal his emotion and give free vent to
the unbidden tears, that sprang spon-
taneous from the depths Of his com
passionate heart.
The doctor and Colonel Spa!ding
scarcely less moved than he, followed
their venerable friend to the library.
Here consultation was held, and a
letter to Mr.. Gaddis was written by
the doctor. 1t was signed 10th bv the