St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-03-10
II |

You can go on until | hear from Bos-
tom
Deacon Johns went ont into the howl
ing storm. The fierce wind turned his
umbrella as if it were toy sheets of
rain dashed over and blinded him, but
he thought not of the storm or of him
self, but of those far-away parents,
those misguided boys, and his own
pure Willie safe from life's storms and
temptations.
In the shed he found the two boys.
One was sitting on Il box looking sad
and weary, the other WAS walking
about impatiently, and was strongly
huilt and with large but keen eye.
Good morning" said Deacon Johns.
Good morning, SIR said the stout
one.
"You are strangers here, Judge ?'
"GeS, sir, we are travelling and step
ped in here few moments out of the
storm
''IIow far are you travelling" ?"
"TO Kansas, sir"
''Ilave You friends there P'
eyes, sir, an uncle
"Where do your parents live ~
''They are dead, sir; and father,
when dying, told me to go to his
brother. We had money, but we were
not used to travelling, and have been
robbed. But we find gentlemen, like
yourself, sir, very generous, so we
have been a'.le to get so far, and shall
lie all right as soon as we get to my
uncle's."
where did you come from ~
Canada, sir"
"W hat are your names ?"
"Mine is Charles Williams"
The Deacon was puzzled. The tone of
the boy was frank and clear, and his
story much the more probable of the
two. After IA moments thought he
went to the boy who was sitting down
and said in ii low, kind tone, Med -
He looked up quickly. The Deacon
added:
"Do you know you are killing your
mother ?"
"Who told you % he asked earnest
ly.
Now l am going to telegraph your
father
"'IIe will kill most"
"No, he will rejoice to hear from
you. Come with me to the telegraph
office"
Dick, alias Charles Williams, had
come up and now spoke:
1--WE are expecting friend who will
not know where to find us, so we viii
wait for him and then come to the of
flee. His fathers address is Henry c.
| 4 =.
parents as | told you"
Ned's face flushed crimson and al
the bright eager look went out of it.
"Dick, your friend George is at my
house, and you must come with me.
''He has been and gone and peached
has he? He has been spoOney ever
since that man gave him Testament.
With an air of supreme contempt ht
added:
- YOu can have the babies. | shal
go to California"
$50 to California impossible yOI
cannot cross the Rocky Mountains.
But you can go to the station hOus
and wait until | hear from Boston
and you WiU.'
~ lrW not"
The stalwart Deacon took him b,
the collar.
"You cannot drag me. Leave m
alone, and | will go"
And he did go.
Leaving Them at the station house
Deacon Johns telegraphed Blank &
Co., Boston:
''Have you a bOok-keeper or EN-
ployee named George Freeman ?'
.sANn haN-a hnnl-- lyanTnr
. George w. Freeman" was the re
spOnse.
; Then went a message to the father
f "A boy of thirteen, who says he i
your son, and two boys called Die
and Ned, but who will not give thei
last names, are here. Do you kno,
them ~
The wires flashed back:
: George is my son. Is he well
Mr.. Bright, Ned's father, will start to
{ night for the boys"
I ''All right. They are all well
z went back.
+ Deacon Johns went to the static
4 house and told the boys. Ned wa
- very quiet, but his face shone thrOug
his fast falling tears. But Dick WI
I very fluent in his thanks to the kin
gentleman for the interest he had tai
- en- in them, and was very sorry j
was so rude to him. He was tired
|. the whole thing but hated to say 5,
- and knew ii was much better to 9
n back. and he should be glad to gO.'
o Seeing them i'll a good home, whel
g they would be well cared for until NJ
a Bright should come, Deacon JOIN
Ii went home. George, between smile
: and tears, sandwiched the words, :
e do believe | am the happiest boy
d whole world"
e And good Mrs. Johns said:
G ITO think but for that rain gust
should have sent yOu boys on to deaf
o or to crime and let your parents d
This Was 30 years ago.