The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-15

ward, laundering boy, who never had
any gumption."
There was q stir In one of the side
pews. and before half of the dumb
struck audience knew what was taking
place, Mrs. Woodward had mounted the
steps OF the platform, and with joyful
cry was clasping her arms about the
neck OF the stranger. crying:
Tom! Tom! my son, my son! Re-
stored to me at last"
Before the electrified audience could
recover breath, Josie had dropped her
treasured book and flown after her moth
err. He clasped them both in his arms
in an ecstacy of gladness.
tom Woodward! Why it's Tom
Woodward" went around the church.
"Who would have thought that good
looking man was Tom Woodward, "said
Mrs. Baker, wonderingly.
ale looks just like his father did ut
his age" said Dame Goodhue. II no.
ticed the likeness the minute he step
ped out
''Yes. it's Tom Woodward, can't you
see how he favors his mothers side, the
Perkinses,' Mrs. Stebbins said to the
deacon in loud whisper. He, cropping
back through the dim past, remembered
how he had often snubbed and scolded
the boy, and half understood the allu-
sion to ''cOals of fire."
Tom Woodward! Poor, despised Tom
who was always making blunders, for
getting errands, and forever lettering
around Walkers saw and grist mills
Tom who, when sent to school would
play truant and go off alone and white
out little wheels and othernonsense with
his jack-kpife and set them in motionin
the brook. Tom who could never learn
to read and spell snd who made pictures
on his slate half OF the time instead Of
working his addition sums.
AS he grew older he became logged
and sullen- Even his mother failed to
understand MIN, and sometimes treated
him harsbly. One morning he was
missing. He had taken few things
and stole away silently in this dead Of
night. Search and Inquiry were insti-
tuted, advertisements inserted in city
and county papers, and they had almost
given him up for dead.
'They don't understand me. They
think Pm dull and stupid. / shall be if
remain in this dead and alive place
much longer. I'll 90 ont in the world
where can have fair play, and see if
cannot be something" he thought as
he paused on the top of the hill and
looked down upon the sleeping village.
And he had done something. He had
wonderful mechanical genius, little
guessed by those who scolded him For
idling his time away among the mills.
and he had invented and patented %
wonderful piece of machinery that had
already brought him largs sum Of
money, was likely to,make his fortune
He was eighteen when he went away,
he was now a handsome, vigorous man
of twenty-five. Elated with his success,
in the fullness of his heart he had taken
this novel way of surprising: his old
neighbors. Squire Frost once more
made his voice heard from the platform.
In few moments the procession began
passing up one aisle 20 the platform to
shake hands with, and welcome him
home. then going down the other side.
What % grand thing success isl"
was the undercurrent of Toms thoughts.
"Welcome home and merry Christ
mas, Mr.. Woodward was Della's salu-
ton rs her little hand lay in his. strong
palm.
'Thank ven. TOURISTS the sweetest
welcome of ALL" he said in lew tone,
adding, II haven't forgotten bow you
used to help me with my sums when /
was in disgrace"
.'NorL how you useaito draw me on
your little blHe sled,' laughed Della.
So everybody went home thae night
with light, happy hescts, and family
groups sat until u late hour around
glowing fires talking oHBr the wonderful
event..
At the Woodward farmhouse great
wood fire was roaring and cracking in
the fireplace in the big old-fashioned
parlor. and around'it sat q happy family
group. Della Stone WAS with them;-
she had always been lite one of the fam
ily., and they listened while Tom re-
counted his struggles and final success.
''This is your Christmas present old
fellow" Tom said to Bert as he handed
him q handsome silver watch Teposing
in n satin-lined morocco case. Il was
afraid of letting the eat out of the bag
too soon up there if / gave too much to
tho Woodw ard family"
Bert thanked him, but in the midst of
all the brightness n shadow WAS loom
ing over him.. He had hoped to win
Della some day. He knew he should
find u rival in his clever brother who
had acquired gifts and graces from con-
tact with the great world which render
ed him attractive to- girlisb eyes, AL
ready Bert could see that there was an
understanding between them, and re-
called Della $ fondness for Tom in their
school days, though she was 1--WE years
younger.
And Prof. Larry had known all about
it long before the box came, for Tom
had written him for particulars of his
family and the oId residents, enioining
sacrc.sv for n tiNoa