South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-01-06

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Hush, Bernard You must not
speak of him thus to me. He paid
the penalty OF his sin, for sin it was !;
nor would have you consider ii 9TH
erwise. Though the world scorn and
condemn him, you, his son, and /, his
wife, must cast no reproach upon his
memory. want You To see the thing
he did in all its blackness and moral
deformity. But for him. the sinner,
let there be no bitter word, no harsh
Judgment, not from our lips, my son.
No man more truly repented or tried
more earnestly to atone. No woman
ever bad a kinder husband. He loved
you, Bernard, and the bitterest drop
III his bitter cup was the thought OF
the stain that rested on the name you
bear his last injunction to me was
to so teach and train you, that you
would regard with horror the slight
est approach to the great error that
has been born and still bears such
bitter fruit; his last prayer was that |
might so live rs to lift the reproach
from your name and his.'
Rising to his feet Bernard looked
sadly upon the speaker, from whose
eyes the tears were falling fast
you have needed that injunction
well, mother, as can testify. shall
not forget your teachings. But if all
are to Judge me rs Mr.. Burchard does,
what will it avail
They will not. You will find few
men like him. He bears me personal
grudge, though ] never wronged him.
No one can really harm you, but
yourself, Bernard. rs for this which
so discourages and binders you now,
you must live it DOWN
This WAS the last conversation that
Bernard had with his mother on that
subject. The following night Mrs.
Reed was seized with hemorrhage of
the lungs, and before morning the
tired heart, which had borne It's bur-
den SO patiently, WIS Mt rest.
a few weeks later Bernard and Mr.
Burchari met again.
Bernard shrank before those keen
gray eyes, which was quicI; to note
the change in his look and bearing.
You found my words truer
i found them true. But to con,
Gemn the son for the fathers sin ia
cruel and unjust as you will some day
acknowledge
1T is the way of the world, boy.
What can you do single handed n
gainst the world 2
Between Bernard and that ieering
smile there floatod pale face, whose
calm, tender eyes looked beseeching-
ly into his. lie raised his hand up
ward and said +:
] can live ii down
Twenty years later there sat upon
the judicial bench of New England
city, Judge so noted for his learning
and integrity that his fame went out
through all its length and width.
Few would have recognized in that
digniiied man, whom all classes de-
lighted to honor, the poor, friendless
lad that we introduced at the coma
meacement Of our story. Yet, so II
was. Step by step, through all diff
cultes and discouragements that
would have daunted less brave and
resolute spirit, Bernard Reed had
slowly fought his way upward until
ne stood at the head Of bis profession
and had won place among TIE no,
blest in tho land.
Blest with the companiouship Of q
loved and loving wife, with happy
children clustering about his knees,
he had not been less fortunate in his
private than public life.
lie did not forget, in his prosperity.
the trials and sorrows of his early life
apart from the legal honors he had
won, many lips praised, many hearts
blessed bin. IuHexiblc in the dis.
change of bis official duties, never for.
getting in weak sympathy for the
criminal, the good Of the community.
whose faithful and honored servant
he was, no heart was moro quick 10
feel for the weak and erring, no hand
more ready to lift them up. if such q
thing was possible, 10 a better aud
puTer life.
One day Judge Reed led M tho
steps Of bis stately mansion a ferlorn.
looking boy, who cluug sobbing tc
him. lie entered q room where hi.
wife was sitting with her youngest
child on her knee.
My love, terrible thing happened
in court to-day. One of the prisoner.
sentenced, the father Of this poor boy
freuzied with shame and despair shot
himself. | used to know the father
Of the unfortunate man, who lives In
New York, and to whom | shall tele
graph. This little follow is ncarl,
heart-broken, and I leave him with
you to care for and comfort az only 8
mother can
The following day. sn old man wa.
shown into thelibrary where tue Judg,
was sitting.
81 raorfrr1 --e.-- 4f.