St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-03-17

give you advice, but II wasn't my busl-
ness to stop your boy either, so l think
l have a right to say word to YOU
'Say what you please, sir"
"ShOU your boy you love him, as
you do. Take him to your heart"
''Sir, the ungrateful boy left a home
where he had everything he could de-
sire, and has made his mother miser-
able, almost insane. ! know how to
treat him."
''YOu will punish him severely ?"
"What punishment could be SeUere
for him 7'
"And you expect to soften and sub
due him by the punishment you have
determined on. Your heavenly Father
has been furnishing you. Are you
softened by it ~
"Sir-where did you say l will find
Edward ~
~ didn't say, as you know! Have
you even guarded his reading? 1t
was romantic fancy, born of the
books that flood the country, that has
led these boys to seek a grand for
tune in the unknown land of gold. 1t
was the New Testament that saved
them from crime, and gives Ned back
unstained and penitent to you"
Then he gave the history of the
place and the trip. The almost crime
startled the father; the reading the
Testament by the wayside, and the
longing home sickness, made his chin
quiver. The Deacon added:
"Yet your proud, sensitive boy,
with the sore awakening from his
dream, with "A heart aching for his
mothers kiss and smile, felt that starry
alton, cold, freezing amid the stern
Rocky Mountains less terrible than to
meet youths father"
''If am so terrible that he preferred
to starve or freeze, why didn't he go
on ~
"The memory of his fathers kind
ness opened Georges lips to my wife.
And | went in fierce storm half a
mile to Il horse shed and found your
boy covering on a block in the corner,
cold, ragged, dirty, worn, weary and
discouraged, but without one thought
of going home. But | stopped them.
Mr.. Bright" and his voice grew gentle
and tremulous. II had IA sOn-scarce
older than these-a son | loved as my
own soul. His sports were my sports
his joys my joys; his little troubles
were my troubles too. His reading
was my reading, and he grew to be a
bright and noble boy" The tears
yelling from his heart choked him.
'Is he lost? ?" asked Mr.. Bright, feel
ingly.
..Lost! he is saved eternally SdUed
and for his loved sake we have saved
these
With Il quivering lip and moistened
eye Mr.. Bright said:
81 understand it all now. | thank
YOU for the lesson You have taught me
| have deserved this but | did not
know it until now. God bless you fol
your love for my boy"
Arm in arm they went out. As
they stepped into the room where
Ned sat by the fire, he turned deadly
pale and his eyes dilated as he fixed
them on his father, but he did moi
move.
Edward my son ~ said his father
kindly, opening his arms. Ned sprang
forward and fell into his embrace.
VI.
Mr.. Bright left Boston so suddenly il
was necessary for him to return al
once. But he stayed day to send
men to find Dick and to telegraph
home.
George had a severe cold his feet
were sore, one foot badly swollen; ht
was i'll IL Christian family softened by
great sorrow, who already loved hin
and wished him to stay he had !
motherly care. He had no home, nC
mother to go to. His father therefor,
decided to let him remain until, tn,
business season, over he could come fOl
him.
"WiIl you like to stay, George p
asked Mr.. Bright.
Il would very, Uery much, only dc
lrant to ask my fathers forgiveness"
81 will tell him and you can writ,
it, said Mr.. Bright, with unwOnteC
gentleness.
As Dick could not be found, Mr.
Bright authorized il reward for the boy
or information respecting him sent t.
Deacon Johns.
The next morning Mr.. Bright came
to leave his last wishes and some mon
ey, and once more to thank Deacon
Johns for all he had done. Edward
came with him to say goodbye" t.
George. In his nice, clean, new clothes
with his bright happy smile, the Dea
con could hardly recognize the forlorl
boy he found in the horse shed. He
said:
"Deacon Johns, | thank you, and
shall thank you all my life"
"Thdt you iUiH, my boy And loo
ont Uhdt books you read" he answered
heartily.
81 promise you, | will, sir"
Then he put his hand in his fathers
and looked up in his face with sue
trust, that the two men looked eacl
other full in the eye, clasped hand
strongly, and wept together.
And thus they parted, each mad
wiser and truer from their life circle
having touched, though only to di
verge again.
As this story is from real life, tn
rest of it may soon be told. Nothin
was heard from Dick. 1t was certai
he came to no good, or he would hav
sent word home if he did not return
George did not recover from the col
he caught while exposed in the storm
he grew worse and worse, and con
} sumption set in. His father was sell
for and came to him.
To see him slowly wasting away wa
torture to his father.
Murdered" he would say, '|jus
murdered by books of wild adventur
and absurd success. And | did Nc
see what he read | cannot, caRn,
bear it, What did | think what di
| think ~
AS with one long, loving look int
his fathers face, the light of George
eyes went out, Deacon Johns said
"He walks the streets of pure gol,
in the city of pure gold"