The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-09-14
Very Strange.
A Father Meets His 5o-Year-Old Child for the
First Time at a Funeral.

- SAAA4e
First Time at a Funeral.
A strange thing happened at Freder-
ick Station, in Montgomery Co., Pa, a
few days ago. Aaron Bout, well-to-
do trucker of the neighborhood, hale
old man of so, was introduced to his ia
ther, Aaron Bout, rich old merchant
of 20, who lives on Heas street, in this
city. Neither knew that the other was
alive. Although they have been resid-
ing within two hours ride of each 9TH
er for quarter of century this was
the first time they had ever seen each
other, and thereby hangs tale. Fifty
years ago the father was a well-known
horse Jockey in Montgomery County
and lived near Frederick. He was a
crack rider across country and the most
popular horseman to be found in Il ra-
dius of fifty miles. At all the county,
fairs young Bout was authority on all
matters pertaining to horsetlesh, and
none dared dispute his opinion. He
was perfect daredevil in the saddle,
and no one could manage the ribbons
of four-in-hand as gracefully as he.
At 20 he went off with circus, and in
a few months his first son was born
He did not return to Frederick until the
day, fifty years after, when father and
son first met face to face. The mother
had died and the father supposed that
the son had also died. But while the
one was roaming the earth, leading an
adventurer' life, the boy grew to man.
hood and to middle age. After many
years of wandering, and when he had
been lost to family and friends in Mont
gomery, Bout, the elder, married and
in lnl, nd
domestic man of business, accumulated
property and became the head of
numerous family. His last child is now
but two years old and was born when
the father had reached the ripe old age
of 68. There are twenty-tour other
children, not including the supposed-to-
be-dead first born, all of them alive. In
the mean time, Aaron Bout, Jr., had
lived an uneventful life, had married,
bought little farm and also reared
family of children. One day Mrs. Geo.
Bilger, of this city, who was a relative
of Mr.. Bout, died and was taken to
Frederick to be buried. Among the
mourners was the father, and in the
company at the church was the son.
Neither was aware of the others name
or identity. An old patriarch of the
nc1gnDOfnOOU 1Het DOul, sen. ne Hdu
known him when both were boys, and
was amazed to find him alive. Falling
back in the funeral procession he took
the son aside.
Come" said he, 81 will introduce
you to your father"
''My father" cried out the astonish-
ed man. Impossible! have no faith
Ell. He is dead"
mo, no." replied his friend. ''he is
| here Come with me-"
In few moments the father of 20
and the son of so years, each somewhat
bewildered, were in a long and warm
embrace. For hours the two sat close
together under the friendly shade of a
neighbours vine-clad porch, all uncon-
scious of the curious gaze of the coun-
try folks who had attended the funeral.
The son, who has been in Philadel-
phia but once in his life, was pressed to
pay visit to his fathers house on Hcas
street, above Twelfth, and when the
crops have been harvested on the Fred
erick hills there will be another meet
ing Philadelphia Record.