The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-26

20 mp alone TO grandpapa.
And 90 you sHnlI, decided Mrs @
good. after minutes hesitation. Z
ople won't stand in the way Of it, let mastt
be az angry with me a. he will He
up in the drawing-room, all By himself.
y. The man sat down to wait. And th
child went up alone.
Opening the door, she went softly II
spn not speaking: perhaps the stern-lOokin
oi old man, sitting there with bent head
'eaI awed her TO silence. Joseph Golding
nor waking up from his deep reyerie, saw
oi letter held out TO him. He took II me
s, 70 chanicalIy, sHpposing its messenger, hid
ais den behind his large chair, was one o.
7eii his servants. With a singular quicken
laa ing Of pulse, he recognized his daughter
asy writing.
-, pc She had waited all these silent years
tdi she told him, because she was deter
ne ne mined never to write to him again until
II. they were rich enough for him to know
al y that she did not write from any need OF
II his help They had passed ten years in
ne the West, and Heaven had prospered
J them. Her husband was a rich man
now, and she wanted from her father
We only his love-wanted only, that death
he should not come between them, and
- either of them go to her mothers side
= without having been reeonciled to the
sc other
as '.How did this come here who
g brought it demanded Mr.. Golding, In
}! = his usual imperions manner.
II Il did, grandpapa."
s He sprang up at the soft, timid voice,
y as if some fright took him, and stared
D at the lovely vision, standing there like
a spirit on his hearthstone, with her
white face and her cleaning golden
: hair. Was il real? Where was he?
I Who could this child be? But, as he
d looked, the likeness flashed upon him
and he grew hungry to clasp her to him.
y 1t was the little Amy of the old days |
grown in.o beauty-for Amy had never
7 been 50 wondrously fair as this.
"Come here, my child; don't be |
afraid. Tell me what your name is.
Amy, grandpapa.
Another AMY Grandpapa, He felt
the sobs rising up to his heart with
great flood of emotion; bat he choked
them back.
What have they told you about me-"
he rejoined, after long pause. "Have
they lid you hate me-"
They always told me that yon were
| far away toward where the sun rose;
and if 1 were good they would bring
me to see You some day. Every night
say in my prayers, God bless papa and
mamma, and God bless grandpapa." !
"Why didn't they bring you? What
made them let you come alone?"
Mamma sent me with John to give 8
you the letter." was the simple answer {
The carriage is at the gate, waiting for a
me-" t
"Who is John?'' G
'Papa's servant" r
"And-where are they staying" b
"At the hotel. We only got here this q
morning
Mrs. Osgood, lowering in the hall, e
looked on in wonder. Her master was c
coming down stairs, calling for his hat B
and coat, and leading the child. He got t
into the carriage with her and it drove :
| away. Mr.. Golding was wondering va 4
guely whether it was real. P
They arrived at last, and the child led
him in, opening door at the end of p
long corridor. She spoke cheeringly. il
Mamma, here's grandpapa. He said +
he would come back with me" d
Mr.. Goldings head went off in swim. t
Advancing weakness tells upon people I
in such moments as these. He sat down; a
and there were Amy's arms--his own t
Amy's-about his neck. Which of the p
two sobbed the most, could not be t
he lost through all those vanished t
years? r
'Father, are we reconciled at last?n t
Il don't know, my daughter; until you il
tell me if you forgive me" ]
There should be no talk about for v
giveness," she said. "Yoa went accord
ing to your own opinion of what was
right. And perhaps | was to blame, 81
too. Father, it is enough that God has W
brought us together again in peace. |
thought that no one could resist my W
little Amy, least of all, her grandpapa." al
He looked up. The child stood by, "
silently; the freight glittered on her sc
golden hair, her face shining strangely Il
sweet He put out his arms and drew Al
her into them, close-where no child,
not even his own, had ever nestled be- sc
fore. Oh how much he had missed in st
life!-he knew it now. He felt her "
clinging hold round his neck-her kisses il
dropped upon his face like the plying N
dew from heaven, and he-was it him
self, or another in his place? h
Father, see. fl
Amy's voice had full, cheerful ring 81
in it. Her married life had been happy. al
Dir. Golding turned at the call. ii
"Here are Harry and the boys wait p
ing to speak to you, she said in less SC
assured tone. u
He shook his son-in-law's hand hearth h
". Old feuds, old things, were over h
now, and all was become new. In his Ia
heart, he had always liked Harry f.
Church Then he looked at the two Il
boys, brave, merry little fellows, of b
whom he might be proud. r
Explanations ensued. Fortune had cC
favored Mr. Church; they had come b
back for good, and were already looking a,
out for a'house. ol
"No house but mine" interrupted Jo- N
seph Gelding. ''It will want tenant st
when lam gone. You must come home a
tomorrow" al
Tomorrow will be Christmas Day." al
said his daughter, doubtingly. Sc
"AH the better. If Christmas was Il
never kept in my house it shall be now.
shall not live to see another, Amy" al
She looked up at the changed, thin y
face and could not contradict him. a
Some one going to their Western home, tl
had told them how Joseph Golding was
breaking; the news had caused them to q
return prematurely. Amy said to her :,
husband that if her father died, IN q
reconciied to her, she should be full of q
Temorse forever. n
sYou will come home tomorrow, all "
of you,' repeated Mr.. Golding. And Al
mind, Amy, you do not go away again" oi
Buff the children should be too b
much for you, father! <
"When they are, I'll tell you, he said,
with a touch of the former gruffness. il
aThe old house is large enough p
He went out, and found his way tol Il
the shops-open to the last on Christ B
mas Eve-looking for Christmas gifts.
New work for him l-Dut he entered into b
it earnestly. Perambulating the streets y
like bewildered Santa Claus, he went II
home laden with books, and toys, and n
levels, and bonbons. Mrs. Osgood lifted y
her hands, and thought the end of the A
world must be coming. q
ssHeIp me put these things away, Mrs :
Osgood Don't stare as If you were
moonstruck. And, look here-there'n D
be company to dinner tomorrow. Mind 7.
YOU send in q good one. Eh
ssThe best that ever was seen on a D
tabIe.-if its for them think il is for. i
ssWeM, it IS. Miss Amyss coming
home again. h
Heaven be praised, sir! The house 4
has been a duh one since she left It. !.
aThey are all coming. And they viii !, :
-. 49,, -. Afuz11 Gaarlxnd Tf f