The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-04-12

shAii come And 20 u happened thai
Jcshna Norhvorih leis college and vsns
into business in tho city, enly few people
knew Why.
Il don't see hoe Il is. said old Mrs.
!. Brewster when she heard of IL II
thought them Norhvorshs was goiu' 10
make minister Of Joshua ] am afraid
they're gettiu' worldly minded.
Mira Northworth was making apple
! turnovers. In al wcnamisses no ono
could make them as we'll jnst the right
: crispnoss outside. jnss the Juicy, spicy
combination insidc. II was alright. clear
winter morning. and Patience In her lit.
tie white cap and apron, fitting to and
fro. sang Antioch" with all the peace and
\ Joy ola contented heart Let Heaven
and Nature sing" rose in loud. clear, sweet
notes as she opened the oven TO take a
peep At the browning treasures within. As
she shut the oven door there came chime
Of sleigh bells. the door opened and her
HUSBAND. came in.
1 These Baldwin apples have . spicier
favor this year than ever before. dear; i
wish" she said. looking up, Joshua we're
going to be here to-God be merciful to
US, father. what has happened?'
"Call me father no more, Patience. Oh,
Absalom, my son, my som"
"Is he dead?" sobbed Patience. "Oh,
what has hsppened9'
He murmured hoarsely, ''The paper in
in my pocket"
The anxious mother drew it out with
trembling hands. Her eyes caught the
words, "Bank Dedication "A clerk, I"
it said. "very good family, "father Of high
reputation. living near Rocton." That
was it. A mist came before her eyes. The
kitchen seemed to swim around her.
And the farmer and his wife sat alone
by their fireside that night Somehow as
the shadows danced ON the wall and the
freight shone in their faces, the night
twenty years before came to their minds.
1--WE will call him Joshua" The paper
still lay in the desk Rev Joshua North
worth. letter lay in the mothers lap.
DEAR MOTHER: can call you so, for
know mother is like God in that she new.
er ceases to remember her child, no mat.
ter how sinful he may be. don't know
how did it. took little. There
seemed such loads aud loads of it, and |
was in debt to poor woman. II l had
not foolishly spent my money, ] should
have had enough to pay her. meant to
pay it back to The bank; but I delayed,
anil now am awaiting trial. / did
wrong. am sorry, but must await the
penalty; but, dear mother, am young
You shall not always be ashamed Of me.
have been foolish as well as wicked.
thought the book you loved was old fash.
ioned. I thought church. going was use-
less. gave it oil up and leaned on myself
But 80 many Of tho fellows in the city feel
Just the same. don't know whether any
thing less would have brought me TO my
senses. JOSHUA.
And their hearts found little comfort
In this. The long g-dreaded trial ended,
apd he was sentenced to three years i'm
prisonment Work went on in sad routine
at the farm house. One Christmas had
passed with the son in prison, another
Christmas was coming, Patience seemed
to grow absent minded. II anyone spoke |
to her or il she beard any sound she would
start. She ate but little, and seemed to Z
shun all company, She was silently, res
olutely making up her mind to great ef- /
fort; she told no one, but she was going |
to see the governor to sue for her boys l
forgiveness. She was sure IL he saw his ,
letters and knew Of his good conduct in ,
prison he would shorten his sentence
She thought her husband would forgive |
her when he saw the result. So she went i
Of one day with the letters in her pocket, Z
after leaving note on the bureau saying
she had gone on important business and
WOuiu bOOu Dc DuCh. OOuuE uTOSc ucE W. |
er to Rocton and left her atIthe store there I
wondering much when he was told that he n
was not to call for her. and purposing to
tell his master as soou as he could He
had noted the strange ways Of the quiet. q
sad woman, and was not without fear OF c
insanity. II
Brave, weary Patience, waiting in the
drawing room alone! How ell b
,qnent she meant to be when he came in. b
step on the stairs, the door opens, what
! kind face, what cordial, pleasant way i
le had; but where were all her words? y
Not one came. She laid her package Of
etters in his hand. He opened it. read
me. and looked At her with surprise and
pity. II see. be said; Il understand it j
III. / will keep the package and inve.ti-
yate the case. have met your husband. G
is one Of the kind Of men who give n
and strength TO republic, bone o
md sipew. heart and mind. all true. ] a
will try and send You word. Good even
ng!" And before she had chance to h
hank him he had left her. She thought b
Ihe had time to take the train for Scarsbo.
o. She would not mind walking on the o
rack from there to Rocton, even lift we're
lark. She must get home. Pelstiah a
FouId be worrying about her. Not only i,
worrying Patience. but searching the 4
country far and side. thinking his wife is
insane. and almost crazy himself with the \
thought n
In her loop-hole OF retrest Mrs. Brewster b
heard the news in my opinion that r
srsgy Northworth woman ought TO be shut A
np' She might do no end O. HARM" she 4
aid. !,