Daily Republican., 1884-02-09
RECLAIMED.


Only three years ago, and no more
/, stately, vigorous, hale gentleman walk
! ed the streets than Joseph Pollard
8 Esq now he was cold Joe, aud some
3 times poor old Joe." When he failed
he WAS living ingreat splendor. People
to THE day point out the Pollard man.
sion, and tell you of It's former great
ness Happily, there was no dishonor
attached 10 his name. lie had given up
all home, ho SEES carriage, everything
that conld be dispensed with.
His only daughter-uaned Josephine,
n but all her friends called her Jeddy--
gave birhnight party only week be-
fore the trouble came, on her eighteenth
birthnight Never happier or lowell.
er girl than she. Universally admired
) and respected, bright AZ n sunbeam,
witty, merry, generous In all thai
throng Of beuaty, amid the flowers and
the f.asting, that man would have been
bold indeed who could have presaged
coming III fortune.
full news came. Joseph Pollard was
bankrupt. The cashier had been dis
honest, several large firms had gone
down, and the run on the bank had
completed the ruin.
The father found a place AZ an assis-
tant hook keeper, bul he had formed
the habit of drinking ut his own table.
Little by little he sank into what seem.
ed an utterly hopeless state. lost his
business, his pride, and almost his wits.
"My dear" wrote Aunt Prue, when
she heard Of this misfortune, "put
your father away. There are plenty Of
places and come and live with me.
Enough for one is enough for two"
Aunt Prue," wrote Teddy, indig-
nantly, 81 am ashamed of.you. What.
council me to put my own dear father
in the poor-house, for what other place
10 open to him? No. | will share his
misfortunes If have to work my ting-
ers to the bone"
"Jeddy Pm useless. I'm broken
down aud good for nothing" whined
poor Joe, day after day, as Teddy stitche
hor life into the work she had underta-
ken. Father, you areonly ffty.eight
years old" was the answer. Many q
man has begun life anew at your age"
All! IL only could!' he would make
reply, and drink again to drown his
misery.
Teddy had carried much her fine
ward robe with her into the poverty of
her surroundings. or course, she made
over and toned down the materials, but
the look of the lady," as one of her
coarser Deighbors said, was upon her,
and cou dn't be mistook.'
Every body pitied her when old Joe
came Keeling home but few knew how
patiently she put up with his intirmity,
how she soothed and coaxed him, with
what tenderness she anticipated his
wants, and even when it would seem
that he was scarcely entitled TO her re-
speed, honored him.
To her, under all his wretched dis
guises, he was still father.
But her constant duties wore heavily
upon her. She grew pale aad thin,
then feverish aud hectic but still she
worked on.
Three times handsome carriage and |
pair were seen betoIa the door Of her |
plain little home.
The first time rich aunt came to re-
monstrate with her and offer her a |
home She found her preparing the |
poor meal over the tiny cook.stove.
"Jeddy you are the best girl in the i
world but you must go back with me,
If only for awhile, and leave that man
to take care of himself"
This was after most affeCtioRate |
greeting, for Teddy was her tavorite
niece.
81 couldn't leave father" WAS the
response.
But l can't see you killing yourself
by inches. What does he care? One
person is as good as another to one who |
has lost all his finer sensibilities, as ne
has.
ooh, no at times father is bis old |
self-even-even ut the worst" she
faltered, he don't forget that he is a
gentleman. He never was unkind to
me-"
" Fiddlesticks Your ideas of duty |
are exaggerated. Come, now-don't dis
appoint me, take little rest. have
come all the way from Lon pur-
pose to carry you back, and the last
words your cousin Kitty said, as left
her, were
Mother, don't fail to bring Teddy
back, l want to See her,
Tears came to Jeddy's brown eyes
as she reiterated:
I" cannot leave father"
And here you are, losing all your
beauty-all your advantages, and even
your health-I can see it For your
fathers sake, you ought to 20. 1t
would make new creature of you to
see old sights, and old faces, and to live
a while like Christian. Why, child,
the walls are damp; how do you live?"
isn't living, aunt, it's only stay
lng," said Teddy, trying to smile, but
that | can't help while father lives.
There shobody In all this wide world to
care for him but me. l know might live
n ease and comfort If went with you:
md oh, sometimes my heart does long
70 fer q little of the old time Joy! I'll,
would be like looking into Paradise
)ut-I can't leave father" il
There sounded heavy sigh. Both
women turned round to SOC the old.
aunt man in the doorway, the tears
treaming down his cheeks as he held
orth his trembling hand a. in benedio-
ion. 6
$50, Jeddy, go, angel-don't stay for a
ne--l'm not worth your care" he said, !
But Teddy thought otherwise. Long \
fter the splendid carriage had gone, &
he sat there holding the gray head "
gainst her shoulder, soothing and pet
ing him and lending willing ear to
lis promises of amendment.
The second carriage brought q stylish Il
Dung gentleman, with whom her c.
riends had often coupled her name, "
le came with an offer of marriage. p
ut Teddy gave him the same soft but u
reply, " couldn't leave s.
'ther, and he, too, went away dis
0nsolate.
The third carriage contained one who OF
ad always been a friend, also a young m
entleman, who had lately returned ca
ON foreign tour. g
He asked no questions and expressed W
great surprise, though the change he HI
w affected him painfully. But, like &c
true friend, he resolved to aid both
ther and daughter,