New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-12-02
NOT HEARD FROM.
FROM the Youths Companion.

7.
81 chair at the table for their only son
and child, David, who had left his
home fifteen years before, at the age
Of nineteen. Since he left, no word
rom him had reached them. The
faithful heartof the mother refused to
think of the lad as dead, and so she
laid his plate at his old place, and by
It placed a little bouquet of his favor
lite flowers.
nYou see, he may come back at any
time, father, and then he'd understand
that we've been thinking of him all the
time
The old man shook his head.
a@Beys like David don't come back,
Sarah. Vice drove runaway !, and vice
HM probably keep him away. fits
any qualification for you to keep a
place at the table for him, you know
chat don't object; but I wish you
could make up your mind that he will
sleyer came back. These yearly re-
sainders only bring the old pain back,
and If 1 could, I should like to forget
him, all together"
'tNo, yeu wouldn't, James. He was
Wild and disobedient, and brought
shame and sorrow over this threshold;
tsut for all that, he's our only child,
and I'm sure we can neither OF us for
get that"
1t was just fifteen years since the
Toung man came home one night in a
sseastly state Of intoxication. tt was
not the first time, but it was the first
fine his father had seen him in that
condition. He was a clerk in
q dry-goods store, and when he
came homelate atnight, his father sup
posed he had been detained by his
business, and went contentedly to bed.
Ihe poor wife, who sat up for the way
yard bog, knew better; but like many
agentle but Rtawise mother, she con-
sealed her sons vice from his father,
apping he might reform. Her husband
WAS q very stern man, and was I'M
ssa3arlng in his denunciations of the
special vice contemporaries. The truth
IS, she was actually afraid to tell
aim.
The night I have spoken OF, Mr..
Forrest had a letter to write, which
Kept him in the sitting-rooml long after
flis usual bed time. When the slob-
berlneg, idiotic young drunkard reeled
Hsnto the room, his father sprung from
his chair as il he had been shot. He
cooked at his son but did not say a
word. Then he sat deliberately down
1n a chair and watched him, with such
q l0Ok on his white, set face that his
wfe laid her trembling hand on his
arm. He shook it off, In a few mo-
stilents he turned to her, and said, in a
*nard, merciless voice.
"How long has this been going on,
sSarah?'
t'Oh, I don't know, james, she
sobbed. GIVE seen him two or three
eIme.s under the influence ofliquor, but
never SO bad as this, James. didn't
tell you, because he promised to re-
form. Oh, don't be too hard on him
father! Pray, don't be too hard upon
ahim."
Too hard!'' he repeated, looking
with angry disgust at the young man,
who was huddled in heap in large
armchair, trying valnly to sit erect,
with q silly, drunken grin on his face.
TOO hard! Why, if I turned him out
of the house this very night, and dis
owned him as my son, / should be do
ing right. And You have kept this
from ,ney How could you, how dare
you, do it, and thus become RESPONSE
BILE for this disgrace? I might have
checked it. Now it's too late. Look
at that idiotic face; the stamp of the
drunkard who is past recovery is up
on it. IT'S too late!"
StOh, don't, James!'' his wife cried,
:kneeling beside him. II did it for the
hess Don't say it's too late! He's
sabslt a little more than child yet, and
bad company has led him astray."
The drunken boy laughed idiotical-
Iy-
@tG'long calm me ellie, ole CONAN!
hes poker-player in town! Los ten
dollars. Ole Rapp's money though.
Took it out till. Gov nor looks mad.
sWhatermatter?'
sob, hush! hush! hush!' the dis
'Sraeted mother said, taking him by
rbhe hand. "Come to bed, David! On,
do come!" The drunken boy pushed
her aside.
"Goy'nor mad!" he muttered.
wont be suited! Gimme satisfac-
ton ofgentleman. Ten PAGES, pistols"
and as he maundered on, his head
sank on the table before him, and he
slept heavily.
Don't try and get him away" Mr..
Forrest said, sternly. "He shall stay
there all night, and III sit up with
him. You heard what he said!'' with
aEbitter laugh. "Our son is not only
g. drunkard, but a thief. Let him stay
there. want to get accustomed to
the disgrace which has come upon me,
and night with that object before
me will help me to realize it. Do you
60 to bed. must take his manage
Aaent out OF your weak hands"
You won't drive him away, James!
Yeull give him chance? You will
give him one opportunity to try to re-