Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-03-26


great pork packing house. L saved a
little money and was hoping Tor bet
ter times when my health failed again,
and this time with 1t my eye.sight. l
hoped against hope, spending my say
ings to have the best advice, and not
until | was pronounced Incurable
would l write to you. ! want you to
take me to an asylum, Fred I; and, as [
must be pauper patient, | must go to
my own town. You will take me,
Fred ?'
II will take you to anasylum. John, :"
I promised.
"And Susie ? You will keep my Sc
cret. You will not disturb Susie's
happiness ?"
II will not trouble Susie's happi-
ness" said.
Yet az hour later l was writing to
Susie, and l delayed our departure
from Cincinnati till an answer came.
1t was the answer I expected from the
tender loving heart, but said nothing
of it TO John.
Caring tenderly for his comfort, l
took him on his way bomeward. 1t
was evening when we reached the rail-
way depot Of our own town, and as we
had been long cramped in the car-seats,
proposed to walk home.
"Is it not too far off ?" John asked.
81 thought the asylum was long way
from here"
"Oh, the whole place is changed
from the little village you left !" 1 an
swered 1--WE have great town here
now, and your asylum is not very far
from here.''
He let me lead him then, willingly
enough, and we were not long in reach
ing Susie's home. She was alone in the
cheerful sitting room as we entered,
but obeyed my motion for silence, as l
placed John in great armchair, after
removing his hat and coat. He looked
wretchedly old and worn, and his
clothes were shabby, yet Susie's soft
eyes, misty with tears, had only love in
their expression as she waited permits.
sion to speak.
"John," l said to him, ''if had
found you in a pleasant home, happy
and prosperous, and l had known that
Susie was poor, sick and blind, would
it have been a kindly act for me to hide
her misfortune from you, and passing
by your home, to have placed her in
the care of charitable strangers ?"
Fired, you would never have done
that !" he said, much agitated.
Never !" l answered. "YOu are
right. But you, John, ask me to take
from Susie the happiness of knowing a
fathers love, the sweet duty Of caring
for a fathers affliction."
"No, no Fred, l only ask you to put
no burden upon her young life, to
throw no cloud over her happiness. ]
am old and feeble 1 shall trouble nc
one long"
"And when you die, YOU would de.
prive your only child Of the satisfact-
ion of ministering to your wants-take
from her her fathers blessing"
He turned his sigatless eyes toward
me, his whole face working convulsive'
ly.
"Where is she, Fred I? You would
not talk so if you did not know my
child still loves her father"
II am here, father" Susie said and
| stole softly away, as John clasped his
child in his arms. Albert was in the
dining room with Johnnie, and l was
chatting still with him, when heard
John calling
Fred Fred !"
l hurried to the room to find him
struggling to rise, Susie vainly trying
to calm him.
81 want my child !" he cried, de-
liriously, ''you promised me my
child -
saw at glance that the agitation
of the evening had brought back the
wandering mind, of which he had told
me. Albert and l released Susie, who
left us quickly.
Some finer instinct than we posses
sed guided her, for she returned will
Johnnie, and whispering him to bev very
good and kiss grandpapa. she put him
i'm her fathers arms. In second hi:
excitement was gone, and he fondleC
the curly head, while Johnnie obedient
ly pressed his lips upon the witheret
cheek. So, in little time, they fel
asleep, Johnnie nestled in the feeble
arms, and the withered facs dropping
| upon the golden curls. We watched
them silently, till we saw a shadow
pass over Johns face, and change
settled there that comes but once il
life
Gently Albert lifted the sleeping
child, and Cal ried him TO the pursery,
while Susie and I sat G.side the arm
| chair.
"Uncle Fred" she whispered, GAL
bert will go for doctor. But may
waken him I Let him speak to me
once more -
Even AS she spoke John opened hi
eyes. All the wild look was gone frou
/ Al, hn rrrnnnd rnnnoanf till SnclI