Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-12-03
NOT HEARD FROM.
r.nth,sC Companion.

Iuksgivlng day, Mrs. Forest placed
u Al the table for their only son
rbild, David, who had left his
\ fifteen years before, at the age
|sneteen. Since he left, no word
BIN had reached them. The
D,h heart OF the mother refused to
I oftbe lad as dead, and so she
I, rlate at his old place, and by
- a little bouquet of his favor
covers
htber, and then he'd understand
. as,ve been thinking ofhim all the
h. =,
4. old man shook his head.
ors like David don't come back
IT, Vice drove him away, and vice
probably keep him away. fits
| ratification for you to keep a
at the table for him, you know
L,1don't object; but / wish you
n make up your mind that he will
came back. These yearly e
oSe,s only bring the old pain back,
ETIcould, | should like to forget
all together.
Ma o wouldn't, James. He was
~ and disobedient, and brought
mo and sorrow over this threshold;
4 ior all that, he's our only child,
\ Pm sure we can neither OF us for
4 that
4 wa Just fifteen years since the
Ipnr man came home one night IN Il
Ios.Iv state of intOxiCation. 1t was
4. he first time, but it vas the first
Ee his father had seen him in that
|@"3tion. He was a clerk in
1rv.poods store, and when he
ma omelate at night, hisfather sup
Ia he had been detained by his
,;ness. and went contentedly to bed.
Il Moor wife. who satup for the way
frd bov. knew better; but like many
rsntle but unwise mother, she CON
Rial her sons vice from his father,
Fnirg he might reform. Her husband
n a very stern man, and was un-
,arinr in his dCnunCiations OF the
1arial vice Contemporaries. Thetruth
she was actually afraid to tell
m.
The night l have spoken OF, Mr..
had a letter to write, which
MI him in the sitting-rOOm long after
I nsual bedtime. When the slOb-
ring. idiotic young drunkard reeled
10 the room, his father sprung from
: chair as ii be had been shot. He
oked at his son but did not say a
,rd. Then be sat deliberately down
a chair and watched him, with such
look on his white, set face that his
laid her trembling hand on his
m. He shook it off. In a few mo
snts he turned TO her, and said, in a
nd, merciless voice.
How long has this been going on,
rah?"
.Oh, | don't know, james," she
bbed. "Ive seen him two or three
mes under the influence ofliquOr, but
yer so bad as this, James. | didn't
| you, because he promised to re-
I'M. Oh, don't be too hard on him
her Pray, don't be too hard upon
NJ"
Too hardl' he repeated, looking
th angry disgust at the young man,
. was huddled in a heap in u large
m-chair, trying vaInly to sit erect,
tn a silly, drunken grin on his face.
90 hard! Why, if | turned him out
the house this very night, and dis
ned him as my son, | should be do
right. And you have kept this
IN me? How could you, how dare
u, do it, and thus become response.
for this disgrace? | might have
it. Now it's too late. Look
that idiotic face; the stamp OF the
who is past recovery is up
it. FITS too late"
don't. James," his wife cried,
beside HIM. Il did it for the
st. Don't say it's too late, He's
t a little more than a child yet, and
d company has led him astray."
drunken boy laughed idiotical-
'G'long calm me ellie. ole CONAN.
s poker-player in town! Los ten
liars. Ole Rapp's money though.
it out till. Gov'nor looks mad.
hatermatter?"
hush! hush hushl" the dis
lcted mother said, taking him by
; hand. Come to bed, David! Oh,
GOMEZ" The drunken boy pushed
!. aside.
'Gov'nor mad" he muttered.
Won't be suited! Gimme satisfac-
N ofgentleman. Ten PAGES, pistols"
d as he mauudered on, his head
on the table before him, and he
pit heavily.
Don't try and get him away" Mr..
rrest said, sternly. He shall stay
re all night, and I'll sit up with
You heard what he said" with
utter laugh. "Our son is not only
Irunkard, but a thief. Let him stay
ire. | want to ret aCcus omed to
disgrace which has come upon me,
d a night with that object before
VIII help me to realize it. DO you
TO bed. must take his manage
NJ out OF your weak hands"
You won't drive him away, James,
lH give him a chance? You will
{ nm one opportunity to try to re-
Don't turn him out into the
Eed world, to be lost forever!" she
AIDED, with sobs. Her husband did
immediately answer her, but at
7 he said,-
! will not drive him away yet. He
VI nave one chance more-a single
III make him understand that,
ne can understand anything.
leave mt with him."
ne poor mother crept weeping to
ped She left partly open
ween the rooms, that she might
tch both husband and son. Mr..
nest sat rigid and motionless, as if
was carved IN stone, but the boy
on heavily. Towards morning
oegan to move uneasily in his seat,
? raised his head from the table
! Strengthened himself up. The
ther, whose eyes had not closed
o1gh the whole of that long night,
lc almost see the terrified expires.
I IN his eyes when they fell on his
aers grim figure opposite. He rose
to his feet.
otop, sir" said his father, walking
MN II have a few words to say
nat was said was in too low q
. lor Mrs. Forrest to hear. There
Y a lew brief questions, and when
va answered one OF them, he hung
nead like a convicted criminal.
eli she heard hcr busbopd'a s.arn