New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-12-02

sion IN his eyes when they Tell on his
fathers grim figure opposite. He rose
unsteady to his feet.
Stop, Sill" said his fAther, walking
to him. Il have a few words to say
to you.!'
What was said was in too low a
voice for Mrs. Forrest to hear. There
were a. few brief questions, and when
David answered one of them, he hung
his head like a convicted criminal
Then she heard her husbands stern
voice for q few minutes longer, and
David half staggered to the back door,
opened it and passed out.
Mrs. Forrest did not dare
ask her husband any questions, but
did not feel uneasy when David did not
appear at breakfast. She concluded
he had gone to the store not wishing
to meet his father so soon again. But
when dinner time came, and he was
still absent, her fears were awakened,
and she noticed her husband cast I'M
easy glances towards the door every
time it was opened. She put on her
bonnet after dinner, and went directly
to the store. Mr.. Rapp was standing
at the door.
"Good evening, Mrs. Forest he
said. "Where on earth is David to-
day."
isn't he in the store?" she asked,
with her heart beating like sledge-
hammer
Indeed, he isn't. He came in for a
minute early this morning, and hand
ed me a ten-dollar bill, and mumbled
out something about having forgotten
to put it in the TILL l couldn't make
out what he did say. He looked pale
and sick, and am sure ought to have
been in bed"
Without word Mrs. Forrest hur-
| ried home.
"What did you say to him?" she
cried, passionately, to her husband.
''YOu'v We been harsh and cruel to him,
know, and now he'sgone away, and
shall never, never seemy boy again!"
II told him what | said would, ;"
he answered, coldly. zone more
chance Igave hun for amendment.
Yes, I told him he was a disgrace, q
clinging disgrace. for didn't believehe
would reform. / gave him some mon
ey to replace what he stole, and that
was all. l don't regret a word said.
Reproach your own weakness. It isn't
just to reproach me. Since he has
! chosen to leave us, it is perhaps the
best thing he could do"
But though Mr.. Forrest spoke in
this manner, he spared neither money
nor labor to gain some tidings OF his
son. They traced him to a seaport
town, and then lost all trace as ut
terly as if the earth had closed over
him. AS months and years rolled by,
Mr.. Forrest gave up expectation of
ever seeing him again, but the mother
hoped still. The father grew more
silent and sad. Time as it passed had
taught him that he had erred in the
he had treated his son, and he would
have liked to retract some of his
words. Mlsfortunes, too, had pressed
upon him. His crops had failed three
years in succession, he had mortgaged
his farm in order that he might live;
and in a few days, there was to be a
foreclosure of the mortgage, and the old
place must pass out of his hands.
''It's no use striving any longer,
Sarah," he said, drearily; II do not
know where to look for help, and we
must submit and leave the old home
stead. Father was born here, as we'll
as myself, and hoped to die in the
house In which he died. Well barely
have a roof over us at Myron Cottage,
but at least it will be our own. We
didn't think much of it when your
aunt left it to you, and now it's our
last refuge"
''It will outlast our time, James, ;"
she said sadly. 'sThere's no one to
come after us, unless David comes
home"
Mr.. Forrest shook his head. Hehad
!c W ceased to combat what he said
W ..s his wife's monomania about the
return of his son. She always insist
ed that in the family devotions he
should be prayed for as still living,
and with cruel pang the father ut
tered the name Of the boy he believed
dead.
cit will be our last Thanksgiving
dinner on the old place." he said the
day before Thanksgiving. "a lonely
one, indeed. 1 wonder if in all the
world there is couple as lone
ly and desolate as we are
She did not speak, but slipped her
hands his. He pressed it warmly,
the faithful hand which had never
wearied in it's tender care OF him. and
there the old couple sat, silent and
thoughtful. They did not need to
speak. Each knew of what the other
was thinking. The mother said in her
heart, "Dear Lord, bring our boy back
to u.s." The father thought, "Lord,
help usto bear patiently the Affections
that are bringing our gray hairs with
sorrow to the grave. y
Thanksgiving day dawned. It was
a dismal day. The rain poured, the
wind blew, the sodden leaves covered
the earth, the whole landscape was
dreary.
"It's pretty dismal, ism t it mother?"
said the old man. "It's good thing
we don't expect guests in this storm.
Well, I suppose we ought to be thank
full for a shelter this weather, and
food enough to keep us from starv-