Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-11-05


too evident" he went on, unheed-
ing the interruption. "When OuI
curly headed Edmund was a youth
early in his teens, he unwittingly
fell into bad company; say unwlt-
tingly, for he was naturallya noble
minded child, but he was young and
could not know how we loved him,
and so they enticed him away. Yes,
es-dOn'tinterrupt me-they coax
ed, and pleaded, and heldup the gilt
tering tinsel of novelty and TO
nance to his Imagination and he
went away. Mother, father, | am
going away. You will please for
give me. After | get rich | will
return. DO not worry were--Oh
please don't hurt my arm, slr-ail
the words from him, written on a
scrap of paper and left in his ROOM
The stranger was pale and trem-
bling, and in his nervousness had
clasped the old mans arm with his
strong hand. His tongue Glove to
the roof OF his mouth and he was
speechless.
Again the old man continued
81 shall never forget the terrible
look of despair that was on the pale
face of my angelic companion when
she handed me the paper. Neither
can l ever raise the great weigh.
that then pressed my heart down.
1t was too cramped, too oppressed
to break, and | knew that | must
live, for l yet had a strong tie to
earth. Then in about a month a
letter came, written in a strange
hand, saying our noble, fair-haired
boy, the idol of our hearts, vas
was dead dead killed by the cars
and buried by his comrades"
"For Gods sake, man, who are
you? Answer me quick broke in
the stranger.
'Keep peace, my young friend
keep peace; it is immaterial to a
stranger who l am. Listen IL
killed her." his voice had sank to a
whisper. "In another month | laid
my only tie to earth in the village
graveyard. She wasted away, and
soon the frail casket was unable 10
hold so great a spirit, and | gave
her up, gave her up" He moaned
forth the words as he repeated
them.
His companions face was hid IN
his hands and his large frame was
heaving like a ship at sea, but the
old man again began "The misery
of the pleasant knowledge of the
great blessings | have had and lost,
have been the only reasons that
have kept me from demanding re-
lease in death. All my earthly
ties have been trausplanted above !;
my means have all been exhausted
in running from grief, but | shall
find an asylum in the house on yon-
der farm"
"LoOk Tell me your name,
quick y demanded the young man,
springing in front of the elder as
he ceased speaking.
edward DilsOn. But why do
you ask, my son n
cab, yes, son indeed My father,
MY father :"
The old man tOttered to his feet,
and taking a step forward peered
into the others face.
"My God my boy has risen. o,
Edward, my son, my son" His
arms were raised and outstretched,
and he fell on the neck of his lost
son with his old, furrOwed face
buried in that sons bosom.
"Father, had them write it, but
| was not thinking of the terrible
consequences. Forgive me, o, for
give me-" and he clasped still closer
the form that was growing heavy
in his clasp. "Father, look up and
tell me you forgive me, your way
ward son." he pleaded, but as the
old mans head fell back a stony
stare met his gaze. The poor frame
had become heavy and limp, and
the son knew he held nothing but
a lump of clay. With that knOwl-
edge came darkness, and the trials
and troubles of partings and sor
rows had faded from father and
son.
A little latter some men return
ing from work had found two bod
les, one of an elegantly dressed
young man, the other an old man,
dust-stained from travel, by the
roadside clasped in each others
arms. One was too strong to have
the lamp of life fully extinguished,
but from the older man all earthly
trouble had forever He'd.
Unutterable Joy was depicted on
the calm old face, and what sor-
rows and troubles could not do,
great Joy had succeeded in accom-
The old man was tenderly put !
away in the ground, and after the
last tribute of respect was paid to
the aged father, the son quietly |
disappeared, and our place knew
him no more. Whittier he went
no one knows and none inquired.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Oct. 28.-On
Tuesday, William Poe, a farmer at
Flat Lick, Knox county, went away