The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-06-17


begged tho deacon 70 ssars immedistel
ia ssareh al The nisuine bog. bat be srufii.
refused. saying:
stun snd nonsensel No danger bu
what he will bs back sooa enough. H
needs little outside experiences 10 tcacl
him some lessons he's never learnt yet
Bat Willie did not como back. nor dii
his father make any search Tor him. NJ
one knew the dsseons thoughts upon ths
subject, bat his faee grew pale and hag.
gard, and his ioolsteps. once 70 arm and
elastic, became almost feeble and toter-
ing.
Slowly the weeks. months and year.
dragged away. II vas on : dreary De-
cember day on The fourth winter Of viii
lie's absence. when the deacon. climbing
upon high NOV IN bis b9n for hay.
Lost bis balance and fell % ths door be-
meath
Hswas ssusnsl BY The hll tut whom
- sseovsrsd his seusss 10 losna to bis
dismay that he could mot riss upon bis
feet. and sharp pains ia bis left hip when.
ever he attempted TO move. told him that
he was seriously injured.
He called loudly for assistance, but no
one heard his cries. till Mary. wondering
at bis long absence from the house. came
in search or him.
BE was moved to tho house ~ soon q
possible, with the assistance Of . neigh
Dor. and physician was Immediately
summoned. The injuries proved very
severe. and long and tedious illness
followed. After many months. when
able TO sit in bis chair, the deacon learn
cd. by closely questioning the doctor.
the painful fact that he could never walk
again.
Since her fathers illness, Mary had
managed the farm as we'll as she could.
but the family income was triAing 10
comparison to the expenses. The sum
Of money which had been laid by in the
bank was occasionally drawn upon till
none remsined. Then the stock on the
farm was sold. till only one COW was left
Poverty stared them in the face, and there
seemed to the deacon to be only one step
between him and the dreaded poor house;
that step was mortgaging the farm.
just at this crisis, however. letter
came, bearing the post mark Of San Fran
cisco, CAL, which ran as follows:
My DEAR FATHER:-When these line.
reach you shall be sleeping here in the
land Of gold. I have done wrong and II
beg to be forgiven.
left home with the intention Of going
TO sea, but on my way to Boston I became
slightly acquainted with gentleman who
seemed SO much interested in me that I
told him my story. He urged me to re-
turn home, but told hIm I could not. |
Then he advised me TO give up the plan |
of going to sea, and offered to find place
Tor me to work on farm near Boston. He |
Kept his promise, and for year my home
was with good Christian family. AT the
and OF that time, l took my earnings,
which had carefully saved; aud came to
California to the gold mines. l was mod
,rately successful from the first, as you
zee by the enclosed check, which will be
Vhat remains Of my savings after ell ex-
,enses are paid
You know was never strong. but was
'lways troubled with cough. The ex.
,osure in the mines reduced my strength.
md / was past the reach Of medical aid
,efore being aware that / was very i'll.
dy first thought then was to return to
'ou, but my physician told me it would
70 useless to make the attempt-that I
ould never reach homs alive. The
bought Of dying here, was ct first terri
lie TO me; but have found many kind
riends and must submit TO Gods will.
Vould write more. but my strength fails.
have written this at several different
ines, but hope you can resd and under.
tsnd it all
0. that mother and Mary were here to
iss me last good bye.
Blots and tear stains ended the letter,
nd no name was signed. On . separate
IL Of paper. together with bank check
or 81. 900, we're these words.
William s. Martin died at San Francis
o, Cal, June 10, l8S--
Dr. J. c. Putnam.
Vain would he my attempt should en-
eavor to portray the feelings Of the fam
y upon receipt Of the letter. The dea-
on realized more fully than ever before
be error be had m ide-but alas, too
lte.
We will now pass over period Of four
ears The deacon. his wife aud Mary
till live on the old home, for Mary has
iven her hand in marriage to an indus
rious young farmer. who occupies the
lace Of the departed son anil brother -
Times
Usisg Oas's Eyes.