The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-08

| tap the "come in" was so like that OF old
he thought Of nothing except the dear
faces before him. The scene that FOL
lowed is too sacred FOR pen of mine.
To Tommy Armstrong, who accom-
panied him. the journey was a complete
bcwildcrmcnt. though Mr. Brown had
in a measure prepared him for it; but
the immensity Of mountains and prairics
was inconccivablc. and city blocks and
parks with their adornments were hard
for such boy 10 imagine. With glisten-
ing ewes the father gazed upon the boy,
who, Hamil said, had taught him the
lesson that love and home had failed TO,
and without transferring the affection
that belonged 10 his own son, he received
him with open house and heart. The
tide had turned and in spite Of the luck
that had followed the Armstrong;, the
uphill march began.
Hamil Brown, leaving his sins behind
him, bravoly struggling back into the
niche thit long before should have been
his. looked upon Tommy with pride rs
well as love. As the days went by he
gazcd with astonishment at the boy, for
each endoavOr strengthened the used
faculties and his progress was steady and
sure. II seemed that from some far
away ancestor an inherent persstency
had come down TO him, which, with ma
torial aid, developed qualities hitherto
dormant.
4 score Of years later the little town
that had had almost a Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep, awolc from its lcthargy. Half
a mile north Of the village buildings
sprang up as if 10y magic Ponderous
machinery was put in place The prog
rcss of the stream that once lazily me
andcrcd through the town was stopped
by huge dam, and the rushing torrent
seemed to enter into the spirit Of the
wide awake projectors. Ere many
months passed the inhabitants became
somewhat accustomed TO the scrcech Of
the locomotive, and did not gather daily
TO look upon the incoming or outgoing
trains that the most sanguine had never
expected to see tin after the advent Of
the handsome gentleman who had so
suddenly appeared in their midst. With
out making himself known, he spent
day or two looking about, his keen eye
detecting the possibilities of the place
and seeing, in the future, what is now
no surprise to many New Englandcrs.
After purchasing a large tract Of land
he departed, leaving the townspeopic to
wonder and surmise in their quiet way.
"Armstrong-Ar said Mr.. Seth
Grattan. when in the country store the
men gathered t0 talk over the unusual
occurrence. "Why, that's the name Of
the boy who years ago went off with
that wild chap, IIamil Brown, don't you
remember ut cannot be that boy,
though" and the old villagers who were
present spent an hour calling to mind
all they remembered of that peculiarly
unlucky family.
The first families who arrived were
complete surprise, though the people
thought themselves prepared for any
thing, after tho excitement that had 20
transformed their little farming town.
Mr.. Armstrong. with n lovely young
wife, took possession of a delightful
house on the summit Of n hill that over
looked not only what had been accom-
plished by human ingenuity, but view
almost unparalleled, though nature is SO
lavish with her gifts Imagination can
picture what took place after the "whir
and whiz" began, superintcnded by the
noble man whose life was proving that
in spite of the i'll luck of his family i.
was possible to step up and out Of the
ruts that had borne them only down.
In the following summer, on clear
ing in the midst of what is yet IA forest,
surrounded by huge trees, some of them
perhaps a century old, stood two men.
Suddenly their hands clasped and with
tears intermingling with smiles. Mr..
Brown, a magnificent specimen Of man
hood, said: "lly dear brother. it recalls
so wildly the turning point in my life.
This is the very spot where we camped,
and God grant that the towering tree
Just yonder that o'crtops all others has
not put out better growth than this hum
bic follower. who for years has sought TO
do his will | shall leave you in your
new home. proud that the little sister
whom | had never seen till, l trust, the
washing away Of sin scars had COM
menced, is with you, your dear and hon
ored wife"
A story of a life can never really end,
and it may be as well to take our leave
Just at this point as at any other-in the
sunshine which we trust may follow
them through life.-Ned Gwen in Man
chester Union.