The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-12
Published by permission of The Congregational
MY FATHERS DEATH.

seminary course was about half COM
pleted. My life ran smoothly
have sometimes thought too smooth
ly-from that time till the time of
the events about to be described in
the present chapter.
My seminary course was very
pleasant. A kind, generous father,
who furnished all the money | need
ed without complaining; noble
Christian mother, Whose interest in
me I never doubted, little darling
sister who always welcomed me home
with open arms and a loving heart, a
large circle of acquaintance glad to
meet me during my vacations.
These all served to anchor my afec-
tons to the old homestead. I stud
led hard and always stood at the
head, or near the head of the class.
I tried to do right, and never failed
to enjoy the confidence of my teach
ers. I graduated with honor from
the Seminary, and entered college
without any conditions.
There I lived free from care, anx-
iety, fear, till my junior year was
more than half completed. [ en-
joyed study, liked my chum, was
popular in the class, had a good
share of college honors, was favor
ite with the faculty, was an only son
in the family. was the acknowledged
lover of the belle of my native vii
lage, was proud of my present posi-
ton, and confident of a successful
future.
Such were my circumstances as [
sat one evening with my chum in the
south college building, writing the
closing words of long letter to my
mother. | loved to write to her, she
never failed to reply. And such let
tiers as she wrote | have read no
where else. | had thought of trans
ferring some of them to these pages;
for they would tell this story much
more plainly than | can write it; but
when / re-read them with a view to
selection, they all seemed too sacred
for publication, and | returned them
to the old trunk where they have
been so long accommodating. To me
every word is full of mothers love.
To the outside world they might
seem different. Only love can I'M
derstand love. But as | was saying,
| was just closing my letter, when
there was knock at the door, a
messenger entered, passed me tele
gram, closed the door and departed.
It was the first telegram | had ever
received. My life had run smoothly.
The mail had been swift enough to
convey messages to me- Other stu
dents had frequently received tele-
grams; I, never | tore open the en-
velope and read as follows: "Your
father has been injured severely; in
sensible; come home Immediately"
There were only ten words, but they
were fearful ones. felt the blood
flowing back toward my heart-my
eyes grew dim; the world seemed
sliding from beneath me. [ sat as
one in a trance. I did not faint, did
not lose consciousness, did not utter
a sound, but sat there as if dumb,
| know not how long. When my
blood began to circulate naturally, |
raised my eyes to my chum who sat
on the other side of the table His
face was as pale as death. The pale
ness was probably caused by sympa-
thy. He knew there must be some
thing fearful, to unstring the nerves
of one so strong as | was at that
time.
Without saying word, I passed
the telegram to him. He read the
dreadful words, passed the paper
back to me, but spoke no word. He
had roomed with me all through my
course of study. He had very SEN
sitive nature, and his instinct told
him that it was no time for words.
When I had fully gained control of
myself, I asked, calmly: elbow long
before the express train leaves?" He
looked at his watch, and answered as
calmly: 'In twenty minutes"
l changed my clothes, he packed
my satchel, and we walked in at one
end of the depot as the train came
in al the other. | stepped upon the
platform of the car. he grasped my
hand warmly, and said: "Good by,
chum, hope you will find him better;
write when you get there" We
parted. I glided out into the cold,
the night, the darkness.
I left behind my old friends, and
my old life. An hour before | was
careless, joyful, hopeful. Now | was
troubled, thoughtful, fearful. | had
unconsciously cast off my boyhood
and put on manhood. I had felt the
shock which was destined to change
all my plans of life. | had received
the blow which was to demolish all
the air castles of my youth.
But was not fully aware of the
fact. O how merciful it is that we do