The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-08-22

/ uittA AtItg Hut Sole UP iO MS COhilbtT
Ephraim had been sitting some time in
silence, and l saw there was something
on his mind. At last he spoke:
Patience, that perverse boy will be
the reproach and disgrace of our lives.
He is bent on going to sea-"
knew something Of Ephraims stern
will, but | had not often seen him so
aroused. lie tried in vain to repress his
anger as he continued:
"For a hundred years our fathers be-
fore us lived here, doing their duty in
the way that God had called them. They
titled the land, and were not ashamed of
their calling. There have been no
royers Nor vagabonds among them so
far rs | have heard; but here we have
an idle, shiftlcSs fellow, too proud to
work on the farm. who must needs go off
and herd with profanc and rum-drinking
sailors"
Useless as il was to argue with him,
could not bear TO hear him speak so of
Percy.
"Ephraim, pray don't wrong him. He
is not proud; he does not despise labor;
ne is loving and truthful boy. Ny
heart is sore enough to think Of his
leaving us in that way; but remember
how different he is
Ephraim rose, candlestick in hand,
and cut short the discussion before il
had faily begun
81 am his guardian; stand in the
place Of his father know what is for
his good; l will never consent. He is
almost a man, and quite able-bodied.
DO you know that am paying five aud
thrcc-pcnce a day for laborl lie shall be
informed Of his duty tomorrow.
hoped that the explosion which was
now TO occur would be in my presence,
that I might stand between these two
brothers, so different in age and temper,
and try to moderate their passions; but
it was not to be.
Nothing was said on the subject at
the breakfast table When the meal was
finished, Ephraim said to Percy that he
wished TO see him alone, and walked out
behind the barn. Percy followed him.
AT noon Ephraim returned to the house
alone, his face darker and sterner than
before.
"Where is Pcrcyl" was my anxious in
quiry.
IL do not know" he replied.
My heart VIC heavy with apprehension.
Other questions that asked he would
not answer.
The day passed, and supper.time came,
but not Percy. / thought should be
sure TO hear what had passed between
them before another day, but EphrGim
continued to be morose and silent, and
passed the most unhappy night that l
had known since our parents died.
As we sat mute and oppressed ut an
other and almost uutasted breakfast, the
door opened. l looked round and uttered
a cry Of JOY, for Percy stood there, his
hand on the door-latch. He looked very
tired, and his shoe; were white with
dust.
II couldn't 90 this way he said, $50
walked ell night to come back and just
say good-by. Ephraim, don't blame me.
I've tried to think as you do, but can't
! know I've tried your patience, and l
want you to forgive me. We must part
friends"
He took a step toward the table, and
held out his hand.
You disobcy me; YOU quit this house
without my leave, said Ephra.m. "Cn-
dutiful boy, never spcal; of forgiveness,
nor offer me your hand, until you have
ceased TO rebel"
lie left the room, and during that last
twenty-four hours that Percy remained
under the roof, Ephraim saw him no
more.
a brief letter to me from Boston told
me that our truant had shipped for a
voyage to Canton. He put the world
between US at the start, ard not another
letter was received by Us from him.
Almost ten long years passed before any
intelligence Of him reached us. They
were years of secret grief for me, which
only the cares and labors of the house
made tolcrable. Not day but thought
of Percy; not a night but prayed for his
safety. used to scan the marine news
in the paper to find something about him,
and for his sake ! was doubly kind and
hospitable TO the blue Jackets who some
times came our way.
We filled these years with hard toll,
and the unvarying round occupations that
our situation afforded. There was rest
and the comfort Of coming nearer to God
on the Sabbath; there were the prayer
meeting and the choir meeting, and an
occasional visit with neighbor
But it seemed as If the larger part Of
my life had left me with Percy. l had
known that he was dear to me; but not
before the sorrowful morning of our part
inc had realized how closely my heart
was bound to him.
His name WAS never spoken between
Ephraim and me. Sometimes l fancied
that some of the petitions which my
bro,hcr offered in his prayers must be in
tended to refer TO Percy; and once when
ne read the chapter containing the story
of the Prodigal Son, his voice grew
husky, and he finished it with difficulty.
But he never mentioned Percys name,
nor did he encourage me to do SO.
The 10th of March, 1859, lives in my
memory as the darkest day of my life.
Ephraim had gone TO the village after