Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-10-04

the way that God had called them They
titled the land, and were not ashamed Of
their calling. There have been no
rovers nor vaga1onds among them, so
iar 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 profane and rum drinking
sailors"
Useless as it WAS to argue with him,
could not bear 10 hear him speak so of
Percy.
"Ephraim, pray don't wrong him. He
is not proud; he does not dcspisc labor;
lc is loving and truthful boy. My
heart is sore enough to think of his
leaving us i'll that way; but l remember
how different he is
Ephraim rose, candlcstick in hand,
and cut short the discussion before il
had faily begun.
81 mn his guardian; l stand in the
place of his father; know what is for
his good; | will never consent. lie is
almost man, and quite able bodied.
DO you know That am paying five and
threc-pcnce Il day Tor labor! lie shall be
Informed OF his duty tomorrow"
hoped that the explosion which WITS
now TO occur would be in my presence,
that | might stand between these two
brothers, SO different in aye and temper,
and try to moderate their passions; but
it was not 80 be.
Nothing was said on the subject at
the breakfast table. When III. meal was
finished, Ephraim said to Percy that he
NtrIShn,1 In, him, 4 Il
behind the barn. Percy followed him.
at noon Ephraim returned to the house
alone, his face darker and sterncr than
before
"Whcrc is Percy" was my anxious i'll
quiry.
al Ito not know" he replied.
My heart was heavy with apprehension
Other questions that asked lie would
not answer.
The day passed, and suppey-timc came,
but not Percy. 1 Thought / should bc
sure to hear what had passed between
them before another day, but Ephraim
continued 20 be morose and silent, and
| passed the most unhappy night that l
had known since our parents died
AS We sat mute and oppressed nj an
other and almost untastcd breakfast, the
door opened. looked round and uttered
:: cry OF joy, for Percy stood there, his
hand on the door-latch. lie looked very
tired, and his shoes were white with
dust
81 conltin'; go This way he said, ESQ
l walked all night to come back and just
say goodby. Ephraim, don't blame nc.
I've tried to think rs you do, but | cant.
know I've tried your patience, and
want You To forgive me. We must part
friends"
lie took step toward the table, and
held out his hand.
You d;sobcy me; you quit this house
without my leave, said Ephraim. "Un-
dutiful boy, never speak of forgiveness,
nor offer me yo,lr hand, until you have
ceased to rebel"
lie left the room, and during that last
twcntyiour hours that Percy remained
under the roof, Ephrdim SAW him no
more.
A brief letter to Inc from Boston told
me that our truant ha.i shipped for Il
voyage to Canton. lie put the world
between us at the start. aud not another
letter was received by liz 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 lahors Of the house
made tolcrublc. No. day but thought
Of Percy; not night but prayed for his
safety. l used to scan the marine news
i'll the paper 10 ind something about him,
and for his sake l was doubly kind and
hospitabie to the blue jackets who some
times came our way.
We iillei these years with hard toll,
and The unvaryiiig 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 ncighbor.
But ii seemed rs il the larger part Of
my life had lett me with Percy. had
khown that inc was dear to me; but not
before the sorrowful morning Of our part
ing had realized how closely my heart
MAS bcund to him.
His name was never spoken between
EphrAim and me. Sometimes fancicd
Chat some OF the petitions which my
brother offered in his prayers must be in
tended to refer TO Percy; and once when
he read the chapter containing the story
of the Prodigal Son, his voice grew
husky, and he finished it with difficulty.
But he never mentioned Pcrcy's name,
nor did he encourage me to do so.
The 18th of March. 1859, lives in my
memory as the darkest day of my life.
Ephraim had gone to the village after
supper. and did not return till near nine
o'clock. The caudlc-light was bad and
did moi see his face we'll when he came
in. When he had hung up his hat and
turned round was scared by his looks.
"What is it, EphraimY" asked.
He tool, . copy OF the Boston paper
OF Inc day before from his pocket, and
handed it 10 me, pointing rs nc did 50 to
paragraph which reported that the ship
Emma AIontIo:I had arrived from CAL
cutta, and ti:at the master reported the
loss Of Percy Ballard, able seaman, who
mad fallen overheard, while rccfing.
We sat there together till the candle
mad burned low. The sofshncss Of my