The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-09-06

eS, ior "A tithSs Out ne was poor
and could not hear. L presume, the
sight of those of his old associates who
ceased to know him when he was no
longer able to live in style He
scorned them, il is true, but he hated
the sight of them, and therefore re-
moved from the city"
"Aad he never came to you or wrote
to you afterwards. said L.
Never The last | heard of him he
was in New York, and in tolerable cir
cumstanceS OH what triumph il
would be TO him could he see me thus
reduced-shorn of mypride and former
wealth.
~You see / am nozv left alone in the
unfriendly world with the child who
brought you hither. As my riches
failed me, being swept away by mis-
fortunes, my old friends dropped of
one asy one; and now sickness has re-
duced me to the helpless, miserable
condition in which you behold me
There is not an Individual living who
cares for ne or minei You have
already shown some kindness to us
for which Heaven reward youl but you
are the only one-the only oner'
The sick man turned his eyes up
wards, then closed them with a sigh
At this moment l observed that the
4 ranger. who at first seemed to take
no interest in the old mans story. had
at length drawn his chair close TO the
bedside, as if to listen
Any t,rIue Is numDieu now" re
sumed' the invalid, after long pause
Il think / might be brought to ask
reliefof the very son 1 have disewned.
o GsGi how just has been my punish
ment, to think that he. whom ! cast
of, Is now, in all probability, able to
laugh at my fall in the midst of his
growing prosperity. But think you
he would do it? Think you my
William, who was once my Joy and
pride, would have the heart TO triumph
over me in my misery?'
>-NO. he would not" said a deep,
earnest voice behind me, which made
me start.
On looking around saw the stran-
ger i had admitted approaching the
bedside As the light fell upon his
brow beheld it was dark with agony,
and there was tear glistening in his
eye.
''Who spoke? What voice was that?'
demanded the invalid, turning on his
pillow.
/ made way for the stranger. and he
drew near the bed. He bent over the
form of the old man. and their eyes
met
ut was / who spoke" said the
was my voice
The old man stared at him wildly.
--And who are you?' he demanded
do you not know me?'' murmured
the other. 20 Godl that it should
come TO this-that L am forgotten bv
my father;''
''Williami my son William sobbed
the invalid ''Oh, my injured-my
noble and forgiving boyr'
The old mans voice was choked by
-sob5 as with his feeble arms he drew
his son more closely to his bosom.
turned away to dash aside the tears
which came unbidden to my eyes,
dimming my sight; aud when l
looked again. near a minute after, /
beheld the father and son still locked
in each others arms As contsm-
plated that silent, heartfelt embrace
/ felt my eyes fill again and my bosom
heave with sympathy,
',Oh, my soni' murmured the in
valid, at length, what good angel has
brought you ther? | am no longer
what L once was, but a humble. miser-
able wretch. Adversely has taught
me deep and holy lesson; and it is
now with JOY. and not with pain. that
/ ask you to forgive me-"
Father father interrupted the
young man, in a voice OF agony, speak
not of the pasti Let US forgive and
forgetl Both of US may have been In
fault, but the days of our estrangement
are past now; we are father and son
once morer'
God BLESS youl oh, my childr'' muir
INJURED the old man. ''God bless youI"
Il am come" resumed William, ..to
repay the debt of gratitude owey YOU"
The debt of gratitude%
'Yes; for what does not a SON owe
to his father-especially to such a
father as you were once to me? Ny
mother was taken away when / was
young and BETTY but an infant; but
Sou flied her place. You educated
ne-you did every thing in your pow
er TO make me happy Now i am
aeme to repay the debt as freely.
have dear and happy home in New
York, to which will remove you and
Heyty as soon as you are able to leave
yoGr bed. Till then, / will see that
ytu made comfortable here. Oh,
Il l. :.
heart TO come back to Boston and
search you outI'
The old man strovs to reply to these
words OF kindness, but could not speak
for sohping. He wept like a child.
My sisnation during this interview
was painful. 1t was a relief to hear
footsteps ascending the stairs, and to
see little Hetty enter the moment
after.
Seeing two strangers in the room
with her father. she started back sur
prised, for she was far from recogniz-
ing her brother. The old man saw
her and called her to his side.
William uttered not a word, but
stood regarding her in silence. e
My child" said the old man, .'do
ycu remember your brother Wiliam?'
''Oh, yes, replied the girl. quickly.
Il semember hims he was always so
kind 10 me. Don't you wish he was
here now, father?''
MY child, he Is aerer' exclaimed
the old man. This Is your brother
William
The girl turned, and szhen she saw
her brother regarding her tenderly
and kindly. open his artas TO receive
her, she flew 20 his bosom and flung
her arms wildly about his neck. -
At this moment my friend. the
physician Hetty had gone for. having