Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-01-28
MIscELLANEous.
A Life's Lesson.
"Be reasonable, father. /"

'Be reasonable, father"
Reasonable"
Old John Prime was in no reasonable mood.
Recent financial disaster had wrecked his for.
tune. Had his temper been even less proud
and irritable than It was, it might have borne
undisturbed, under the circumstances, the pro
posal of his eldest and favorite daughter to
exchange the sumptuous apartments he had
hitherto occupied for one small room at the
top of the house, 81
The house, a costly mansion in Seigravla,
had once been his own; but on the marriage
of his daughter to the man of his choice, he
had given it to her, with handsome portion
besides. He had never comprehended before
that the home he had lived in SO long was no
longer his.
we are expecting visitors to stay with us,
you know. his daughter replied.
All, yes-the Fitz Flashes. OF course am
of less consequence than they"
"Be reasonable, father"
Il am reasonable. begin to see that this
house is no longer mine. If you choose to
turn me out of it have no right to complain.
It would be most unreasonable to do So"
I'VE have no wish to discommode you, F" an-
swered the daughter; ''but Augustus and 1
have talked the matter over, and II you could
be content, for The present, to go to respecta-
ble''-
"choap lodging house." broke in the old
gentleman.
ITO some respectable place." continued the
daughter, where you could be suitably ac-
commodated, ut reasonable expepse"-
"Welll"
"ft would be more agreeable to all con-
cerned.''
"There is one diniculty, however," said Mr..
Prime, with enforced calmncss.
"What is that"
Glow to meet the Unreasonable expense {"
"Augustus has generously consented to take
that upon hiinself"
bounds, doubt, Tet0Tte the old man, BE-
terly.
"of course, answered his daughter, ''Augus-
tus could not be expected to incur any unne-
cessary outlay these hard times. I'm sure l
think his offer exceedingly generous
Exceedingly, indeed! Let me make sure
of the house was foolish enough to give
away, and to pay my weekly bills provided
they be not too extravagant) out of the money
''NASAA OOS AOA my own 4Olly HOulu EBll De
mine. Hark you, Jane Mordauntl 1 hnye
given you and your husband over half my for
tune. Calamity has stripped me of the rest,
but If am to live on charity, 1t shall rot be
on yours or his"
His lip quivered and his eye glistened be-
meath the cold glance of his daughter ON whom
he had unsparingly lavlshed wealth and aRec-
ton. With bowed head and faItering step, he
crossed the threshold, determined, whatever
might betide, never to return.
Penniless, homeless, and childless-worse
than childless is he whose childs heart is
turned against him-John Prime wandered
forth, whittier he recked not.
His younger daughter, Mary, had married
against his will. He had long banished her,
or thought he had, from his heart. But the
sorrowful, loving face she had turned upon
him when he had forbade her his presence for
cleaving to the man for whom she had felt It
her duty to forsake father and mother. now
rose mp in singular vividness before him.
Could that face ever have worn the cold, un.
feeling look of that of his eldest-born when
she suffered him to go forth destitute and des-
Olate without bidding him tarfy5
He walked oit withoht iIccdlng. His atten-
tion was at length drawn to q little girl run
ting toward him.
"Pleasc, sir" said the child, who had rpm
away frightened from q crowd whose notice
she had attracted-''please, sir, I'm lost"
The little face looking up so trustingIy into
his own diverted the current of his thonebts.
1. what is your name ?" he asked, patting
the child's head.
Lucy" she answered.
eHaYe you any other ?"
No; she was just Lucy.
Equally frpitless were all inquiries touching
her residence.
Mr. Prime vas perplexed. he was unwiil-
Ing TO leave the child IN the street and equally
inNillfhg 20 trust her 70 the crowd of people
of whom che seemed 60 much afraid. He was
on the point Of setting ont With the little
stray for the nearest police station, when, sud-
denly dropping his hand, she darted away,
calling Mammal
In the lady that caught the child in her
arms Mr. Prime recognized his daughter,
Mary, whom he had never seen since her mar
riage-
"Dat gentlu found me, mamma, y said Lucy.
pointing to 3Ir. Prime.
When Mary Weston encountered her fathers
look, her face, though pale and agitated, wore
the old. fond expression.
SIS that your child, Mnryf" he asked.
''Yes, father"
"Come kiss your grandpada," said the old
gentleman, taking Lucy in his arms, and when
he put her down again a tear had mofssened
his cheek.
-I am going home with yoa, Mary" be
''It would make me very: happy il you
wouldr /" she answered; "and am sure Claf-
enee win be very glad to see you.''
That evening Mr.. Pine sat an honored
guest at Clarence weston'e hreside. The
abode was humble. but neat, aud t6e best
apartments in it was placed al she service OF
the Unexpected guest
When Mary and her husband had learned
all, they insisted on Mr. Primes making his
home with them; and when little Lucy put
her chubby arms about his neck and said.
"Gan'pa mustn't go away. that settled It.
One day Mary noticed that her father, who
had been reading the morning paper, went out
hasflft IooIriTof s4ror.s,l,- .-,,ft..4 n.