River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-05-22

bOb W ILL MI hoNas hA-NAf-hA~H'N'-
in one for whom he had done SO much.
The result of the trouble was that Jack
packed up what few things he needed
for a change, and went out from the
home where his happiest days had been
spent.
God will not forget your kindness to
poor, friendless orphan" he said, as
he took mother Gibbons hand at par
ting.
Going directly to a recruiting office,
ne enlisted in a Michigan regiment.
and in less than twenty-four hours he
was on his way to Ter nessee, where
General Halleck was just then laying
siege to Corinth. In spite of his youth
and consumptive tendencies Jack made
good soldier and came out of the
bloody conflict without his fair name
being furnished.
Instead of returning to the home that
had sheltered his boyhood, he went
West and settled upon claim, taking
up his lonely life as a rightful heritage.
Not so kindly did the four years OF
warfare deal with the poor old farmers
| lads, for when the boys in blue came
marching home, not one of the stall
wart sons who had gone forth to battle
walked in the ranks. George and Ben
had come home in pine collins many
DAYS before, while Dan was left sleeping
beneath the bright Southern skies.
After Jack had gone away Ben gained
his fathers consent to become soldier,
but before a year had passed he sick
ened and died, but not until he had
taken upon him self the theft that had
sent the orphan boy alone into the world
More than a score of years afterwards
an irresistible desire to look upon the
faces of the friends of his youth sent
Jack back to catch glimpse of the old
familiar walks. 1t was on the S0th OF
MAY that he arrived, and the little town
was gay with flowers and banners. Join
ing in the PROCESSION that was vending
its way to the cemetery he passed quiet
ly to the grave of his father, now
marked by marble slab. Ia the same
row, a little to the east, he read the
names of George and Ben Gibbons, and
an old veteran who vas scattering flow
ers on the graves of the brothers in
formed him that Dan closed his life in
Southern prison and that ne twod augh-
tiers of the same household had died
within a week of each other, leaving
the old folks childless and almost pen
niless. Waiting to hear no more, Jack
FASTENED to the old farmhouse, and
| without making himself known listened
to the pitiful story of the old people,
who upon the morrow would be turned
hns da2
life had been spent I'VE gave our
boys all to our country, but now we ars
forgotten both by God and man." muir
INJURED the old man.
Father, God never forgets." said the
good wife, tenderly. Don't you re-
member poor Jacks last words-'God
will not forget your kindness to poor
orphan boy?'"
"Ah! but did / not send the poor lad
away for a crime our own boy COM
mitted? God is furnishing US for this
sin, Mary, and tomorrow night we will
| sleep in pauper's bed"
God never forgets. :" said the stranger,
and then came the most joyful moment
of his life, when he was able TO reveal
himself to them and assure them that
the boy whom they had saved from the
almshouse had come back juct in time
| to render them like service.
| Jack did not leave them again, except
for few days 70 arrange his business in
the West. and bring back the money TO
save the old home from the auctioneer's
hammer. God did not forget Them"
and after many days the bread which
they had cast upon the waters came
back to them.-Belle V. Chisholm, in
Christian Inquirer.