River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-09-25

! again, near a minute after, | beheld the
father and son still locked in each
others arms. As | contemplated that
silent. heartfelt embrace, felt my eyes
/ fill again with tears, and my bosom
heave with sympathy.
20. my boy" murmured the invalid
at length, ''what good angel has brought
you hither? i am no longer what once
was. but humble, miserable wretch.
| Adversely has taught me adeep and holy
lesson; and it is now with Joy, and not
with pain, that l ask you to forgive Tle
-
Father, father." interrupted the
young man, in voice of agony, speak
not of the past! Let us forgive and for
get Both of us may have been at fault,
but the days of our arrangement arc
passed now; we are father and son once
more"
God bless you, o my child" MUIR
INJURED the old man, God bless your
Il am come" resumed William. ito
repay the debt of gratitude owe you Il"
The debt of gratitude?"
Eyes, for what does not a son owe to
his father, especially to such father
as you were once to mel My mother
was taken away when | was young and
/ Hetty but an infant, but you filled her
place; you educated me; you did every
thing in your power to make me happy.
/ Now / am come to repay the debt as
freely. / have a dear and happy home
/ in New York, to which / will remove
You and Het.y as soon as you are able
/ to leave your bed. Till then, / will see
! that you are made comfortable here.
Oh, thank Heaven for putting it in my
heart to come back to Boston and search
you outl'
The old man strove to reply TO these
words of kindness. bat could not speak
for sobbing. He wept like very child.
Ny situation 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 surprised,
for she was far from recognizing her
brother. The old man saw her and
called her to his side.
William uttered not word, but stood
regarding her in silence
MY child" said the old man, do you
renember your brother William"
"oh. yes" replied the girl, quickly.
Il remember him-he was always SO
kind to me. Don't you wish he was here
now. father?"
MY child. he is here" exclaimed the
old man. This is your brother Will
iam!7
The girl turned. and when she saw
her brother, regarding her tenderly and
kindly, open his arms to receive her.
She few to his bosom, and flung her
arms wildly about his neck
At this moment my friend, tho
physician Hetty had gone for, having
followed her almost Immediately, rang
him up the stairs.
lie gave the sick man encouragement
of affording him immediate relief, and
having prepared some medicines for his
use. took his departure.
Thinking it best to leave the now
united family alone, ! shortly after
arose to depart. The old man and his
son thanked me warmly for the interest
had taken in their affairs, and the lit
tie girl, as she conducted me to the door
and bade me goodnight, besought me
With tears in her eyes TO visit them
again.
That night | went home better man
than when | left a few hours before.
The lesson had learned had peculiar
effect upon my mind, teaching me, as it
did, the folly of family pride, of the
pride of wealth, and the divine beauty
and sweetness Of forgiveness
When visited the house again,
found a coach at the door. and being
admitted by a servant l met little
Hetty in the hall dressed ready for
journey.
The little creature flew TO welcome
me. and fairly wept with JOY.
"Where are you going?" l asked.
'Oh!' said she, father and | are
| William. Father has got almost well, so
that he can travel We are going TO live
with brother, and we shall be so happy"
At this moment William and his
| father came downstairs, being ready
for start Although the old man was
leaning on the arm of his son, when he
saw me, he sprang forward to grasp my
hand. William did the same, while
Hetty stood by, laughing and weeping
by turns, from joy.
l saw them depart, and once more /
retraced my steps hOmeward, filled with
admiration of the old mans proud, stern.
but generous spirit, the candOr, beauty,
and single-heartedness of the child,
but above all, Of the young mans noble
ness of soul. of his true Christian hem
evidence and forgiveness.-J. Il. Trow-
bridge, in Yankee Blade.