Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-05-29

home and raise something upon which
to feed our soldiers.
Jack listened quietly, and then with
out word went back to the plow he had
left standing in the furrow.
A year passed away, and with 1t
poor Jacks bright hopes Of the future.
A hundred dollars that MIR. Gibbons
had placed in the desk in the room ad-
joining his disappeared mysteriously,
and circumstances pointed suspiciously
towards him as the thief. Though obe-
dent and traetable, the boy was high
spirited, and resented, as base any in
situations that called his honesty in
question. His indignant denial would
have had much weight with the consci-
entious farmer had not Ben, the Glib
bons' baby, asserted boldly that he had
seen Jack ''fooling round the desk more
than once"
In the eyes Of the parents this proof
was conclusive, besides it accounted for
the many petty thefts that, in the last
few months, had sorely puzzled the
worthy couple. The soul Of honor him
self Mr. Gibbons would not tolerate
any departure from recti tude, especially
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 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 recruiting Office,
he enlisted in Michigan regiment,
and in less than twenty-four hours he
was on his way to Tennessee, where
General Halleck was just then laying
siege to Corinth. In spite Of his youth
and consumptive tendencies Jack made
a 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 a soldier,
but before a gear 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 3Oth 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 a marble slab. In the same
row, a little to the east, he read the
names OF George and Ben Gibbons and
an old veteran who was scattering flow
ers on the graves Of the brothers in
formed him that Dan closed his life in 4,
Southern prison and that the two odaugh-
ters Of the same household mad died
within 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
out OF the house where all their welded
life had been spent eve gave our
boys all to our country, but now we are
forgotten both by God and man, mur-
INJURED the old man.
Father, God never forgets. said the /
good wife. tenderly. Don't you re-
member poor Jacks last words-eiod /
will not forget your kindness to a poor /
orphan boy2'"
"Ahl but did ] not send the poor lad /
away for a crime our own boy COM /
mitted? God is punishing us for this /
sin, Mary, and tomorrow night we will 4
sleep in a panper's bed
God never forgets. said the stranger, /
and then came the most joyful moment I
Of his life. when he was able to reveal i
himself to them and assure them that i
the boy whom they had saved from the /
almshouse had come back just in time /
to render them like service.
Jack did not leave them again, except
for few days to 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, IL
Christian Inquirer