Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-03-19

occasionally Mr.. wesley would call ana
praise her voice to mamma and me, for
auntie would not hear the subject men
toned and always marched out of the
room whenever Mr.. Wesley was seen com
ing in the direction of the house
Poor mamma worried about this-she
was always worried when anything went
wrong, and Coralie tried with her sweet
est ways to coax auntie round" when
She saw how troubled mamma was, but all
her arts were in vain. 1T is more dis
graceful for a Corthell to act that way"
Coralie contided to me, than it is to sing
in church for money or even in the street
and | wonder why she is so against ii:
Don't you remember how Anna Selwyn
sung the Christmas anthem once in church
aud every one thought it was lovely. But,
there Aunt Esther has got to worry
some one suppose, but mamma has trou-
bic enough, should think"
Yes, dear mamma had seen much trou-
ble but the worst of all to her-hardrr
even than papas death. tnink-xa when
ways been a mi>chievous. fun loving boy
but easily led into temptation or persuad-
ed into anything and it was on his eish
teenth birthday that he got with some Of
his wild companions and can hardly
tell it-they brought him home when it
was nearly mornlng-iruhk.
Papa was sitting up waiting for him aud
he had him carried up to his room, where he
lay in irunken -tupor until nearly night.
| We were all in the sitting room when he
came down stairs, looking confused and
sleepy. Papa had been at home all day
waiting for him and he spoke to him harsh
/ ly and he answered. They were both
high-tempered and terrible words passed
| between them. My father told him to go
| from the house and never enter it again
/ while he lived"
! Wallace looked at him, sober enough
now. Father, do you mean that" he
| + aid.
| Il do was the answer and mother
| >prang forward My boy, my boy" she
cried
My brotner kissed her once. then turned
without word, the heavy hall door shut
behind him and that was the last had
ever seen or heard from him, The door
of his room was always kept locked and
saw father take his picture from the wall
the next day and carry it away, nor would
he allow his sons name to be spoken by
any one.
SO, by degrees, we grew to miss him
less; but it weighed on mamma and the
silver began to show among her soft,
brown hair. Now il was fourteen long
years Since that dreadful day and her hair
was quite white about her face; but she
ALWAYS believed that her boy would come
| back sometime.
He never would be drunkard," she
would say to US. He was a noble boy
but he was tempted and he fell. and then
the tears would come and We would cease
to question her; but for days afterward,
| that sad. hungry look would linger in her
! eyes.
/ Coralie could not remember much of
| him, but she could talk to mother better
than could and would plan out delight
| full times when Wallace comes home"
after one Of these talks
The days flew by until at last 1t was Eas-
ter Sunday and Mr.. Wesley kindly brought
carriage and insisted upon my going.
iad OF frll
possible and we drove away.
The great church. SO dear and familiar
to us, was lovely in its decorations of Eas-
ter flowers and wreaths; the air was heavy
with the perfume of the pure Easter lilies
which were heaped in masses about the
pulpit; and high above among the arches
where the choir sat, lilies were twined
about the pillars and everywhere possible.
The serm IN was short, but beautiful
and impressive. The singing drew tears
of rapture from the congregation, but
had no ear for anything-I was waiting
breathlessly for Coralle to appear.
At last the sermon was over, the prayers
were offered, and far above the sea Of
heads she stood like an angel. all in white
and with pure lilies in her hand and at her
throat, and she sung-O how sweetly rose
that clear young voice. it filed the church
with its music and died away to whis
per. only to rise, clear and sweet again -
Il know that my Redeemer liveth.'
There was breathless hush-all eyes
were fixed on her and when it was finish
ed and the last notes had died away, many
eyes were filed with tears.
After the benedction by the white hair
ed preacher, the mighty throng moved
slowly out, but mamma and remained in
our pew waiting for Mr.. Wesley and Co.
side steps from the gallery. She had
nearly reached the foot when l saw her
start suddenly and cry out and she was in
the arms of a tall, bearded man, who was
covering her face with kisses.
Though the change from boy to man
was great, my heart recognized my broth
er and felt dizzy and faint with joy.
Mother had not seen them, but l saw
my sister point 10 US ana In anOtner mo-
ment we were both folded in his arms, re-
gardless of the few remaining strangers,
who looked on with curious wonder while
Coralie beside US was crying and laughing
, together with delight. How we got out
of the church and into the carriage
> scarcely know; but mamma sat holding
her big boys hand all the way home, gsz.
, ing into his eyes as though she could not
, believe 1t was true.
. We sat up late that night-indeed the
l gray dawn was flushed with pink be.
f,re we could leave our new-found treas
, ure long enough to try to sleep, for the
r story of his wanderings must be told to US
] all.
When he left home that dreadful day, he
had gone direct to the wharves and taker
: passage on . ship bound to Australia. with