The Universalist., 1896-06-27
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much company you know. The day
came when there was to be settling,
and Cy sat down to look over his
books. He was in need of some
ready money, so he looked to see if
he could not get money on some OF
the accounts. 'Mollie,' said he
Mollie was his wife do you remem-
Der what father owes me twenty dol
lars for? I've got it down in my
book, but do not remember what it is
for Neither could Mollie. AS Cy
was honest and would not have made
charge unless it was due, he made
up his mind to present the bill to his
father, thinking he would remember.
Now, had he asked me, | could
have told him all about it; as it was,
Cy took the bill to his father who was
just as honest and sturdy as his son.
Why, my boy, what's this? l don't
eve you twenty dollars yes you
do father What for?' asked the
perplexed father. 4 don't remem-
ber,' replied his son, but | have the
account on the book, and it would
never have been there if you didn't
owe it to me-
"The father was grieved; grieved
with the suspicion that his son, hard
pressed for money, had presumed
upon his good nature and took dis
honest method to get the money he
so needed. The sons pride was
touched at the thought that his faith
er had his doubts, and so feeling of
distrust rose up between them. If
you could only tell what it is for
said Joe, the father, I'D gladly pay
it, but as is, I cannot But you
owe it, persisted the son.
$50 matters grew from bad to worse.
Visits between father and son and
their families ceased. Their houses
were in sight of each other, with but
a few farms between. Sorrow OBJ
scured the light of love in their
hearts. The son grieved at his fa-
theirs doubts-the father hardened
with the thought of his sons dishon-
esty.
"News came one day to Cyril that
his father had made his will, and that
he was not mentioned in it-disin-
herited for being honest, but not be-
| ing able to tell for what it was his
father owed him.
"Spring, summer, passed. The har
est of grain had been garnered.
Golden fruit hung from the limbs of
countless trees waiting for the mel
lowing days. The father grew weak,
the son, weary.
Gone day, as if from the blue sky, a
visitor was announced who proved to
be relative from distance. And
how is your father, and your mother?
he asked. Cy answered as best he
could, without betraying the dread
secret. Finally it was proposed that
all go up to the homestead. What
could Cy say? He said nothing, but
went with his family, like the honest
fellow he was.
"Well, now, | tell you it is pretty
hard for people to act natural when
there is anything between. Here they
we're, father and son, both honest and
good, parted because they couldn't
remember. So | betrayed the secret.
How's that? You think it absurd
that l should tell, when this very
minute I'm telling you all about it?
81 wheezed and wheezed, but no.
body noticed me. When it came time
TO strike | pulled myself together for
a mighty noise-nothing was said.
N.Y. l thought, this will never do.
must influence the mind of some
one,' and there was Joe's wife rock
ing kind of sad like, first looking at
the father and then at the son. She's
trying to remember says l, what
all this fuss is about
"They were talking about the old
days with the visiting relative, when
all of a sudden gave mighty strike
that almost made me tumble out of
the wall. 'Fatherp said the wife, i
know what it is, the twenty dollars
you owe it to Cy for the clock
don't you remember
'"The Clockp cried the father and
son. With that, they rushed into
each others arms and wept. The rel
atiye was astonished-more so, when
he heard the story.
81 never felt happier with days
work in my life. 1t took me long
time tho to get back my old strength.
| did think l might have to shut
down for repairs and rest.
"The old man, Cy's father, looked
for the will that he might destroy it,
1 4 Il