The Elbert County tribune., 1903-03-12
HOW BERNARD DUNN'S HOPE
AND FAITH WE'RE REWARDED

the task OF leaving the open trench for
the night. directing Number Seventeen
as he lighted the warning lanterns and
put up the danger sign.
1t seemed foolish TO hope; yet, as ne
neared his cosey cottage. with its we'll
kept grounds, Bernard Dunn strained
his eyes. as he had so often done be-
fore, for sight of the good wife
standing in the doorway ready to an
nounce the glad tidings which he SO
yearned to hear.
But. also, She was not there,
Perhaps 1t was the disappointment;
perhaps. as the superintendent had re-
minded him. he was getting old; but
again the confusing blur came before
his eyes. and he leaned heavily upon
the gate. too dazed to go farther.
After time he was sensible OF a
strong arm supporting him: and then
he lost himself in the mysterious linn.
bo OF Inconsistencies.
When next he opened his eyes it
was to, gaze upon the familiar objects
In the'little home parlor. and 1t seem.
ed but natural that the big. blond
giant. well dressed and prosperous.
looking. should be Gerald. standing
there beside his fearful, but radiant,
mother; and there were mutual ex-
plantations. during which the mists
that had clouded the old mans eyes
and brain seemed to be effectuitlly dis
sipated by the sun of happiness.
His was not a tale of fabulous mug
gets picked up in the gold fields of
Nome; but more prosaic one of
years of work in the great wheat ware
houses skirting the river front at Ia
coma. all the time he had cherished in
his heart the bitterness of resentment
against the father who had rebuked
him, and the determination to remain
away from his home and those whom
he loved with great, heartsick love,
in spite of his boyish obstinacy.
Then had come a day when his
steadfast honesty had been the means
OF saving from great fraud and loss
the men who employed him; and as
the senior partner had called him into
his private office to acquaint him of
the promotion which meant a share in
the partnership later on, the elder
man had said. with gravity:
Il praise you. Dunn. but most of all
/ praise the father and mother who
brought you up, II YOU had not had
good training, a man of your years
could never have resisted the tempta-
tion to 80 in with our enemies and to
ruin us while helping YOURSELF"
And then had the obstinacy of the
boys heart been touched with graft
tude and love for the mother who bore
him, and, like another prodigal. Ger
aid Dunn had said penitently with
himself:
Il will arise and go unto my faith
er,"
He had brought his mother a little
keepsake from the west-a shamrock
in green enamel, with a great diamond
blezing like dewdrop in its leaves.
Again there arose mist before Ber-
nard Dunn's eyes; but this time 1t was
the blur of happy tears; and. as he
eased his tired head and let his gaze
wander to the opposite wall-where
hung the same Madonna clasping tho
Christ-child which the orphans in the
home reyered-in this case a gift
which one of the elder sons had
brought his mother from the Eternal
city-there came back to him the
promise Of Gods holy word which had
been his solace and his hope during
his years Of anxiety and doubt and
suspense as to the fate OF his youngest
born.
For have never seen the righte-
Gus man forsaken. nor his seed beg
ging bread"