The Globe-republican., 1903-03-19


| as you used to be- The city cant af-
ford to lose good workmen like you!
They're too scarce" and he smiled
genially as he signaled his horse to
trot on.
Yes; he was getting old. Bernard
Dunn realized that fact as he drew his
sleeve across his eyes, which a strange
mist had blinded several times during
the afternoon; but he was not going
to stop until plump 5 o'clock, he
thought, for his heart was in his work,
as it had ever been.
If America had done well by Supt.
Merrill, it has certainly done well by
Bernard and his children, and with
gratitude he pondered the superintend-
ent's words, letting his mind run on
his comfortable home, his steady work
and the good wages which 1t brought
him, and then to his children-the old
est daughter beautiful woman, wife
Of the judge Of the circuit court; his
oldest son pastor of fourishing par,
ish in nearby town; another son a
surgeon studying in the hospitals
abroad; a daughter who, as buyer in
the lace department Of big Boston
house, commanded salary larger
than that of many government con-
sul-all well and doing well, except
the youngest child! Alas and alack!
Where was he to-day, his birthday? No
wonder the mist rost before the old
mans eyes, shutting out the sights in
the city streets.
That they had all spoiled the lad
the father remembered with sigh,
but who could resist his sway, hand
some young tyrant of the household,
as he grew to be, accepting as his
right the sacrifices of his brothers and
sisters; he, his mothers idol, his
fathers pride!
The college where his brothers had
received their education seemed too
slow and steady.going for him, and
SO, in the fullness Of time, he had been
sent to Yale, and had established him
self in luxurious quarters, bent upon
getting all the good time there was
out Of life. Slowly but surely the
knowledge forced itself upon the ador-
ing little family at home that all was
not as 1t should be, and there came a
time when boyish escapades were ex-
changed for disgraceful and dishonor-
able conduct, and then his father had
interfered,
II hurt the sold man even in mem !
DRY to recall the rebuke which he had
felt obliged to give his son, and the
sullenness with which 1t had been re-
ceived. That very night the lad had
disappeared-ten years ago, and not
one word had been heard from him
since.
Every 18th of March the lads moth
er had prepared for him those little
dainties which he used to
like in the old days, when dainties
meant luxuries to the struggling fam
lily.
Each Patrick's night during the
nine years the old man had gone hope
fully homeward, straining his eyes for
q glimpse of his wife, as he pictured
her, coming out to wait for him at the
gate with the CHEEKY announcement;
Father, dear, our boy has come back
10 us!"
1t was almost time to go now, and
lnbidden the picture rose in his mind.
1.-THE poor wife! God help her! 1t
,omes hardest on herr he said tender
y, as he thought lovingly Of the wom-
In who had been the Joy Of his youth.
he pride Of his manhood and the So
ace Of his later years. And then, with
deep sigh at memory Of his absent
10Y he added 4
May God guard him II he's living,
md receive his soul II he Is dead!p
Ind,the old man went solemnly about