The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1905-10-13

/ he took the Dit or paper. A big tear
rolled down his cheek
"Why, Holden! What does this
mean2" he asked.
"'At the Lord pays his debts" said
Uncle Eb. Read IT,"
Hope had lighted the lamp.
David rose and put On his spectacles.
One eyebrow had lifted above the level
OF the other He held the check to the
lamp light. Elizabeth stood at his ell
bow.
why, mother!" said he. "Is this
from our boyi From Nehemiah? Why,
Nehemiah is deadl" he added. looking
over his spectacles at Uncle Eb
Nehemiah is not dead" said the lat
ter
Nehemiah not deadw he repeated,
looking down at the draft.
They turned II In the light. reading
over and over again the happy tidlnSs
pinned to one corner OF IT, Then they
looked into each others eyes.
Elizabeth put her arms about ia.
vld's neck and laid her head upon his
shoulder, and not one Of us dare trust
himself to speak for little. Uncle Eb
broke the silence.
Got another present." he said. "'S
a good deal better n gold er silver
\ knock NJ the door interrupted him.
lie swung II open quick A tall. beard.
ed man came In.
MFR. Trumbull" Hope exclaimed, rls.
ing
David an Elizabeth Brewer" said
Uncle Eb, "the dead hes come 4 life.
! give We back yer son Nehemiah"
Then he swung his cap high above
his head, shouting In loud voice.
Merry Crissmus. merry Crlssmusr"
The scene that followed | shall not
try TO picture II was so full OF happl.
uess that every day Of our lives since
then has been blessed with IL and with
peace that has llghtcned every sor.
row. OF II ! can truly say that II pas.
seth all understanding.
Look here. folks" said Uncle Eb
after awhile rs be got his flute. my
leelin's hev been teched hard. II
don't hey some JollIHcatlon III bust.
Bill Brewer, timber up yer leather
leetle bit"
Nehemiah. whom had known as
John Trumbull. sat a long time De-.
tween his father and mother. holding
hand Of each and talking In low tone.
while Hope and | were In the kitchen
with Uncle Ed. Now that father aud
son were side by side we saw how like
they were and wondered we had never
guessed the truth.
DO you remember" said Nehemiah
when we returned. do you remember
when you were little boy coming on.
night 10 the old log house on Row.
mans hin with Uncle Els"
Il remember :, very veil. answer.
ed.
That was the FIRST time ever saw
you. he said.
why. you are not the night manr'
Il was the night man." he answered.
stared NJ him with something OF
the old familiar thrill that had AWAY,
come at the mention Of him year,
ngone
Hes grown lccilc since then" "a.
Uncle Eb.
i thought 10 the night carried him
on the field at Bull Run" said Nche.
mlah.
Was that your" ] asked eagerly.
1T was" be- answered II cam.
over from Washington that afternoon.
Your colonel told me you had been
wounded"
WONDERED who you were. but I
could not gct you 10 answer I have
10 thank you Tor my life"
Hope pui her arms about his neck
aud kissed him
Tell us" said abe. how you came 10
be the night man"
lie folded bis arms aud looked down
and began his story.
Years ago had n great misfortune
was mvrr hoy NJ the time nv nc.
c'dcnt ! killed another hoy In play. Il
was nu old gun we were PLAYING with.
and uo,lnsiy knew u was loaded. 1 had
often quarrclci with the other boz
Ihai is vhl they thought had done
u on purpose There was a dance that
nlrht had got ~ In the evening
crawlei ou' n the window and stolen
away. We wcrc ln Richards stable I
remember how the people ran ont with
lanterns They would have hung IA.
SOME NJ them 0r given me The HIN,
bccrh if a boy friend had no, burri,,,
me away. Il was a terrible hour I
was stunned could say nothing
They drove me to the burg the bows
father chasing u.s. got over into
Canada, walked 10 Montreal and ,bcrc
went TO sea. II was foolish. I kno.
but was only boy u aftecn. I took
another name. began new no
Nehemiah Brewer was Ike one deaf
In Frisco saw Ken Gilman tIe had
been schoolma,e IN PARKWAY us
put his hand on my shoulder and rallr.,
me he old name II was hard 20 deny
1.-THE hardest thing I ever dld. Iva,
homesick. ! wanted 60 ask him ahou,
my mother and father and nv si,,,r