Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-04-18
My Atonement
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as I wanted. I've learned since, to
my sorrow, that he was struggling with
mortgages and had q bard time to give
us home and clothes. One day I
asked him for some money to buy a
shotgun with, and when be refused l
said something ugly to him. He called
me ungrateful and said I'd always be
a burden to him. l didn't know that
be was at that very time straining ev-
cry nerve to keep out Of bankruptcy,
while / was asking for money to buy
what | didn't need. No wonder he
was harsh with me.
But his words excited In me all that
was bad and all that was strong. l
made up my mind then and there that
l would be burden to no one, and
without saying "goodby" l went away
and came to the city. l felt some
Qualms Of conscience as to mother, but
this did not deter me- My sister Lucy
was but little girl, and l didn't think
OF her. l soon found job, and as l
had but one idea-to make money!
worked all day and often far into the
night. This attracted the attention OF
my employers, and they showed me up
rapidly.
Gradually my interest In my parents
faded away. The one thought l had
Of father was to go back home some
day and show him that l had more
rnoney than he had But I had a
craving for work and never could find
a time when was willing to give 1t
Nd long enough to make the trip.
One day met familiar face on the
street. and recognized former school
mate. He told me that father had
been sold out Of everything except the
house he lived In, which was now
worthless, and he and mother and my
sister were literally starving. l could
not have been more astonished II l
had seen Satan pass by with his cloVen
feet sticking out from under bis trou-
sers. 1t never had occurred to me that
father could be poverty stricken. Chill
dren from infancy rely on their parents
for what they need and thus come to
consider them always as having pos
sessions. The only Idea I had OF my
father was that he had withheld from
me what he ought to have given me.
I went straight to my counting room
and drawing checks for an aggregate
of $1,000 sent them to the bank to be
certified, but now my desire to out
shine father was a horror to me, and
I started home the next morning IN an
old suit l used for inspecting our ware
houses. AS soon as / arrived l went
home and stood on the opposite side or
the street looking at it. Heavens, how
small 1t looked, and how dilapidatedl
The roof was ready to cave In. went
over and knocked. a young girl about
seventeen came to the door She look
cd half starved and very shabby, but
I knew her for my little sister. ] want
Cd to take her In my arms, but she
didn't know me, and ! would have
frightened her, so I asked her If her
mother was at home, and she took me
into the parlor. 1t was the same par
Tor, with the same furniture. but the
upholstery was In rags. When mother
came in abe knew me at once, though
/ had grown a beard since leaving
home. She fell into my arms In
faint.
Father, hearing something amiss,
came hObbling in-he was all broken
down with rheumatiBm-and seeing
mother In the arms Of a strange young
man looked mystihed.
Father" I said extending my hand
to him, forgive me-"
he just sat down and covered bis
face with his hands. Mother took me
to him and put my hand in his.
I'd been thinking 80 long how /
would 60 home and show father that
was a better man than he that now /
was there and had plenty OF money /
felt repulsion at offering 1t. After
we had got a little used to the situa-
ton went out with Lucy, my sister,
and we stocked the larder. got some
information from her about fathers
affairs and when we went home again
had given her the checks, one OF which
was for her, and told her to put them
where father and mother would hnd
them.
I stayed at home that night and just
before going to bed ! heard commO-
ton downstairs and, returning to the
sitting room, saw the cause. Mother
IN taking up her Bible to read her
usual chapter before going to bed had
found a $1,000 check in the place Of
her bookmark. ran back upstairs
and pretended to have gone to bed.
Pretty soon / heard loud talking In
fathers and mothers room and, as the
partition was thin, heard father tell
mother that he had found a $1,000
check pinned to the collar of his night
shirt. He tried my door, but / had
locked it and snored Justify.
Well, the next day l called family
conference. told them that l was rich
and asked them whether they would
rather have the old house rebuilt or
come to the city with me. Father and
mother decided that they were too old
to leave the place In which they had
always lived, but consented that l
should take Lucy back with me and
put her to school. Father and l went
out and found a builder, who took
charge Of the repairs. or, rather, the
rebuilding of the house, and after ouf
return | went shopping with mother
and Lucy, whose tattered clothing was
a constant reproach to me.
/ stayed at home till they got rid OF
their rags, then took father and moth
er and Lucy back with me, Lucy to
20 to school. father and mother to have
q change while the house was In charge
Of the builder. / believe | was hap
pier than If had done my duty In the
nrst place. At any rate, my atonement
was delightful
RUSSELL THORNE.