Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-11-28

DBuS III l~lit sUfa tiiSlh dAu III tAAC
evening found myself little better
Off peeuniariiy than had been in the
morning
j will not dwell on this period that
was far more miserable than my life
ut home. | spent two years at it with
out finding myself in the end any bet
ter Off than when began The boys
with whom l associated were repel-
lent to me- There was difference
between them and me, if-nOt in educa-
ton. at least in constitution. Poor
children. they were not only forced to
live without refinement. but had been
born of unrefined parents. learned
afterward that | was made of too fine
material to thrive in such an atmos-
phere. had no heart for either my
associates or my work. | had no Tx
ed home. / lacked proper food and
clothing. In winter especially | sur
fered from the cold.
One day while l was selling papers
/ caught sight Of my father passing
In a street car / ran after the car,
but had not the strength TO catch it.
After | had failed l remembered that
one who had Intentionally deserted
me.
Being now fourteen years old,
began to read the papers | sold.
lived In a newsboys' home. and when
l went there at night, instead of as
sociating with the other boys, l read.
One night what was my astonishment
to see my own name in personal 1t
had been inserted by my father. Ii
should see the notice l was to address
certain number at the newspaper
Office. A faint hope that my father
had not intended after all to desert
me elated me.
The next morning l went to the Of
fee of the paper that had contained
the advertisement, and clerk put my
address in the box intended for re-
plies to the advertisement. That even
ing nv father came to see me. He
seemed very much pleased at finding
me. When / asked him why he had
not come back to me after leaving
me he made no reply, but told me to
come with him. Calling carriage, he
took me to the residential portion of
the city. stopping at handsome dwell
ing. 1t stood in yard, and through
that yard l had gone back to the
stable where / had slept the first night
after having been deserted. told my
father this, and he replied:
81 left you near this place on pur-
pose"
We went up the steps of the house
and my father rang the bell. We We're
admitted and were ushered into hand
somely furnished room such as | had
never seen before. An old gentleman
came in and looked inquiringly at my
father.
81 have found him." said the latter.
The old gentleman looked at me.
Eyes, this Is he" said my father. Il
can prove his identity"
"You need not do that" said the old
gentleman HE is the image of his
mother"
AS he spoke he took me by the hand
and / fancied 1 detected a tremor In
hts voice. Then, turning TO my father.
he said: Leave him here. Come and
see me tomorrow" My father turned
and without a word to me left US.
Then the old gentleman put his arms
around me and drew me down beside
him on a sofa.
MY boy, he said, Il must tell you
the meaning of this. That man is not
your father He was formerly one of
my servants. When your real mother
married your real father | was very
angry with her and would have moth
ing to do with her Your father soon
died and your mother was starving.
forced her, as q condition to taking her
home. to give up you, her child, and
paid this man and his wife to take you
and bring you up as their OWL. He be
came excessive in his demands and
broke with him. He brought you to
| this house and left you before the door,
| but said nothing to ME or to you as 20
your being so near your real home. 4
| few months a~o / fell i'll and believed
| was about 10 lie. This made d great
change In me. | sent for you. but YOU
were not to be found. | gave your re-
puted father money with which to
prosecute search for you. and you
are returned to me through an adyer-
tisement"
He pressed the electric button and a
woman came in. to whom he gave iu-
4 rr-fxh hot "A
and put me to bed. ! went with her
! upstairs and was put in a beautiful
room and through an open door en-
| tered a marble bath room. The next
morning a man came In with clothing,
from which | was told to choose that
which fitted me. When / was dressed
l looked at myself in mirror and
was astonished at the change.
] went downstairs and breakfasted
with my grandfather. Later he led me
upstairs and into room where sat a
middle aged lady.
Mildred" he said. the good God
has granted me the boon of returning
/ TO you your SON."
The lady threw her arms around my
neck, but gave way to Mysteries SO
that she was unable to speak. Ny
grandfather watched her ill she be-
came quieted. then left US alone to-
gether
If asked what was the happiest hour
of my life | would say at once the
one i first spent with my mother 1t
was not one hour but many. for during
that whole day she would not let me
leave her even for a few minutes.
And from that moment remarkable
change came over my life. From a
street gamin ! became the petted heir
to large fortune. My grandfather
seemed to live only to make reparation
Z for his harxhuaqS both IN my matthias