Year: 1876

chased the horse. lie was IN the house a
good part of the time, and l noticed that he
bid for a number of things"


II hope Fleetwood has kind master, ;"
observed Mr.. Phillips, after pause
The clerk was going, but returned, after q
short parley with some one at the door.
Here's man, sir, who wishes you to
meet him at the house you occupied at half
past nine this evening"


"What can any one want OF me there p
said Mr. Phillips, with an uneasy gesture.


Il cannot tell, sir. l did not know the
man, but from the dim glance had of him
al the door, should say it Was the man who
was bidding upon the horse when came
away, and the same who bought Fleetwood" +"
81 must go, suppose; yet, it he is a gen.
tlemau, should hardly think he would ex-
pose NE to the pain of going there"
Mr.. Phillips walked to his own house with
trembling steps. He looked old and feeble,
like man who had numbered twice his years.
He reached the door that once opened to his
familiar touch ard rang the bell. The wo-
man who had so long kept his house, opened
it, and ushered him into the stting-room,
from which, years ago, he had ordered his
boy from his sight forever.


This thought flashed into his mind, and
was more vivid, from the circumstance of
his own armchair being removed out of it's
ordinary place, and set in the middle OF the
room, and a low chair directly i'll front of it,
on which Samuel had leaned in passionate
weeping. The boy, in his misery, on that
night, had left his cap hanging on the corner
OF that chair and, as it to deepen the father S
anguish tonight, boys cap hung there
again. ttoW well he remembered it, How
he shook with the memories that rose up in
his mind! His fearful eyes scarcely took in
the figure OF noble looking gentleman who
now entered the room, and desired him to
walk around the house. Every piece of
furniture was in its old place. In his own
chamber, the little arrangements of his dress
and in a little bedroom beside it, were two
small beds in which his boys usedto sleep


He looked up at bis conductor through his
fast falling tears. Something in his face, in
the bright, flashing eyes OF the stranger, went
to his heart. They had returned to the sit
ing-room, and the stranger held his band,
with warm, loving grasp. He heard the
words, I" This is all yours, dear father" :" and
then the two men sank together upon their
knees, while the younger hreathed out fer
vent thanksgiving that he had been spared to
comfort and console him in his hour of ad-
verse fortune.


Stung with his fathers cruel words, Samuel
Phillips had deserted his home, and driven
almost to desperation, had wondered away
from the place that knew him to a far city.
Providence raised up friends to the desolate
boy. He found himself trusted, honored, re-
spected and at the death Of one Who had
been as father to him, he became wealthy.
He saw the notice of the sale in a newspaper
hurried on to prevent it, and arrived only
when it had already commenced.


He had learned of his mothers death, and
from that time he resolved never 10 return.
But when he found that his father was in real
distress, all was forgotten, save the thought
that he mi ght be in time to save him from
open disgrace or actual want. Everything
had fallen into his hands, for the by-standers
saw that he was determined to possess all, and
they gave way to his evident desire and abil-
ity to crafty it.


The reconciliation was complete. The
pride of the father was subdued. Reinstated
in his old home, his liabilities all met and his
business re-established, by the son whom he
had banished, his heart had melted to child
like humility that WAS touching to behold.