' At that instant a
young man, thrusting out his head and neck between two iron bars
in the prison-window, exclaimed, 'Father! father! if my brother
William is in life, that's he!' 'I am! -- I am! -- (cried the
stranger, clasping the old man in his arms, and shedding a flood
of tears) -- I am your son Willy, sure enough!' Before the father,
who was quite confounded, could make any return to this
tenderness, a decent old woman bolting out from the door of a
poor habitation, cried, 'Where is my bairn? where is my dear
Willy?' -- The captain no sooner beheld her, than he quitted his
father, and ran into her embrace.
I can assure you, my uncle, who saw and heard every thing that
passed, was as much moved as any one of the parties concerned in
this pathetic recognition -- He sobbed, and wept, and clapped his
hands, and hollowed, and finally ran down into the street. By
this time, the captain had retired with his parents, and all the
inhabitants of the place were assembled at the door. -- Mr Bramble,
nevertheless, pressed thro' the crowd, and entering the house,
'Captain (said he), I beg the favour of your acquaintance. I would
have travelled a hundred miles to see this affecting scene; and I
shall think myself happy if you and your parents will dine with
me at the public house.
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