FATHER AND SON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21273, 29 August 1932, Page 6

FATHER AND SON

REUNITED AFTER 10 YEARS MEETING IN MISSION SHELTER REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCES After ten years a Wellington father and son have become reunited in extraordinary circumstances. A few days ago they met twice as strangers and conversed, each being unaware of the other g identity. To-day' they are bosom companions, beginning life afresh together. When he was eight years old the boy, who must be nameless, left his home and his parents. Why he did so at such an age is another story, but not one that matters much now. Nor does it matter how and where he was educated and began his tussle with life. He won independence and held it until hard times wrested it from him. Until a week or so ago the boy was employed on a dairy farm near Morrinsville. For some time he had realised his position was insecure, and fear of the future made him think of his father and mother in Wellington. He had not written to them or heard from them since leaving their door ten years ago. He posted a letter to the address he remembered but, to his dismay, the letter was returned through the Dead Letter Office. He tried again by writing to friends,but the result was the same. Then he lost his job. Long Lonely Tramp Homeless and almost penniless the boy resolved to search for his mother and father. He packed his swag and tramped from Morrinsville to Wellington, arriving in the city on the afternoon of Sunday,* August 21. As the sun was setting he knocked at the door of the Churchy of England City Mission. The Rev. T. Fielden Taylor listened to the story told by the tired, 18-year-old wayfarer. He advised him to look for work, wished him good luck in his quest, and offered him a week's board at the men's shelter in Haining Street. That evening the boy sat at one of the long trestle tables in the shelter and, as he ate, told his fellow guests of his adventures on the road. He became friendly with the man next to him and they talked for a while. On the following morning "the boy set out to find his parents. He visited the home of his childhood, but strangers were there and they could tell him nothing he wished to know. He went , from house to house, place to place. The search was fruitless. That evening he again sat at the trestle table with his overnight acquaintance. Beunion with Parents Next day the boy received news of his mother who, he learned, was in employment in the city. Heartened, he renewed his search, and before evening he had found her. Their first greetings over,-he asked for his father. " Your father is out of work. He is living in the City Mission shelter," the mother said. Back to the • shelter the boy hurried. A few words with the officials, fix examination of the register, and he was led up to a middle-aged man who stared at him questioningly. "Dad!" he said, addressing his table companion of the past two evenings. Father and Eon have now taken a room together and the boy is hunting for work. In the meantime he is being fed by the shelter, the officials of which are eager to recommend him.