Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-29

"Now cay, thank you, grandpa l said as l
flung out the water after Weston had done
drinking
" Thank you, grandpa, camc out in the soft,
small notes Of the little child, and knew they
went away down into the old mans heart like
a sharp, cutting sword.
"'Whose's that are childl' he asked, in low.
gruH voice, as he didn't dare trust il TO speak
louder.
"'Well, now. Farmer Pike, says /, to "hear
you ask that question IL you can't tell the
color Of them eyes, you must be struck stone
blind and did you ever see a forehead that was
just the shape Of that one, and a little round
head that was never still, but always kept sha.
king, aud diddling round like leaf on silver
tree; and It you don't know that, you can't for.
get that heap of golden curls just the color of
ripe rye when the sun strikes on IT, | never
see curs like them, excepting on one head, and
that's under the grass long way from here
now
THE old man sat down on the stoop, and
saw it was because his great limbs shook so
he couldn't atand l sat down, too
60 lis rather warm, farmer, ! went on,
standing in the sun, to-day, though there's a
good breeze from the west. Speaking about
Weston, though, don't think he has his faith.
ers mouth, though Joseph's had a way Of set
| ting down tight and grim just like You're, far.
mor, specially when his mind was made up on
any subject. But If you will look, you will see
that tue pattern of his mouth was cut after
MaTy's even 30 the dimple ia the left corner
declare 1t takes me right back TO the time
when Mary aud l used to go to school through
the pasture What merry, fun loving crea.
tur she was ] always used to think her laugh
sounded good deal more ehtery than the rob.
ins in the bushes as we went alougl
"'DOn't, Esther, don't, said Farmer Pike and
he put up his hand as though it was more than
he could bear, aud his face was as white as
chalk. He hadn't called me Esther though for
more than twenty years
81 saw now was the time to strike, aud says
! |, Eyes, suppose it's trying to your feelings,
farmer to talk about them times; but its COM
tort'ng to thlnk you've got your wife and sou
all made out like picture there Weston, you
dear boy called out to him, as he was hunt.
| lug butterflies OH the grass, aud he came trot-
ting up to US, now go and say, "Gfandpa,
won you kiss me !"'
And the little fellow went and lifted his
sweet baby face to the old man, and lisped out
so pretty, Won't you kiss me, grandpa Z"
"Ihe old man reached out his arms in such
quick, hungry sort OF a way, that | was al.
most scared, and then he proaned 20 Mary, q
Joseph y in u way that made my heart stand
still, and he Rugged up the boy 30 tight to his
bosom that know he would never let him 90
from him again"
AT this point in her story Aunt Esther stop,
ped and cried, aud 81 did Cousin Alice aud /
though we laughed at each other all the time.
"Well, what happened next, Aunlyl" ask
ed, as soon as | could
al did not stay another minute, child.
could not. l slipped round the corner of the
house, aud hurried home, but | heard a deep
sigh as l opened the gate softly and knew
that it came from heart that had not wept iui
more than forty years. But it comforted me al
the way back to think that it Mary in heaven
knows what I've been doing to day, she u
thank me for it,
"But we shan't have Weston with us any
moro now How shall we get along without
him!' exclaimed suddenly, for all our heart.
had grown TO the sweet child
"Ges, we shall have him." answered Aunt
Esther quickly untyng the bonnet strings o
her Leghorn bonnet. "Father Pike said, not
moru than twenty years ago he wouldn't trus
any woman In tho village but me to bring u|
a chid' and he amt gninr to think lees Of mt
for this days work"
Aunt Esther was right Just at evening
Farmer Pike came round to our house, leading
Weston by the hand
"Miss Lee" he sail, 81 amt got ANYBODY al
home, Id quite like to trust him with; but il
you'll take the child we won't say anything
about the price, only I'll see you don't lose 10y
it,"
Aud Aunt Esther took him But every
morning and evening Farmer Pike came up 1,
see his little grandson, and was never tired u
bringing him fruits and toys, until the littl,
one learned to watch eagerly for his grand
fathers coming,
The little golden head somehow completely
reyoutionized the old man. The harsh lines
around his face grew softer, aud he would si
for hours and watch its play or devise som,
new pleasure for it. la short, the farmers If,
seemed bound up in his gmndson's, for the an
gel had struck the granite rock, aud lo the wa
ters lcaped out.