Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-09-16
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1859.


OF a moment ON the dusty road that wound
like dingy red ribbon through the pas
,urc Of Wooj.ide.
"What have you made up your mind 10
do, Aunty1" asked cousin Alice Lake and
|, simultaneously. as We looked up from
the magazine we were reading.
THAT III take Weston. Joscph's child.
and 90 straight over to Farmer Pixies this
afternoon. He'll be just abou, over his
dinner nap when we get there. Its very
well for him to talk as he does 30 long as
he DON, SEQ the child; but como TO that.
believe twill bo more than he can bear"
We believed It, too, when we saw the
beautiful little creature waddling out Of
the front gate by aunty's side, although
when the nSighbors had Informed Farmer
Pike that Joseph was dead. and ,ha, he
had bcquca,hcd his only child to my aunt,
ho sternly replied. Let her keep him, then.
As for me, will never SEQ him-neyer have
anything to do with him."
IL was not 10 be wondered at that Alice
and awaited our aunt's return with eager
curiosity. or tha. the inquiries with which
my story commences greeted her entrance.
She did not reply atoncc, but taking up a
palm.leaC ian that lay on the table, seated
herself in the arm chair while her feature.
worked painfully.
Il never had anything come across me
90. she exclaimed more to herself than 20
US. And the tear. rolled over her cheeks.
After a while she grow ealmcr, and told
her story TO cousin Alice and me. sitting in
her large rocking chair, and tanning her.
self with the palm.leaf ian.
"You see Farmer Pike had jus, risen
from his afternoon nap, and was going out
the back door as got round by the mead.
ow in front Of the house. spiod him, and
hurried there rs he 60, up to the we'll.
"lIow dye do, Farmer Piko2" ! said in
free neighborly sor; ofa way, As | came
up to him; " can, you.let this child have
drink OF watcr2 lie has had long walk
and has go, pretty nigh tuckcrcl out"
Tho old man was completely taken absck.
could see that by the way he looked at
me, and | looked back a. him as cool aud
innocent as lamb. Then he looked at
Weston. and saw the muscles about his
tight mouth quIver little. but be didn't
say a word he took up the tin cup that
stood on IN, spout and filled It from tho
bucket, and held il ou, to me, but hi. great
hand shook 80 that the water spilled over
the top; but Of course di not notice il.
kept on talking in the most natural way
you can imagine about the weather. and
the good crops we were like to have.
"Now say thank you. grandpa )" | said
as poured out tho water after Weston
had done drinking.
Thank you, grandpa" !" came out in the
.of,. small notes OF the little child. and |
knew they went away down into that old
mans heart, like a sharp, cutting sword.
whoso's that are child ?" he asked in
low, gruG voice. as IL he didn't dare to
trust it TO speak louder.
"Well now, Farmer Pike" says I. to
hear you ask that question! II you cant
tell the color Of them eyes. you must be
struck stone blind and did you ever see as
forehead that was just the shape Of that one
and a little round heal ,ha, was never still
but always kept shaking and diddling round
like leaf on a silver tree and IL you don't
know that, you can, forget that heap Of
golden curls, just the color Of ripe
rye when the sun strikes on Il. | never zee
eurls like them, excepting on one head, and
,ha, is under the gras, long way from
here now"
The old man sat down on the stoop. and
| saw it was because his great limbs shook
50 he could not stand. sat down, too.
"It is rather warm, farmer" | went on
" standing in the sun to-day, though there
is good breeze from the west. Speaking
about Weston, though don't think he has
his fathers mouth though, Joseph's had q
way Of setting down tight and grim just like
yourn, farmer, specially when his mind was
made up on any subject. But il you will
look, you will see that the pattern Of his
mouth was cut after Mary's, even to the
dimple in the left corner. l declare 4.
takes me right back to the time when Ma.
ry and used to 60 to school through the
pasture. What a merry, fun.loying creeter
she was. Ialways used to think her laugh
good deal more CHEEKY than the robins IN
the bushes as we went along"
Don't, Esther, don't," said Farmer
Pike. and he put up his hand as though it
was more than he could bear, and his face
was us white as chalk. He hadn't called
me Esther though for more than twenty
years.
saw now was tho time to strike, and
says l. Yes suppose 1t Is trying to your
feelings. farmer, to talk about them times
bu, its comforting to think you've got your
wife and son all m ade out like a picture.
Weston, you dear boy, called out to him.
as he was hunting butterflies on the grass
and he came trotting up to us. now 80
and SAY" Grandpa Won't you kiss me J"
And the little fellow went and lifted up
his swec, baby face to the old man, and
li.ped out so pretty, Won't you kiss me,
Grandpa"
IT,. LA man rnached ont his nrms In snch