Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-29


searching amid it for the fruit which the wind
had shaken off. i-s.ls .sliH u =
Becky, Becky, Isay," -I |,sii E.
She turned quickly, and Is her eyes fell upon
his face, ghastly pallor crept over hers. She
covered it with her hands, and uttered shrek
not loud, for it seemed to lie for very terror in
her throat - :
"why, Becky, do look up here! Now haven't
you got better welcome than this for your
brother whom he's come back from the dead,
like ?" y -
But she covered closer down In the grass,
and moaned and shivered live the leaves in the
old park pear tree. (I.f....l.
" See here now, what on earth ails you? If
you take me for spirit, jest look up and I'll
be able to convince you I'm honest flesh and
blood YETI - .s....
He lifted her up with one arm, for she was
too weak betwixt fright and wonder to resist ;
but the old, familiar, hearty tones half assured
her. 81
She lifted her face from her hands and looked
at her brothers moment with strained, wild
glance; then the glad truth broke into her
heart, for the hazel eyes had their old roguish
glance, though they were set in pale, wasted
face.
cob, Reuben, Reuben. I thought it was a
ghost!' and she fell upon his neck with wild
sob of Joy.
1t was long before he could get her to talk
nationally. She would throw her arms around
his neck, and, huggiDg him tightly, murmur
such tender words over him, betwixt sobs and
laughter, as Reuben Palmer had not heard
since he lay, babe, in his mothers crib
I" You precious, darlin' fellow, have you
really come back to us alive? Bless your heart,
how white and changed you are! Oh, Reuben,
darlin', is 1t really you, or am / dreamin'!"
And at last she grew calmer, and was able to
tell her brother Of that terrible night when the
awful tidings came Of his death, and how they
hadn't one of them smiled since; and how,
though his mother tried to "bear up,'' every
one who looked in her face could see that her
heart was broken. .r..-.fa
And both the young man and the maiden sat
down on the grass and wept as though they
were little children.
At last Rebecca rose up.
ooh, what will mother say? You must come
right into the house. Reuben only p'raps I'd
better break it to her slow like, for she's
weakly now, and the sudden joy might kill
her. Oh, there father"
And they saw the old deacon come slowly
into the yard and alight from his horse Just
before the barn door, and remove the heavy
bags of -four from the animals back; for the
old man had just returned from the mill
"We'll 60 and tell him first. You Just keep
around the corner Of the barn, and I'll break
the news" cried Rebecca.
She came painting up to her father Just as he
was leading the horse into the barn.
g"Oh, say, father, 1 want to tell you-some.
things happened 20
The old man turned and looked into the
eager face of his daughter, and his son, stand
ing little way off, could see the change which
the last two weeks had wrought in his face.
"Well, what is ii, my child ?"
"YOu'll be so glad, father, and yeti can't
tell it. Oh, Reuben, do come here 20
And he came out. Father
The vague superstitions which almost all
country people held ct that period of ghosts
by the dead to the living, at once suggested
even to the well-balanced mind of the deacon
the possibility of bis sons spirit returning to
him.
HIS turned white as his child had done, but
he did not speak, and Rebecca cried out,
Z" Don't be afeard, father. It isn't a ghost,
but Reuben's own self, and he wasn't dead, as
We all thought"
One long, steady glance, and the father knew
his child. 'aFt. ~
ooh Reuben, my son Reuben, the Lord be
praised"
And the father and son fell upon each others
neck, like Jacob and Joseph Of old, and wept.
I'VE must break it to mother easy, children,
or it'll sartin kill her for joy," said the old
man, vigorously wiping his face with his pock-
et-handkerchief
So it was arranged that Deacon Palmer
should go in and break the joyful tidings to
his wife according to his best Judgment -
The trio went to the house; Deacon Palmer
entered the kitchen, and his children stood
just outside the door, where they could hear
every word. Mrs. Palmer was slcing some
apples into wooden bowl. She did not look
up as her husband entered; all these weeks she
had gone on with her household duties care
fully and assiduously as ever, but with face
which grew more patient and pale every day
moro like the faces over which the grasses
grow and the winds walk.
"Wall, Becky" she said, couldn't make
out what had kept you. You've been a heap
Of time huntin' them pears"
All the life had gone out of her voice; 1t was
as full Of grief and patience as her face. .y
" It's me, mother, not Becky. I've lust rot
home from the mill, and I've heer'd good
news" .-..
"what kind o. news, fathers"" with scarcely
faint stir Of interest. -.-- n :
"Ahem-wall, this Is from the army"
The old woman sighed. "Thsn the Lords
given us another victory over our enemy
"Wall, not that exactly. It. somethin' that
consarns US more nearly-somethin' that1l
give you great joy, mother ...|. :
Poor old man! He was internally congratu.
lating himself on the tact and discretion with
which he had approached his subject; but he
could not keep tone Of triumphant gladness
out Of his voice, and be was not astute enough
for a woman's quick intuitions
"John, she said, turning round and looking
him full in the face-a look that fairly stag.
gered him" have you heard anything about
Reuben? ?" I-F77- mn 80 -. -
"Wall, yes, It did consarn him" He broke
down here. 'sReuben, como in and let your
mother hear for herself 's'
.. Mother :" ~ l'A tat darLtfFt : .
She gave one long, greedy look as his shad-
ow fell over the threshold. She comprehended
1t all in that glance, and stretched out her
arms as he rushed forward, but they only
clutched at the air, for before she could gather
him to her heart she had fallen to the floor
Her son that was dsad' was alive again, but the
mothers joy was more than her heart could
bear. But the color soon came to the faded
cheeks, and at even-tide on that happy day
was heard in good Deacon Palmer's house the
voice Of praise and thanksgiving to Him who
In Has wisdom g tsketh away" but in mercy
60 restoreth again"
n IN ~,