Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-07-27


rible 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.
And then both the young man and the
maiden sat down on the grass and wept
as though they were little children.
At last Rebeeca rose up. 20, what
will mother say You must come right
into the house, Reuben, only p'raps I'd
better break it to her slow ike, for she's
weakly now, and the sudden JOY might
kill her. o, there's fatherP
And they saw the old Deacon come
slowly into the yard and alight from his
horse Just before the barn door, and re-
move the heavy bags of -four from the
animals back, for the old man had just
returned from the mill.
We'll go and tell him first. You just
keep around the corner of the barn, and
| I'll break the news cried Rebecca.
f She came painting up to her father
Just as he was leading the horse into the
barn.
, %, say, father, want to tell you
something's happenedP
The old man turned and looked into
/, the eager face of his daughter, and his
5 son, standing a little way off, could see
( the change which the last two weeks had
$ wrought in his face.
S Well, what is it, my childT
n You'll be so glad, father, and yet
e can't tell it. o, Reuben, do come here
And he came out. 'Fatherp
The vague superstitions which almos
i all country people held at that period o
d ghosts who haunted their old homes, anC
= visits made by the dead to the living, a
Z once suggest even to the well-balance,
mind of the Deacon the possibility Of hi
II sons spirit returning to him.
He turned white as his child had done
L but he did not speak, and Rebecca erie
le out, Don't he afeared, father. 1t ism
az ghost, but Reuben's old self, and h
10 wasn't dead, as we all thought
'e One long, greedy glance, and th
:" father knew his child.
90, Reuben, my son Reuben, the Lor
~ be praisedp
u And the father and the son fell upo
ie each others necks, like Jacob and j
- seph of old, and wept.
We must break it to mother eas,
children, or it'll sartain kill her for joy
said the old man, vigorously wiping h
face with his pocket handkerchief.
i'' So it was arranged that Deacon Pa
OF mer should go in and break the joyf
he tidings to his wife according to his be
r. Juupn6hi.
- The trio went up to the house De
con Palmer entered the kitchen, and b
au children stood just outside the door. whe
Ill. they could hear every word. Mrs. Pa
". mer was slicing some apples into WOO
4, ed bowl. Sls lid ss.s }ss.,e Up as b
husband entsrse ali sieese weeks 81
Ier had gone on witt sasF household duti
ed carefully and ass,,i.,,,usly as ever, b
Ias with face which grew mo.e pale pati-
he every day-mo.e like the faces ov
which the grasses grow and the win
walk.
wall, Becky she said, / couldl
yes make out what had kept you. You
-pt been heap Of time huntin' them pear
Elk. All the lite had gone out Of her voi'
,rv it was as full of grief and patience
her face.
'It's me, mother, not Becky. J.
- just got home from the mill, and i
me heered good news
,e's What kind O news, fatherT W
scarcely faint stir Of interest.
Ahem-wall, this was from the arm
'he The old woman sighed. Then t
the Lords given US another victory over q
enemy
m Wall, not that exactly. It's son
thin that consarns US more nearly
- W somethin' that'll give you great j.
u mother
Poor old man He was interna
she congratulating himself on the tact a
H. discretion with which he had approach
Irty If ,r;ngnbant eladness out Of his vol
and he was not astuie enough for :
nds man : quick intuitions.
With john she said, turning round 9
looking him full in he face--a look &
''"1 staggered him have you heard al
axle thing about Reuben?
ugh wall, yes, it did eonsarn him
broke down here. REUBEN, come
80. and let your mother see for herself
sMotherT
"hh She gave one long. greedy look AZ
shadow fell over the threshold.
II to eomprehended it all IN that glance,
herr stretched out her arms as be rushed
him ward. but they only elniebed al the
for before she could gather him TO
'''' heart she had fallen 10 the floor.
iben son that was dead was alive again,
ay the mothers JOY was more than
heart could bear. But the color :