Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-01-13


which wohld become his dear old mother
about as we'll as the dress of bloomeri
and pair of beautiful stuffed birds for
the joiners pretty daughter, who had
sent 'ner respects in his mothers letters.
The birds we're in the .attitude of fight
ing, which caused the pretty maiden to
laugh, for She said that was what l was
always doing with Jack; but he bother
said she bad good cry over them"
when She placed them on ner chest Of
drawers in her bedroom.
The farmer whose orchard Jack help
ed to rob had sent out his best wishes
and had received in return basket Of
curious shells, which, as he said, made
his parlor look as fne as Eve pence.
More letters and presents from time to
time, with orders for more money than
his dear old mother knew how to spend,
and so seven years passed away since he
had first left home. Meantime the join
er's pretty daughter had rejected many
offers. and grown into the sweetest flower
of the village
Another june came round in her char
( lot of roses, and a smell Of new hay hung
around the picturesque hamlet, when the
carriers. cart was entering two or three
hours before sunset, with beautiful par
rotin an immense cage, fastened on the
tilt of his vehicle, and a long, stuffed
sword fish that hung partially over the
shaft horse, which, with the leader, was
decorated with Lows Of blue ribbons.
All the village was out to look at the
parrot, the sword fish and the horses;
and from the hurrahs Of the carrier and
the waving of his hat, they knew that
'he had had his lOunce, meaning that
/ he was pretty tipsy. And while he shout
ed, voice from inside the tilted cart
kept calling on the horses to move lar
board or starboard, which they, like very
4 wise horses paid no attention to- With
half the villagers behind and around, the
cart at last halted before the cottage
where Our Jacks mother resided. and
then both the carrier and his passenger
called out Justify, Ship ahoyp
/ Then the dear cid woman came out in
/ her. spectaeles, thinking BE had broesht
another letter; and the pretty maiden
came tripping from over the way, ready
to read it to her as she bad always done
when tall, handsome sailor, as brown a,
horsc-chestnut sprang with a bound
from the cart-shafts, and knocking off hel
spectacles as he threw his brawny arm;
around her, e1claime Dear mother!
while in tremulous voice, as she raised
her eyes to Heaven, she uttered the
words, My sonl my dear sonr and al
the villagers said, Why, is Our Jack ]
and the pretty maiden crossel the road
scarlet with bushes, and with aew and
strange sensation beating about her heart
She had never dreamed he cccld have
grown so handsome, so bold, SO manly
looking. As for Our Jack, he had no
even noticed her-he had no eyes, NJ
ears, no words for any ons saving hi
dear old mother.
1. The first interview over, there was th'
carriers cart to unload; and many a Ions
month had elapsed since the old maj
brought such load, for it was half flleC
with presents brought by Our Jack, whc
had something for every one whose nam,
he could rcmember-coral, shells, curl
Gus seaweed, stuffed birds, and fishes
skins, Indian ornaments, besides NOR,
costly articles, for his ship had takel
several prizes, and his own share Of tn
money amounted to a goodly sum, as h
had already risen to the rank of mate.
Meantime, the old carrier had show
TO the wondering rustics the new silve
watch which Jack had given him, an,
told them how Jack had vowed he woul,
hire chaiso and pair to carry him home
r and not ride with him, if he would no
take it as keepsake.
Partly to ease his fine, overaowin
= heart, and to hid the tears which woul
' keep falling, Our Jack went out into tn
little garden to LOOK at it once more
: What numbers Of times he had reealie
that old lilac tree, with the bees murmur
, ing amid its bloom in spring; that ros
e tree covered, as he then saw it, with sum
tmer roses; the vine he had trained on th
cottage wall, and often wondered if
a Iwere hung with purple grapes in autumn
a The holly, from which he had gathcre
: crimson berries in winter-and wbic
a we're all there, though thrice the siz
r since he had left home. All! how of,e
had they appeared to his inward eye Will
e keeping watch at sea The sun settin
c on the cottage window; the daisy cover
is ed field beyond the cottage hedge; IL
Il old thorn, with its mOOnlight-cOvere
e May blossoms, with the singing of Il
d birds in those golden mornings, had con