The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-05-12

slipped into tbs harbor at Algicrs. where wo
rocked ut last, as safe rs q thief In mill, in
comparison.
Dear mo. thought it was quite the pret.
tiest anchorage In the world just then It
looked 60 social to see the ships rolling about
as happy golucky as II storms were things
Of another latitude; and the moonlight max.
ing FREQ with the battlements OF tho grim
old castle. and looking In at the ghas'ly loop
holes Of the batteries that had maybe, sent
death to many brave heart; and the folks
ashore cooking supper over their ilres In tho
open afr, rs I've seen tho sipsies inspain do,
only these woro their rags differently; for
among all my goings and comings what's
struck me most ia tho odd fashions people
have Of rigging themselves.
After this I got out Of the way Of going
with Captain Brown; besides, mother she
was growing old and needed me at home:
md. perhaps, I didn't quite care to repent
my experience. .4
In tho mean time had heard ncws ol
Donald; how that now he was forchanded,
and now that his health was broken. and
again that he was in tho housefor the insane
Well, he was not the first Of his raco that
had brought up therc at last; his mother
came of line of intermarriages equal to any
In royalty. But during all that time be-
tween had never laid eyes on him I: for
though he had been dawn often enough to
SEQ his mother, it was always while l was a'
sea.
Dear mo. have good reason to remember
the day Captain Brown went on his last voy-
ago. He was to start Of Immediately after
dinner; aud as I passed him the pickled.pcp'
pers,
"Christie," said he, "why don't you ever
have picked samphirc nowadays? How
jolly we used to he getting Il, no pickle like
that Tor me, my hearties J"
Just so," said mother. "nono grows In
these times I'll bo bound. Oh, for tho good
old days"
"Of Adam aud of Evc?" asked the Cap
tain. slyly.
When you come homo again." said l,
1--WE will have somo awaiting you J"
"And what II never come 2" said hc.
"Hush. hush; what should hinder? And
you that know tho way 50 well-your own
beaten path! !"
"rhe pitcher goes often to tho well, says
mother,
"'rhere. don't 20 to wooing tronhlc, said l..
Nowth Captain was sort OF cheerful
body in the house, and aftcr he was gone II
seemed 80 lonesome like that didn't know
rightly what to tako hold Of first, 60 l just
bethougt myself Of the samphirc.
"Prosent time Is best ti'nc." thinks !. go
on with my sun-l,onnst and down with my
basket, and away labored across. Dear
sakes. it wasn't quite as I had tripped that
way thirty years agonc, oncs gait at fifty
isn't quickStcp; and much wondered IL ]
werc really tho same high.tempered ignora-
aus that broke with Donald 90 long ago on
this very spot was going to.
"I've seen the world" thinks I, sand rub
he'd oif some Of the sharp edges" and may
bc was a Iittlo proud that Donald even
couldn't find fault with me then. Oh, vain
self.glorylng!
All the way over was so familiar lcould
have fallen down and kissed tho ground, the
Bit of stone wall, moss.lncrusted, the old
gnarled trees-could havc pointed out to you
the places where times and again We had rest.
ed, and the trees wherc Donald used to gath.
or pine.concs for us
"Ah me, thirty years can do n heap Of
mischief" thinks 1: and looking down, |
found tho samphlrc as thick as bees at my
feet, just as IL It had been waiting thirty
years for inc to como.
But before went to work, don't know
what possessed nc, but turned mo about and
gave a look MI across tho meadow; and some
one was coming swiftly toward mo from tho
other side.
"who can that be?" thinks I. Some
stranger, doubtless. who has missed his way !;
il does walk like Nonsense don't DO fool,
Christie Brown; 10 you walk as you did
then?"
Ho came quickly up to me and hold out
both hands, then paused and drew back.
81 beg your pardon, ma'am." said ho.
touching bic hat, "but thought II was she
n, distance: your gait and your basket dc.
ceivcd me. You didn't pass hor In tho vii
lagc, did you7"
"whoT I asked. t
"Christino Miller. I've been expecting to
meet her here. The coach has gone already.
must give her up soon!" u
From the irst moment had set my eycs
On his lace knew Donald, for all that bis
hair was white. his face 80 haggarl. his eyes
10 sunken and now Il all rushed over mo
that he was beside himself. and had esciped
rom the asylum. ~ -. =
"Oh." says I. taking the cus,"if its
Christie Miller you want. she WIS 10 she VII
ago to-day. Como. wo will 80 and hnd her.
think. maybe, shc will b. Ut your moth.