The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-12-13

nc iOunu tHc stCh WoIhou SCo'Cu "Vio u
the wagon under the old umbrella. sh'
ALWAYS had smile for him, and he alway.
fingered awhile TO get that smile and a lii
tle of the old woman's sunshine. But on,
morning ho wen, by, and found there nei
,her the stand nor the hand.wugon. It wa,
80 too when he again went by at evening
and then, without going home, no made
his way to the home Of the old woman
Softly opening the door, he entered the
dingy apartment A few rays from tho set
ting sun came through the open window
and by the dim light he saw the old wo.
man and the two children kneeling by the
low bed In the corner. She was holding
the hand Of the young woman, who lay
with her eyes upturncd to the fading sky
as IL looking in the clouds for some one
coming. He had come, the Great Angel,
and he had already taken her TO the bosom
of the All.Father.
For several years after this the old wonan's
life rippled along as smoothly as gentle
stream flowing on over q sandy bed to the
great ocean. The old umbrella got many q
patch. the new bonnet grew old, and the black
silk gown that she first wore at her daughter
funeral was turned aud returned to fit 1t to
appear on Sundays; but she never begged and
never borrowed, and the winter was never 90
hard but she had enough ready money at CON-
mand to buy her small wares "by Wholesale
Little by little the young lads and hun
cry lovers who frequented the Common came
to know her; and though many rival apple
stand from time to time disputed her right to
monopoli.o the trade In stomaoh-ache. they
soon had to eat their own candy, and to "fold
their tents like the Arabs, and silently steal
away"
One day the gentleman who had learned OF
her his first lessons in Christianity, passing
her stand, noticed some new flags Of truce
floating from her pippins. "who wrote these.
Aunt Betseyf" he asked, pausing to look Of
the placards. .... ...
ooh, Tommy did them. sir. He's amazing
smart at such things. He can write like any
schoolmaster."
"And how old Is he nowr'i
"Going on fifteen; and I'm thinking, sir, it's
about time he was doing something. might
support him some longer, but he's larned oil
he can out Of college"
"what does he take to-"
"well, he wants to be q merchant. I sup
pose he got hankerin' arter 1t from my bein'
In the business; but there's world Of wicked.
ness between buyin' and sellin'. Don't ye
think he'd better be lawyer!"
"a lawyer! There's not an honest lawyer
living. Let him be q merchant. Send him
down to my counting.room Tomorrow"
Tommy went, and so became underclerk In a
large commercial house on Central Wharf
When he drew his first months pay he brought
It home, and pouring It nll into his grand
mother'slsp, threw his arms about her neck,
and said:
"Now. grandmother, you shall shut M
shop. won't have no more Of your selling
apples" ....
But the old woman was not easily lured from
the "walks of commerce" She did not "shui
up shop" She still kept her stand on the
Common; but In summer she staid at homo on
rainy days. and in winter laid by, like the
frogs, doing neither washing nor sewing.
SO three years went away, and then Fort
Sumter fell, and President Lincoln called for
scventy-6ve thousand volunteers to suppress
the rebellion. When Tommy went home that
night with the news. his grandmother was
thoughtful for time; then, looking in his
face, she said, "Tommy, hadn't you ought to
do something for the country!"
.'You mean ought to volunteer" said
Tommy.
eyes; II Mr.. Speegle Is willing"
Mr.. Speegle was willing; and so, soon after
ward, queer scene was witnessed on the Com
mon. The whole parade-ground was In COM
motion. A regiment which had been under
review. was marching out Of one of the gate
ways, and the old woman. perched on her
thrce-legged stool, was wildly waving her um-
brella, and, at the top Of her lungs, cheering
the departing soldiers. At her back sat lit
tie maiden holding her head on her hands, and
trying to hide her tears In her handkerchief.
Th, was Rose; and Tommy was going away
with the regiment. He was the only stay OF
his grandmother. the only hope Of her eighty
years; but, chcerfully, and at her own prompt
ing, she had given him up to the country"
He was away several months, and then came
back, re-enlisted, and went away again, leav-
Ing his bounty with his grandmother. After
this he was often heard from. and always with
honor; and the old woman seemed to grow
young again. In recounting his daring deeds
to some patient listener at her apple stand.
"Just to think" she would say, with tears In
her eyes, "that poor woman like mo should
rear such brave boy for the country!'
At last news came Of great battle. Thou
sands, II was said, had fallen on both sides;
and every morning, with beating heart. the
old woman went to the mail for . letter from
Tommy. But no letter came, and few days
later she found his name among the list OF
those who, In the great struggle, had given up
their lives for the country.
She went home that night, and the next
morning did not go rs usual upon the Com.
mon. Noticing her absence, Mr.. Specgle went
to her humble home at nightfall. The curtains
were down; but in the din light he saw her
stretched upon her bed. and Rose kneeling by
her side weeping. He took her hand, but
something In her face kept back the words he
would have spoken. Amer moment she said.
"Mr Speesle, I'm glad you're come. I owe
you. and you owe me; but guess the balance
Is In my favor. Pay Il to Rosy"
III will" said the man, his voice husky.
She made no reply. but lay for many minutes
without speaking. Then. olutching the young
girls haud. she said, "Rosy. Pm going; but
love the Lord, and some day We will DO togeth-
er again forever"