Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-12-17
THE UNEXPECTED SON,

One summer afternoon, Mr.. ,Malcom Anderson
arrived, With his family at his native town. Put
ting up at the little inn, he proceeded to dress him
self in suit of sailors clothes, and then walked
out alone. By q by;path be well knew, and then
through shady lane, dear to his young hazel-nut-
ting days, all strangely unchanged, he approached
his mother cottage. He stopped for q moment
on the lawn outside, to curb down the heart that
was bounding to meet that mother, and to clear
his eyes Of sudden mist, Of happy tears. Through
the open window, he caught glimpse of her, sit-
ting alone at her spinning Wheel as in old time.
But alas, how changed Bowed was. the dear
form, once 80 erect, and dimmed the eyes once so
full of tender brightness, like dewstained violets
But the voice, with which she was grooming softly
to herself, was still sweet and there was on her
cheek the same lovely peach bloom of twenty years
ago. ,,.s -.icf- ...,,,, nj .. ,-..a-. ,o7,..,
At length he knocked, and the dear remember
ed voice called to him in, the simple old fashioned
way" COON ben" (come in.) The widow rose
at the sight of stranger, and courteously offered
him chair. p. Thanking her in an assumed voice,
somewhat gpf, he sank down, as though wearied,
saying that he was a. wayfarer, strange to the
country, and asking the way to the next town.
The twilight favored him in his little ruse he saw
that she did not recognize him, even as ope she
had never SEEN But, after giving him the infor-
nation he desired, she asked him if he was a
Scotchman by birth. ''Yes, madam" be replied
''but I have been away in foreign parts many
years. doubt if my own mother would know me
now, though she was very fond Of me before ]
went to sea. = j !-.yss =! ..,i.,,y.iJ " c.a ~.
"Ah! mon, it's little ye ken about mithers, gin
ye think sae., I can tell ye there is ma mortal
memory like theirs" the widow somewhat warmly
replied then added--"And where hae ye been
for sac lang time, that ye hae lost a the Scotch
fra your speech?' 3. ... ....- .... .........
'In India-in Calcutta, madam" ... ~
"Ahl then, it's likely ye ken something O. my
son, Mr.. Malcom Anderson. " ,. -.-..
Anderson" repeated the visitor, as though
striving to remember. ''There be many of that
name in Calcutta; but is your son rich merchant
and man about my size and age, with something
such figure head?" .c-. ':......... -. ..
''My son is rich merchant" replied the widow
proudly, "but he is younger than you by mony 6
year, and begging your pardon, sir, far BONNER
He is tall and straigh wi hands and feet like 6
lassie's; he had brown, curling hair, sac thick and
glossy, and cheeks like the rose, and brow like
the snaw, and the blue cen, wi CLINT in them
like the light of the evening star. Ma, ma, ye art
not like my Malcom, though ye are good enough
body, dinna doubt, and decent woman's SON.
Here the masqueradng MERCHANT, considerably
taken down, made movement as though to leave
but the hospitable dame stayed him, saying
"Gin ye hae travelled a the way fra India, "
maun be tired aud hungry. Bide a bit, and ea
and drink wi u.s. Margery, come down, and le
US set on the supper"
The two women soon provided quite 2 tempting
repast and they all three satdown toit-Mrs An
derson reverently asking blessing But the mer
chant could not eat. He was only hungry for hi'
mothers kisses-only thirsty for her joyful recog
milton; yet he could not bring himself te> say t
lher-.sI am your son." BE asked himself, RaA