Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-04-25
SsIsetsn Story.
THE BROAD WAY.
By RUTHELLA sHULTz.

-O
Many there be that go in thereat,"
and poor Percy Howell was one of the
many"
He was frank, good natured, iEipul-
sive 10y; the latest born and only sur
viving child of his aged parents. One by
one the others, whose brief lives were
full of blessings, had been buried in the
village churchyard; and, without shad-
ow of doubling, the old couple hoped to
see their boys promising youth ripen
into the fragrance and fruitage of per-
feet manhood.
Alas! they never sat under the shadow
of that tree, nor inhaled its perfume, nor
gazed on its beauty, nor partook of its
bounty, for the axe was early laid at the
roots
Percy was justtwenty when he left Els
native village for the distant city--his
fathers house with its simple cheer, for
homeless abode among strangers; his
fond narcrtz and thas Triad. -friends If his
youth, and the sweet girl of his choice,
for the mixed multitude of the metrop-
oils.
Had you been there when the stage
coach stopped at the lane gate; had you
seen the serious faces of the neighbors
gathered dround-the aged mother, ,wiping
her streaming eyes; the feeble father, ut
tering his blessing; and Annie Collins,
Percy's sweetheart, rushing distracted.
ly into the house, you would almost have
thought that the same thing had never
happened before. They, at least, thought
so. The neighbors, as they walked home.
ward, said one to another that there were
not many nowadays, like Percy Howell
The old couple, returning to their fireside
wept to see his vacant chair, his lonely
dog, his empty place at table, and his
impressed pillow. Surely no other son
go dear had ever left home SO sorrow.
full
As for Annie Collins, she went back tc
her fathers cottage, and quietly dischar'
ged her daily duties. But whatever oc.
cupied her hand or heart, there flowed 6
constant under current of thought, and
Percy was its burden. "my Percy r
day, as if to assure her sad heart of its
blessed own ership.
During the journey, Percy, with eye.
on the lookout and ears on the alert, ant
with heart full of bright hopes and un
tried expectations, went joyfully on, anC
thought but little of the dear ones a
home.
Yet, when at nightfall, he found him
self in little hall room, containing
bed very suggestive of bier in its six
by-three dimensions and white covering
a washstand of iron, with ordinary &C
compartments, minus soap, one chair
and diminitive looking glass, he begar
to wish himself at home.
"Wh-e-wW said he, giving vent to
deep drawn breath. "Wonder how An
ME is isi-S'pose she's thinking about me
this very minute. 'Fraid father won
getalong with the outdoor work. Wisl
hadn't ha' comet Don't believe there.
fellow in New York that's got mother
like minei Wh-e-wi guess I'll look a
the newsr'
He had already seen everything of in
terest in the daily paper, but he caugh
itup and glanced over it to keep the mois
ture from gathering in his eyes. Run
ming down the columns, he chaneed upor
the amusements, and the following at
tracted his attention:
CLERKS, young men from the country
seeking employment, clergymen, the
judges ofthe various courts, policemen
and all officers of the law, should yisi
the Widegate Theatre to see "The Ole
Man of the Moor.'
WASN'T brought up to go to the thea
ter" thought Percy, reading it again.
Don't believe in it; but"
Aknock at the door. Instead of caIlins
"come in" as man does when he ha.
been six weeks in boarding house
Percy cautiously opened the door anc
peered out. A fine looking fellow, be-
side whom he had sat at the six O'Clock
dinner, said:
Beg pardon. AS you're stranger, J
thoughtyou might be lonely. wouldn't
You like to go out for a short stroll 7''
Percy was very grateful, and said a.