The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-07-27

His complexion was sullow brown; he
was gray and somewhat bald, with here
and there Il dash of white in his dark
auburn beard he was thin and II little
bent. but his youthful smile remained full
of quiet drollcry, and his eye had not lost
its bright lustre and gleelul sparkle by
poring over ledgers aud counting dollars.
He had married a countrywoman, the
daughter Of Scotch surgeon, and had
two children, a son and daughter. lie
did not write to his mother that he was
coming home, as he wished to surprise her
and test her memory Of her sailor boy.
The voyage was made in safety
One summer afternoon, Mr.. Malcom
Anderson arrived with his family at his
native town Putting up at Il little inn,
he proceeded to dress himself in suit Of
sailor clothes and then walked out alone.
By by path he well knew, and then
through 4 shady lane, dear to youug,hazel-
nutting days, all strangely unchanged, he
approached hi, mothers cottage. lie
stopped for a few moments on the lawn
outside. 10 curb down the heart that was
bounding to meet that mother and clear
hi. eyes Of sudden uia, Of happy tears
Through the window he caught a glimpse
of her sitting alone at her spinning wheel,
a. in the oldrn time. But alas how
changed Bowed was the dear form, once
80 erect and silvered the locks once so
/ brown and dimmed the eye once 80 full
Of tender brightness, like the dew-stained
yiolcts But the voice with which She
was grooming softly to herself, was still
sweet and there was on her cheek the
same lively peach blossom twenty Years
ago.
At length he knocked, and the dear re-
membered voice called to him, Coon
ben" (comc in The widow rose at the
sight Of the stranger and courteously of
fered him chair Thanking her in an
assumed voice, somewhat gruti, he sank
down Az though weary saying that he was
a wayialer a straneeI to the country
and asking the way to the next town
The twilight favored hm in his little ruse
he saw she did not recognize HIM, even a>
one she had ever known But after giv-
ing him the information he desired she
asked Hmm # he wa. Scotchman h\
birth
Yes. madam. he replied but | hay,
been away in oreion nnts many wears
| doubt if my mother would know me
now THOUGH She wa. ven, fond Of me be
fore went 10 sea-
An. mon it'- little &, ken tboot NTH
e, l- oin ye think .,e can tell ye ther,
i M mortal memory like theirs, ia,
widow somewhat WARMLY rephed AN,
then added And where haze Sc beeu "a,
lone a time. that y,. haze lost the Scotch
fra your speech;
In lndia-in Calcutta, madam.
= All then its quite likely ye ken some
. thing of my son. NV Malcolm Anderson J.!
ANDERSON repeated the visitor. Il
thouoh t,yinp to remember There ma,
/ be- many Of the name in Calcutta but i
& Your son rich merchant i man abou
- my ace and .in.. with something such
r fgure head?
, NV son is q rich merchant. but he /
r younger than you bv many year, an,
- begging YOUR pardon, sir, far BONNER. IL
- is tall and straight. vi hands and feet lik
|, Il las.ie'- he has brown curling hair, sa
thick and glossy and checks like tn
Z rose. and brow ike the snaw. and hi.
t blue cen, vi a clint in them. like tn
e lipht in the evening star. Ma! ma! y,
o are a guid enough body, | dinna doubt
n and Il decent woman's son.
L Here the masquerading merchant con
;, Sderably taken down, made movcmen
n as though to leave, but the hosptabl
: dame stayed him, saying, Gin yc ha
t travelled the way fra India ye maun b.
= tired and hungry. Bide a Bit and ea
., and drink wi us. Margery, come dow
t, aud let us set on the supper
:, The two women provided quite tempt
s ing repa.t, and they all :hree sat down t
: it, Mrs. Anderson ieryently asked bless
l. ine But the merchant could not eat
70 He was onl, hungry for his mothers Kiss
Is, only thirsty for her joyful recognition
d yet he could not bring himself to say to her
h i am your SON. lIe asked himself hal
n grieyed, half amused, Where are the un
I erring natural instincts have read abou
i in poetry and novels? !?
. His hostess seeing he did not eat, ,kindl
e asked if he could suggest anything h
would be likely to relish i thank You
madam he answered it does seem to M
r that | should like some oatmeal porlide,
such as my mother used to make II 20
d have any
folrdge repeated the widow Al
ye mean parnich Yes We hae 'h'tl
leit from our dinner U' 1t Nagery
But, mon, lls eauld.
It Never mInd' know shall like 1t
II he 'eJolned' taking the boWl'and heg'nnIn
Ia to sllr the polridgc with hls spoon. y
e he did 20 Mr.. Anderson gave 7llgt
# start, and bent eagerly toward hnn The