The weekly standard., 1869-10-27
!, The Strange re Guest.

In q little post town among the Highlands
Of Scotland, far away from any great city,
there lived, few years ago, woman much
respected and well-beloved, though of lowly
and humble fortune-one Mrs Jean Ander-
son She had been leit a widow, with one
son, the youngest and last Of fseyerai promis-
She was poor dndher industry was taxed
to the utmost to keep herself and her. son,
who was a fine clever lad, and to give him
the education he. ardently desired. AT the
early age of sixteen, Malcolm Anderson re-
solved to seek his fortune in the wide world,
and become sailor. He made several voy-
ages to India and China, and always, like
the good boy, he was, brought home some
useful present to his mother, to whom he
gave large portion of his earnings.
But he never liked a seafsring life, though
he grew strong and stalysut in 1t; and when
about nineteen, he obtained humble posi-
ton in large mercantile house in Calcutta,
where being shrewd, enterprising and hon
est, like most of his countrymen, he grad
ually rose to place of trust and importance,
and finally to partnership. As his fortune
improved, his mothers circumstances; were
made easier. He remiited money 10 secure
her the old cottage home, repaired and en-
larged- with a garslen- and lawn ;-aRd- placed.
at her command, annually, a sum sufficient
to meet all her wants, and to pay the wages
of fairhfui servant nr rather companion
for the brisk, independent old lady stoutly
refused to be served 10y any one. -,ea ia
Entangled in business cares, Mr.. Ander-
son never found time and freedom for
long voyage and visit home; TIL at last,
failing Of health, aud the necessity Of eduea-
ting bis children, compelled him to abrupt
ly wind up his business and return to Scot.
land. He was then man somewhat over
forty, bat looking far older than his years,
showing all the effects of the trying climate
of India He was grey and somewtat bald,
with here and there q dash of white in bis
dark auburn beard as-thin -znf a little
bent, but his youthful smile remained full of
quiet drollery and his eye bad not lost all OF
its old and gleciui sparkle by porting over
ledgers and counting rupees 6, 4-la sal
He had married a country woman, tile
daughter of a scotch surgeon, and had two
ehildren,a son aadia daughter. He did
not write to his good mother that he was
coming home as ne wished to surprise her.
and test her memory of her sailor boy. The
voyage was made in safety. 80 80. -, &
10 One summer afternoon Mr. Malcom An
derson arrived with his family at his natiye
town Putting up at little inb. he pro-
ceeded to dress himself IN a suit Of sailor
clothes and then walked out alone by BY
path he well knevs and then through
shady lane Dear to his young, hazie nutting
days all strangely unchanged, heApproached
his mothers cottage. he stopped for q mo-
ment on the lawn outside TO curb down the
heart that was bounding to- meet that
mother and cleaE his eyes of sudden mist
ofhappy tears. Through the open window
he caught glimpse of her sitting alone at
her spinning wheel, as in the old time. But
alas how changed Bowed was the cid
dear forfa, once So erect and silvezed the
locks 81 brown and tlimmed the eyes once
so full Of tender brightness, like dew-stain
ed violets. But the voice, with which she !
was grooming softls to herself, was still
sweet, and .here was on her cheek the saIne
lovely peach-bloom Of twenty years ago. y
Atilength he knocked, and the dear re- i
membered voice called toh him. sCoom ben y
come in The widow rose at sight ofthe
strsnger and courteonsiy offered HIM chair.
Thanking her in an assumed voice some
what gruf he sank down, as though wea-
ried, saying that be was wayfarer, strar-
ger 70 the country, and asked the way to
the next tbEns The tEiEsbt favored him
in bis little rnse be saw that she did not
recognize him, even as one she had ever
known Bot after giving him the iniorma-
ton be desired, she asked Sim If he was
Scotchnan by birth - e '-s f-li
ssYes, MADAM, be replied, but l have
been away in foreign parts many years. / \
doubt II my own mother would knew me
now, thoughshe wss very fond Of me before
went 10 sea. 49, a = s5------ si ii.1z 81
T. 9. All, mon its little We kea about mithers
gin ye think sea. cam tell We there Is na
aortal memory Ike theirs the widow
somewhat wsrmlJ replied: then added
And where hae ye lost the Scotch fra your
speech r. 80 $50
In India-in cAlcstta, madam -
9 sAh, then it's likeiy ye ken something of
my son, Mr. Nalcom Anderson,.', -,
= Z Anderscnf repeated 'the visitor. as tho
striving 70 remember. $ There may be many
of that name IL Calcqtta-hut IS your son . !
rieh merchant, d man about ny see and Size
with something such q fgureheaJ e
: Ny son Is rich merchant replied the
widow proudly, Hbut he is younger than y.u
by many long yesf, and, begging yopF par
don, sir, far BONNER he IS tai. and straight
VII hands and fest like > lassie's; be had
hspsp. enflise aaiF csc thick sRd glossy