Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1869-04-30

He asked himself half grieved, half a
mused, "Where are the unerring natura
instincts I have read about in poetry and
novels"
His hostess, seeing he did not eat, kind
ly asked if he could suggest anything ht
would be likely to relish. II thank you
madam" he answered, sit does seem tt
me that I should like some oatmeal por.
ridge, such as my mother used to make
| if so be you have any,"
"Porridge?" repeated the widow
"Ah, We mean parritch. Yes, we hae 8
little left fra our dinner. Gle it to him
Margery. But. mon, it's cauld."
"Never mind. know I shall like it,
he rejoined, taking the bowl, and begin
ming to stir the porridge with his spoon
AS he did SO, Mrs. Anderson gave sligh
start, and bent, eagerly toward him. Their
she sank back in her chair with sigh
saying, in answer to his questioning look
"Ye minded me O my Malcolm then
just in that way he used to stir his par
ritch gieing it whirl and a firt. Ah
gin ye were my Malcolm, my poor lad
die p
"Well. then, gin I were your Nal
colm,'' said the merchant. speaking fo1
the first time in the Scotch dialect, and il
his own voice ''or gin yer Draw young
Malcolm were as brown, and bald, anc
gray, and bent, and auld as I am, coulc
you welcome him to your arms, and love
him as in the dear auld lang syne? Coule
you mither?''
All through this touching little speech
the widows eye had been glistening, ano
her breath coming fast; but at that wore
"mither," she sprang up with glad cry
and tottering to her son. fell almost faint
ing on his breast. He kissed her agair
and again; kissed her brow, and her lips
her hands, and while the big tears slic
down his bronzed cheeks, while she clung
about his neck and called him by all the
dear old pet names. and tried to see ir
him all the dear old young looks. By
and by they came back, or the ghosts o.
them came back. The form in her em.
brace grew comlier; love and joy gave il
a second youth, stately and gracious ; the
first she then and there buried deep in
her heart-a sweet, beautiful, peculiar
memory. 1t was moment of solemn re.
nunciation, in which she gave up the fond
maternal illusion she had cherished sc
o9g ;avv Thsa 1av l19king gg suddenly @ y int int
taken its place, she asked:
"Where hae ye left the wife and BARNS.
Malcolm p
''At the inn, mother Have you room
for US all at the cottage p
Indeed have-two good spare rooms
wi large closets, weel stocked wi linen ]
hae been spinning Or weaving a these
lang years for ye bath and the weans."
"Well, mother dear, now must rest, .
said the merchant tenderly.
INA, ma, [ dinna care to rest till ye lay
me down ia tax my lang rest. There'l]
be time enough between that day and the
resurrection to fauld my hands in idleness.
Now 'swould be unco irksome. But 60,
my son, and bring me the wife-I hope
[ shall like her; and the bairns-I hope
they will like me-" a
l have only to say that both the good
woman's hopes were realized. A very
happy family knelt down in prayer that
night, aud many nights after, in the wid.
ow's cottage, whose climbing roses and
woodbines were but outward signs and
types of the sweetness and blessedness oi
the love within. ...,...,. ...s ,g.s