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

GlOugu ue grew otiou9 duu oCdlWdit III IL,
and when about nineteen. he obtained a
humble position in large mercantile
house in Calcutta, where, being shrewd,
enterprising and honest, like most of his
countrymen. he gradually rose to place
of trust and importance, and finally to a
partnership. As his fortune improved,
his mothers circumstances were made
much easier. He remitted money enough
to her to secure to her the old cottage
home, repaired and enlarged, with gar
den and lawn; and placed at her COM
mand, annually, sum sufficient to meet
all her wants and to pay the wages of a
faithful servant, or rather companion; for
the brisk, independent old lady stoutly
refused to be served by any one
Entangled in business cares, Mr.. An
derson never found time and freedom for
the long voyage and visit home; till at
last, failing health and the necessity Of
educating his children, compelled him to
abruptly wind up his affairs and return to
Scotland. He was then a man somewhat
over forty, but looking far older than his
years, showing all the usual i'll effects of
the trying climate Of India. His com
plexion was sallow brown he was gray
and somewhat bald. with here and there
dash of white, in his dark auburn beard;
he was thin and little bent. but his
youthful smile remained full of quiet drol-
Ilery, and his eye had not lost all its bright
lustre and gleeful sparkle by poring over
ledgers and counting runces.
He had married country woman. the
daughter Of Scotch surgeon, and had
two children, son and daughter He
did write to his good 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.. Malcolm
Anderson arrived with his family at his
native town. Putting up at the 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 shady lane, dear to his young.
hazel-nutting days. all strangely unchang-
ed. he approached his mothers cottage.
He stopped for few moments on the lawn
outside, to curb down the heart that was
bounding to meet that mother and clear
his eyes Of a sudden mist of happy tears.
Through the open window he caught a
glimpse of her sitting clone at her spin
-.a--
alas how changed! Bowed was the dear
form, once so erect. and silvered the locks
once so brown, and dimmed the eye once
so full of tender brightness. like the dew
stained 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 blossom of
twenty years ago.
At length he knocked, and the dear re-
membered voice called to him, Coon
benp' (come in.) The widow rose at
Isight of the stranger, and courteously of
fered him chair. Thanking her in an
assumed voice, somewhat gruff, he sank
down, as though wearied, saying that he
was wayfarer, stranger 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 one she had ever known. But
after giving him the information he desir-
ed, she asked him if he was Scotchman
by birth
Eyes, madam" he replied; "but l
have been away in foreign parts many
years l doubt if my own mother would
know me now, though she was very fond
of me before [ went to sea-
"Ah, mon it's little ye ken aboot mith-
ers, gin ye think sac. I can tell ye there
! is ma mortal memory like theirs, the wi
dow somewhat warmly replied then add
ed-"And where hae ye been for sac lang
time, that ye hae lost the Scotch fra in
your speech p
''In Inda-in Calcutta, madam"
"Ah, then it's likely ye ken something
of my son, my Malcolm Anderson 2"
Anderson p repeated the visitor. as
though striving to remember. ''There
may be many of the name in Calcutta ;
but is your son rich merchant. man a.
bout my age and size, with something
such figure head p
my son is, rich merchant" replied
the widow. proudly, "but he is younger
than you by many year ago, and, beg
ging your pardon. sir. far BONNER. He
is tall and straig ght, WI hands and feet
like lassie's; he had brown curling hair;
sac thick and glossy and cheeks like the
rose, and brow like the snaw, and big
blue cen, wi CLINT in them, like the
light in the evening star. Ma! ma! ye
are guild enough body, I dinna doubt,
and decent woman's son."
Here the masquerading merchant, con-
siderably taken down, made movement
as thou gh to leave, but the hospitable
dame stayed him, saying. ''Gin ye hae
travelled a the way fra India, ye maun be
tired and hungry Bide bit, and eat
and drink wi us. Margery, come down,
and let US set on the supper
The two women soon provided quite a
tempting repast, and they all three sal
down to it, Mrs. Anderson revcrently
asked a blessing. But the merchant
could not eat. He was only hungry fol-
his mothers kisses, only thirsty for her
joyful recognition; yet he could not bring