Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-12-02
THE UNEXPECTED SON.

lily at his native town. Putting up
atthe little inn he proceeded to dress
himself in a suit Of sailor clothes,
and then walked out alone. By a
by.path he well knew, and through
a shady lane, dear to his young,
hazel-nutting days, all strangely un-
changed, he approached his moth
ers cottage. He stopped for mo.
ment on the lawn outside, TO curb
down the heart that was bounding
to meet that mother, and to clear
his eyes Of sudden mist of happy
tears. ThroDgh the open window
he caught glimpse of her, sitting
alone at her spinning wheel, as in
the old time. But alas, how chang
ed Bowed was the dear form,
once so erect, and dimmed the eyes,
once so full Of tender brightness,
like the dew.stained violets. But
the voice, with which she was Groom
ing softly to herself, was still sweet,
and there was on her cheek the
same lovely peach-bloom of twenty
years ago.
At length he knocked, and the
dear remembered voice called to
| him in the simple, old-fashioned
way,-"Coo ben" (come in. -
The widow rose at sight of a
stranger, and courteously offered
him a chair. Thanking her in an
assumed voice, somewhat gruf, he
sank down, as though wearicd, say
ling that he was a wayfarer, strange
to the country, and asking the way
to the next town. The twilight fa-
vored him in his little ruse he saw
that she did not recognize him even
as one she had ever seen. But af-
ter giving him the information he
desired, she asked him if he was a
Scotchman by birth. "Yes, mad
am" he replied "but l have been
away in foreign parts many years.
| | doubt if my own motaer would
/ know me now, though she was very
| fond of me before went to sea-"
"Ah, mon it's little We ken about
mithers, gin We think soc. ! can
tell We there is no mortal memory
like theirs" the widow somewhat
warmly replied then added-"And
where hae ye been for sac long a
time, that We hae lost a the Scotch
fra your speech p
"In lndia--in Calcutta, madam. "
can, then, it's likely ye ken
something O. my son, Mr.. Malcom
Anderson' 'g
"Anderson," repeated the visit
or as though striving to remom-
Der. "There be many ofthat name
in Calcutta; but is your son a rich
merchant, and a man about my
size and age, with something such
a fgure-head.
"My son is a rich merchant" re-
piled the widow, proudly, "but he
is younger than you by many a
year, and begging pardon, sir,
far BONNER. He is tall and straight,
wi hands and feet like a lassie's
he had brown, curling hair, sac
thick and glossy! and cheeks like
the rose, and brow like the snaw,
and the blue cen, wi CLINT in them
like the light of the evening star!
Ma, ma, ye are no like my Malcom,
though ye are a guide enough body
| dinna doubt, and a decent wo-
mans SON."
Here the masquerading merchant, |
considerably down, made a move
ment as though to leave, but the
hospitable dame stayed him, say
ing: "Gin ye hae travelled a the |
way fra India, We maun be tired and |
hungry, Bide a bit, and eat and
drink WI us, Margery come down
and let us set on the supper"
The two women soon provided
quite tempting repast, and they
all three sat down to it-Mrs. An
derson reverently asking bless
ing But the merchant could not
eat. He was only hungry for his
mothers kisses-only thirsty for
joyful recognition; yet he could |
not bring himself to say to her, Il
am your SON." He asked himself, |
half grieved, half amazed, "Where |
are the unerring natural instincts l
have read about in poetry and nov
els ?"
His hostess, seeing that he did
not eat, kindly asked if he could
suggest anything he would be like
ly to relish. ''lt does seem to me
that l should like some oat- meal
porridge, such as my mother used
to make, if so be you have any
"Porridge ?" repeated the wild
ow. "Ah, ye mean parritch. Yes,
we hae a little left frse our dinner.
Gle it to him, Margery. But, mon,
it is cauld."
"Neyer mind I know shall like
it," he rejoined, taking the bowl,
and beginning to stir the porridge
with a spoon. AS he did so, Mrs.
Anderson gave a slight start, and
leaned eagerly towards him. Then
she sank back in her chair with a
sigh, saying, in answer to his ques-
tioning look
aye minded of my Malcom then,
lust in that way he used to stir his
parritch-gieing it whirl and flirt-
All gin ye 0ere my Malcom, my
poor laddieP p
"Weel, then gin I'cere your Nal
CON-" said the merchant, speaking
for the first time in the Scottish di-
alect, and in his own voice, cor gin
your Draw young Malcom were as