Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-01-28
Aiscellamu.
From the Home Journal.
An Old Mans Story.
BY MERYL MASON.

Z .
John Dane obeyed, and soon the rud-
dy blaze sprang up, and lit the pleasant
room with bright cheerful glow.
81 like this" said Uncle John, draw
ing his chair nearer the blazing hearth,
and sinking back in its easy depths. at
reminds me of old times, when all We
youngsters gathered around the huge old
fashioned fireplace, and watched the
great hickory log, as it cracked and
famed, aud we told stories and ehatted
merrily, while it stormed and clustered
without just as it does tonight. But
things are different now," he went on,
taking his well-smoked pipe from his
mouth "you have stoves, furnaces, and
steam in these days, but nothing so pleas
ant or endearing as the CHEEKY freplaces
of long ago.
1t was bleak, freezing night; the
snow whirled and drifted before the driv-
ing shrieking wind, but within all was
warm and cheerful, and Uncle John and
| had come up stairs to have quiet
smoke, while the sound of merry voices
reached us from below. | was indulging
in fine Havana, and Uncle John was
enjoying his pipe. "Cigars and meer-
schaums for the present age, but for me
my old clay pipe" he said, as he relin-
pushed it.
at is my birthday he resume d,
thoughtfully; "and | am seventy to-day
-three-score years and ten; a good old
age, John! Comparatively few attain II.
/ have lived along time and seen great
deal but there is nothing so vivid to
me, nor SO real, as the scenes and events
of my youth and early manhood
81 think, as we near the grave and
approach the shadows of the world be-
yond, the memories of childhood and
youth return to us more forcibly than
those of later years
"They come all back to me again, those
long-past days, and the dear familiar
forms of those [ loved so we'll. They
seem to return from the mysterious land,
not phantomlke, but real, and | hear
their voices, and see them as they were
then, and yet, John, they are dead and
gone years ago"
The old man leaned his fine snowy
haired head on his hand, and gazed
dreamily into the fire.
Seventy years. he said, low, as if to
himself, "and she died over forty years
ago"
John" he spoke suddenly, "did you
ever hear the story of my life? of that
which made me, once domestic, home
loving man, rover over the earth y
| knew there was some painful episode
in his life, but what it was we children
knew not, and it often excited our won
derment Now I was to hear the ex
planation.
"You know" he continued. 'that there
we're four of US children; there was youl
father, a handsome, light-hearted lad
and sweet sister Emmy, studious anc
sanity, and pretty babe May, beside my
self /, being the eldest, was very proud
of my seniority and my position at ouI
busy country school, as one of the "biG
boys : but more than all, as the acknowl
edged and favored admirer of lovely
winsome Lucy Nelson.
"Father was rich, for those times, anC
we had such pleasant home. How wei
| remember the snowy winter evenings
when we sat around the fire, Lucy among
us, for she was near neighbor and be
ing about the same age as Emmy, the,
were intimate friends. Oh, my boy w
were indeed merry, happy household
81 love to linger over those days, err
death and change came to mar thei
happiness; but it saddens me to thinl
of them, all is so changed.
"But to go on with my story. Luc.
was an only child, beautiful and winning
She was admired by every one. Ha,
she possessed less sweet disposition, o
lacked good common sense, she woul'
have been spoiled child but, fortunate
ly, she was endowed with both, and SC
matured into a noble, intelligent woman
There are few like her now, SO sensibl
and 50 womanly.
II do not remember the time | di
not love Lucy. The sentiment gre'
with my growth. From my boyhood
re looked upon her as my future wife, an
she tacitly acquiesced in my claim.
$50 when l entered college, the al
nouncement of our engagement was r'
ceived with surprise by no one.
FINALLY, l graduated, and a fine OF
portinity offering, engaged in lucr:
tive business in the city. The city bein
); but short distance from our residenc'
l usually went home evenings, and a
ways found Lucy waiting for me.
CAS- my business was prosperous,