Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-06-01
THE STRANGE GUEST.

10 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 An
dcrson. She bad been left a widow,
with one son, tho youngest and last
of several promising children.
She was poor, and her industry was
taxed to the utmost to keep herself
and her son, who was fine clever
lad, and to give him the education he
ardendy desired AT the early age Of
sixteen, Malcolm Anderson resolved
to seek his fortune in the wide world,
and become a sailor. He made sever
al voyages to India and China, and al.
ways Ike the good boy that he was,
brought home some useful presents to
bis mother, to whom he gave large
portion of his earnings.
Bat he never liked u soafaring life,
though he grew strong and stalwari
in il and when about nineteen, he ob.
tained an humble position in n large
mercantile house in Calcutta, where
being shrewd, euterprising and honest,
like most Of his countrymen, he grad
ually rose TO place Of trust and i'm
portance, and finally 10 a partnership
As his fortune improved, his mothers
circumstances we're made easier He
RENTED money to secure to her the
Old cottage home, repaired and enlarg
ed with a garden and lawn and plac
ed at her command annually, a sun
sufficient to meet all her wants, and
TO pay the wages Of q faithful servant
or rather companions for the brisk
independent old lady stouuy refused
to be served by any one.
Entangled in business cares, Mr.
Anderson never found time and free
dom for n long voyage and a visit
home til at last, failing of health, anC
The necessity Of educating his children
compelled him TO abruptly wind NJ
his affairs and return to Scotland
lie was then a man somewhat over
forty, but looking far older than hi'
years, showing all the usual effects o
I the trying climate Of India. He wai
grey and somewhat bald, with her,
and there a dash of white in his darl
aubur1 beard was thin and a littl,
bent, bbt his youthful smile remained
| full OF iuiet drollery, and his eye hac
not loi all its old and glecful sparkl,
by poufing over ledgors and counting
rupees,
lie lad married a country woman
daughter OF a Scotch sugeon, an,
had two children, son and daugh
er. lie did not write TO his mother
that 10 was comming home, as b,
wished to sarprise her, and test be-
momory Of her sailor boy. The voy
age was made in safety,
One summer afternoon, Mr.. Nal
com Anderson arrived with his fami
lly at bis native town. Putting up a
a litua inn, he proceeded TO dros
himsclfin a suit of sailor clothes an,
then walked out alone by a by.patl
he well knew, and then through
shady lane dear to his young, hazel
nutng days all strangely unchanged
he approached his mothers cottage
Hestopped for n moment on the lawl
outside to curb down the heart tha
/ was bounding TO meet that mother
I and clear his ewes ola sudden mist O
happy tears. Through the open win
don he caughta glimpse Of her sit
| ting alone az her spinning wheel, a
in The old time. But alas how chang
ed Bowed was the old dear foru
( once so eroct, and silvorcd the lock
so brown, and dimmed the eyes ono
so iull OF tender brightness, like dew
stained violcts. But the voice, wit
Which she was grooming softly to hei
sell, was still sweet, and there was o
herchock the same lovely peach-blooI
of twenty years ago.
Mlength he knocked and the dea
. remembered voice called 30 hin
B "Coom ben 90 (comc in) The wido'
rose at sight ofthe stranger and cour
/ cously offered him q chair Thanl
. ing her in an assumed voice som
i what gruff he sank down, as thong
woaricd, saying that he was a wa.
farcr, stranger to the country, az
3 asked the way TO the next town I'll
twilight fsvorcd him in his little rusl
}, he saw she did not recognize hin
b. even as one she had ever known b
{ after giving him tho information |
desired, she asked him il he was
& Scotohman by birth.
ayes, madam" be replied, "but
have been away in foreign parts mai
!. years. l doubt il my own moth
would know me now, although d
was vorv fond Of mo before / wonf