Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-01-05

| sight of the stranger and courteously of
| fered him chair. Thanking her in an
assumed voice. somewhat gruf. he sank
down, as though wearied, saying that he
was wayfarer. stranger to the country.
and asked the way to the next town. The
twilight favored him in his little ruse; he
saw she did not recognize him, even as
one she had ever known. But after Civ
ling him the information be desired, she
asked him if he was Scotchman by birth.
Eyes, madam. f" be replied. "but have
been away in foreign parts many years.
I doubt if my own mother would know me
now. although she was very fond Of me
before went to sea.
"Ah, mon its little ye ken about mith-
ers, gin ye think sac. | can tell ye there
| is ma mortal memory like theirs" the wi
dow somewhat warmly replied; then add
ed: "And where hae ye lost the Scotch
fra your speech 2"
''In India-in Calcutta, madam .
"And then its likely ye ken something
of my son, Mr.. Malcolm Anderson.
Anderson r repeated the visitor, as
though striving to remember. There
may be many of that name in Calcutta !;
but is8 pr son richs merchant. pan
- age and 81; Eing
my son is rich merchant. replied
the widow proudly, ''but he is younger
than you by many long year, and, beg
ging your 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 snow. and big
blue cen, wi CLINT 10 them. like the light
of the evening star. Ma! ma! ye are a
guild bog,I dinna doubt. and a decent
woman's son. Here the masquerading
merchant, considerably taken down, made
a movement as though to leave, but the
hospitable dame staying him. .'Gin ye
hae travelled a. the way from 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
tempting repast, and they all three sat
down to it. Mrs, Anderson reverently ask
ing blessing But the merchant could
not eat. He was only hungry for his
mothers kisses. only thirsty for her joy
full recognition; yet he could not bring
himself to say to her, II am your son."
He asked himself half grieved, half a.
unused. Where are the unerring natural
instincts | have read about in novels"
His hostess, seeing he did not eat, kind
ly asked if he could suggest anything be
would be likely to relish. Il thank you,
madam" he answered, ''it does seem to
me that I should like some oat meal por-
ridge. such as my mother used to make.
if SO be yeu have any" ti
'sPorridge?" ?" repeated the widow
"Ah, he means paritch. Yes. we hae
little left from our dinner. Gle it to him,
Margery. But, mon. guess it is cauld." I"
Never mind. I know shall like it, y
he reioined,, taking the bowl, and begin
ming to stir the porridge with his spoon.
As he did so. Mrs. Anderson gave start
and bent eagerly toward him. Then she
sank back in her chair with sigh, say
ing, in answering to his questioning look:
eye mind me o my MALCOLM. then
just in that way he used to stir his paritch
-gieing it whirl and firt. Ah !! gin
ye were my Malcolm, my poor ladder
''Well, then. gin I were your NAL
colin" ;" said the merchant. speaking for
the first time in the Scottish dialect, and
in his own voice 'or gin your Draw
young Malcolm were as brown, and bald
and grey and bent as old as am, could
you welcome him to your arms and love
him i'm as 10 the dear auld lang syne? Gould