The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-05-23

thing. It's like taking a meal to a
ghost, that it is.
You might do better than poke up
old stories about as bad a young scamp
as ever lived to disgrace an honest
family" retorted the old cook, who
was sharp in her temper "and as to
ghosts, there are plenty O. ghosts every
where, for them as has sense to see
'em, Peter, but don't think you need
be afeared.
Meanwhile another Norham trades
man had dropped into the coffee-room,
and Peter, in the intervals of his at
tendance, chatted with them in cheer
ful equality, wherein the sole line of
social distinction lay in his remaining
standing while they were seated.
''Real Christmas weather this" said
Mr.. Johnston.
"But N9rham's very dull, " answered
Mr.. Lee.
"They're a dead-and-alive set of peo-
pie, now-the Norhamites," said Mr..
Johnston, who was one himself, and
would allow nobody else to abuse
them. cit used to be different in my
young days. remember it was quite
gay, what with the oxen roasting to be
given in charity, and the puddings
boiling for the same, and everybody
that was any ways connected with the
church-and everybody seemed to be in
those days-invited to tea in the town
hall. And usedn't there to be fine ca
rol singing through the streets And
rare Christmas sermons he used to
preach, the old rector that was, in my
young days"
''Ah, that was Mr.. ROgerson," put in
Peter, directing his thumb toward the
open door. Give Just been showing
that gent that bit of an old sketch up
agin the wall. He broke the good old
gentleman's heart, that young scamp
did
"Ah, yes, and did a deal of harm to
NOrham every way" pursued Mr..
Johnston; "we've never had a lively
Chr. .stmas since I remember the first
after his going OF. What could people
do when they knew there was nothing
but misery in the rec!ory house? The
town kept just as quiet as ever it could,
andi couldn't do less every Christmas
after, during the rector's days. And so
it got out of the good old ways"
'PoOr young Rogerson," Said old
Lee. "I used to think there was
something good in the young fellow,
for all his wildness, and I always hoped
he'd right himself, till he went and did
that wiclzedness that set man against
! him, as we'll as God
81 don't know about good or not"
persisted Mr.. Johnston, 'sb but I know
it took years and years before his sis
ter Mary looked up again. Only at
last, as time began to thicken over the
/ tender spots o grief and shame she
kind of took heart. Says she once to
my dear wife that's dead, Mrs. John
stOn, our poor Dick was the child of
many prayers, and I've faith God will
keep hold of him. And then she took
fancies that he was dead. And I no.
ticed she was happier-like after that
just as one breathes freer in house af-
ter the dearest corpse is buried As for
poor Tom Rogerson, his brother ruined
him for this life, any way. Maybe he
needn't but poor Mr.. Tom was awful
proud and sensitive. Miss Mary, she
told my wife that her brother Tom said
he'd never ask people to trust him, be-
cause he couldn't expect they would.
after his brothers ways, and he wouldn't
lay himself open to be half trusted and
watched, and suspected all the time.
And SO, he that was SO clever, STAYED
poor under-clerk all the rest of his davs.
and has left his poor widow Just to
struggle on and get what places she
can for her boys. Such pretty, dain-
ty miss, as she used to be, and now
she's wearing an old rusty silk that's
been turned and turned till she's for
gotten which is its real right side. I
should think what their uncle did
won't go against my sons, Mr.. John
stOn,' she said only the other day
Bless you, Mrs. Tom, says I, half
the town people are new since then.
I'm always so afraid he'll come back, >
says she; I'm sure I don't wish him
not to repent, says she, I always hoped
he would-but can't help thinking Of
my own, and for their sakcs, I'd rather
h came back The more pen
itent he is the mole he'll stay away,
ma'am, says L 1T isn't as if the whole
story was above ground still, and he'd
only got to be forgiven and all would
go we'll, but there's some that's dead
that died in wrath and bitterness with
sthers for his sake. Look at poor old
Mrs. ROgersOn-hOw she turned against
Mr.. Tom, good, dutifuI son as he was,
because he wouldn't stay by Mr.. Dick
through thick and thin, and defend him
as if he we're innocent. Poor, dear old
lady, she knows better where she's been
this many a day. But Mr.. Dick had
better wait to ask your forgiveness till
he can ask hers too You forgive him,
ma am, says I and that's enough for
you, but I maintain that he'd have no
right to come disturbing your mind to
ease his own
"There was one that would have
been glad to see him, had he returned
in ever so much shame and misery, 50
said kindly old Mr. Lee.
Gay, ay," chimed Peter; q know
who you mean. You know she was on
the charity-school committee, and when
the lection board met here, she always