American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-01
VOL. XXIII.
the old rector that was in my young

|
"Ah. yes, and did deal of harm t
Norham every way" pursued Mr.. Johns
ton: ''wc've never had lively Christina
since: l remember the first after his &c
ing off. What could people do when the,
knew there was nothing but misery ii
the rectory hoHse9 The town just KEEP
as quiet as ever it could, and it couldn'
do less every Christmas after, during tn
old rector's days. And SO it got out o
the good old ways"
| ''Poor young Rogerson," said old Mr.
Lee. 81 used to think there was some
thing good in the young fellow for all hi
wIidness. and l always hoped he'd righ
| himself, till he went and did that wicked
ness that set man against him, as well a;
God."
II don't know about good or not per.
sisted Mr.. Johnston, .'but know that il
took years and years before his sister
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. Johnston, 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 l noticed she was happier
like after that-just as one breathes freer
in house after the dearest corpse is
buricI. As for poor Tom ROgerson, his
sr0ther ruined him for this life anyway.
Maybe he needn't, but poor Mr.. Tom was
awful proud and sensitive. Miss Mary,
she told my wife that her brother Tom
because he couldn't expect they would,
after his brothers ways, and he wouldn't
lay himself open to be halftrusted,
and watched, and suspected all the time.
And so, he that was SO clever stayed a
poor undcr-clerk all the rest of his days,
and has LETT his poor widow just to srrug
gle on and get what places she can f1 her
bows. Such a pretty, dainty miss as she
used to be, and now she's wearing an old
rusty silk that's been turned and turned
till she's forgotten which is its real
right side. Il should think what their
uncle did won't go against my sons, Mr..
Johnston, she said only the other day.
Bless you, Mrs. Tom,' says 1, half the
tewn-people are new since then.' I'm
always so afraid he'll come back says
she; Pm sure l don't wish him not to
says she, Il always hoped he
would-but 1 can't help thinking of my
own, and for their sakes, I'd rather he
never came back sThe more peni-
tent he is, the more 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
well, but there's some that's dead that
for his sake. Look at poor old Mrs. Rog-
ersOn-hOw she turned against Mr.. Tom,
good dutiful son as he was, because he
stay by Mr.. Dick through thick
and thin. and defend him as if he were in
nocent. Poor dear old lady, she knows
better where she's been this many day.
But Mr.. Dick had better wait to ask your
forgive him, ma'am,' says l, and that's
enough for you, but maintain that he'd
have no right to come disturbing your
mind to ease his Own.'"
Sc There was one that would have been
glad to see him, Lad he returned in ever
such shame and misery" said kindly old
Mr.. Lee.
-" Aye, aye" chimed Peter; g know
who you mean. You know she was on
he charity school committee, and when
he lection board met here, she always
ust stepped in yOnder and took look ut
hat rum picture on the wall. She never
thought saw her. She never thought
nobody was looking at her. My old
says she always walked reg
liar among them green avenues by
he old abbey. where she used to
walk with Mr.. Dick when he was court
ng of her. May be she thought he'd be |
'ure to go there, if ever he'd come back" |
AT that instant the stranger came sud- |
lenly out of the brown closet, crossed the |
left the house, and walked |
Up the street towards the main quarter of |
he town.
That stranger knew a little boy who |
lad attended many n service in that cathe-
by its sweet music, wonder
ng at its white-rObed chOristers. The
title boy had known every face on the
Iuaint gargOyles of the ancient chapter
louse, and with child-like familiarity he
lad given a name to each one of those con-
orted countenances. That little boy,
nuffied in black weepers, had stood be
ide an open grave right under the great
vest window, and listened to a funeral
ervice over little sister. The stranger
vent to seek that little grave-went
traight to it without one mistaken step.
But it is not a little grave any more, for
Inder the name of ''Amy ROgerson, aged
our" is written 'sAlso the Rev. Richard
father of the above, aged seven
y. Also his wife Amelia, aged sixty
line. Also their son Thomas, aged for
y-eight.''
Oh, little sister, who went so long be-
ore, how much did you know of earth
While you were growing up in heaven
Vas not your father very glad on the day
Vhen he entered rest and joined the fold
d lamb of happier times? Oh, little sis
err! is there any look on the face on an
NIGEL, whose human heart was broken?
old tomb, and looked around. There
1as another grave which that little boy
ad knOwn-tIIe family grave of that lit
e boys playfellOw, the Herons. But
ne stranger knew that he could
OF find that grave in the twi-
ght, though he could have found the
ray to their house in the utter darkness!
He crossed the Cathedral Square, and
sued out on Norman High Street. The
hons yverf. hrjOhf with Christmas oOo1S | ,
nd busy with Christmas trade.
There was little, thin, sharp-loOking
-idow, with boy on one side and girl
n the other, gazing intently into the best {
raper's shop. The stranger stood still
hen he first saw them, and then he went s
p slowly and stood behind them. |;
" It's no good wasting our time, Mar s
ey," said the mother, "for we can't af-
'rd to buy anything"
" But looking doesn't spend mamma" S
loaded Margey, land I'd like to plan :
hat I'd give you if could, mamma, and s
, choose what | should like you to give
le. There, you should have that beauti- I
II thick black silk, and it should be made -,
18th one deep flOunce like the mayors t
-ife's, and you should have that soft gray |
lawl to wear with it. And would have y
rO of those merinOs-a dark brown for
yery-day, and an olive green for Sum {
iys, and one of those neat, plain black {
9th Jackets. And there's Tom gone Off j
} look ut the watches. Tom is going to
I'VE sixpence a week to buy one, mamma, I
ut won't it take long time?'
- All, ! wish L could give you children ]
easant SURPRISES" said mamma wisttul-
:. 81 was so fond of that kind of '
icks once upon time" {
Z" And so you are still, nanny dear /
argey replied, pressing fondly to her. 5
Ism If ALWAYS U1pyGant SurpriSt. when |