St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-06-27


roughly folded scrawl to her mistress.
'Oh, my hoy-mv poor boy - said
| Mrs. Nilkie, rising with Il piteons cry.
Hell he drowned-I know he will
The poor dear, ahused-Iun after him.
Daniel-quich, -
Give me the note" said Mr.. Wilkie.
Snatchiug it from her hand. Groaning
aud CRYING. she covered in her chair
while he read poor Ben's scrawlmg i'll
spelled little letter aloud
Dear Mother" thus it ran, Il am
going to sea. can't stand it ut home.
no longer I'm such a bother to every
body. Give my love to father and the
girls. Your affcctionate son.
Ben WMKIE.
p. S.-Iou won't feel bad. will Won ?"
''FUOiSh boy '" said Mr.. Wilkie. ris-
ing i'll great agitation. james, get the
horse and carriage ont at once. | must
catch the next train
"llere's y"ur coat and hat, papa"
said Flora. sohbing .'oh. do bring him
back. Poor dear Ben III never sneak
cross TO him any more"
Hes zeal wicked hoy to fIighten
us 50, said Augusta. sharply. but wip-
ing away Il tear rs she spoke.
Nearly year since Brn'S flight. The
vessel was due weeks ago, and Mr..
NilEic went on To New York to bring
the young waudcrrr home. How the
poor simple lad would have stared to
see the preparations made to receive
him. His own little room. formerly 81
bare. now looked - plctty a> Fl0ra'S.
WIN It's bright nov carpet. pictures,
I E,Il
kitchen u grand dinner was preparing.
over which presided Mrs. Wiikic. all
excitement. in new muslin cap. with
lavender ribbons. Her checks had
grown very thin. her hair WAS nearly
white. Poor soul. what year of suf-
tcllng and rcmor>c the last had been to
her.
That bright, busy happy day passed.
and evening came. briuging with it the
chill of disappointed hopes. \ letter
came from Nh. WillNir. saying the yes
sci had h"t Vet arrived they must wait
patiently few days more
Days passed 10y. and grew into weeks.
and With every day the poor mothers
eyes grew more hopeless. her faded
checks more wan. She crcpt quietly
about the hnu~r. attending Ia her house
hold duties. but seldom speaking Ia
any one. Her daughters watched her
anNiou~ly they would almc>t have
,'..', 80, '''''' '''' '''"''' E''r"'""N ii''i"I-
Yet hope WAS not quite dead in the
r""' mother : heart, though she showed
II IN silent WAY. Every morning she
went into Ben'~ little room. du>tinw il
carefully. and with her poor old hands
hlIed the vases Flora brought her.
hen with one fond. lingering look. she
would :" down stairs t" another day of
S"rl"WiUi suspense.
Another ic,ter and another came from
the absent father. win" seemed to he
la>' losing nope. And at last he wrote
thai lie MH> coming home.
Il can stand 1t any longer. said the
lt'ltr, II nave nothing I" ii" here. but
:" ''''"N' anu 90, suspense l. hhi"E 'i,
must :" "''h l" my "aliI W"rN.
"'t' up N"u poor mother. Nliliah.
aN h'.'h rs I"l '"il-teil her she must
n"' N'l' up nope yet hi"thci iI'lIh
ioi.,,, ,i' |'..'' ''"' l!"'i''-H !" De q" '"'
'"'h"u. '"' new oi ti'' >I'I''
ii!''m read thiN letter /" his mother.
Ht;'h"lhE ny lhc sitting room Nlnd"W.
! he r"n'i-i'i Ntr'Hm'd M making her
',''' i"IN "i'''t' more h'Hili-IlI'; rs she
,''''''' .l'' '''.''' '''''i' t"''''''" ny 'h'
H"'"T MA" arm
L., "'' ~. '''t ',i"'i't'' lie >''i" Zen
"'' y: \"i near t"thcf SAYS We must
""' give up nope YET
1'I moved away IN silence. lie f"I-
lowe" ;,'.' 'NA'''S a'Ni'">'' "h'I' she
VIZ. ...r,,, 2",,E' -. -,
l" my own room. sn' sal" ic'hlN.