Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-02-24
Stlrtt Storp.
TAKING 1T FOR GRANTED.

With MARKS OF a rough, stormy lie all
over him. man of about dity years, gray
and sunburnt, sat in my office. | found
him there when went in one morning
not long ago.
Here is somebody waiting tor YOU.
Eiwell,T said Mr. Bise low.
looked around, and the man rose and
held out his hand.
"Averill-my name is AVerill." said he.
looking sharply at me out OF pair oI
shrewd gray eyes Il am an old friend
Of your mother; but have not met her
for matter Of i've and twenty years.
So thought I'd call and ask after her
and her family"
81 am glad to see YOU" said l. Are
you a relative OF my mother?"
NO" replied Mr.. Averill. 1--WE were
OF the same name, but not connected
unless ii may be very Instantly. used
To Know her and her folks. though, as
well As did my own sisters, and better.
too. Lets see-whcve is your Aunt
Augusta now ?"
She is living wiki her children in Port
land" said l.
Pretty well. is she. DO you know p
asked Mr Averill
Very well when We heard last. Aunt
Augusta has good children aud 4 pleasant
home, and seems quite happy"
Tim IN IN IN, That is nice" said MIR.
Ayeiill lumbliog At a rough nugget OF
gold that hun. ~ charm from his watch
chSin
hadn't much to 10 that day, So l talked
OF and ou with my visitor ill il was time
to 60 home, and thea took him along with
me. lett him in the sitting room and
went to find mother. She was mixing
biscuits for supper, looking through her
/ glasses, and singing a snatch of some old,
halt forgotten love duty OF her youth.
Mother! - said l. breaking in upon
her song. Come in the other room. An
old friend OF yours wants to see you"
Mother looked up over her glasses.
An old friend Tisnt any OF the
Maiue folks. is il ?" she asked.
Because, it il was so much rs dog
tha, had trotted across corner OF the
State of Maine. on his four legs. mother
would have run, with her arms out and
smile OF welcome, without stopping Il
even wash the dough off her hands. As
1t was. with only an indefinite thought ol
seeing Ian oil friend" she went, with II
dust of flour ON her nose, and without her
company cap.
As soon AS she had stepped inside the
sitling-roOm door, she stood and looked
at her guest. and he stood and looked at
her
ut is Sam, as true as you are born "
she said. at last.
Then they both laughed. and then they
both wiped their eyes. though they didn1
seem like that sort of people, especially
Mr. Averill.
| never knew mother TO forget hel
housekeeping before. but this time sh'
let the biscuit burn Till they were 6lacs
as MY shoe; and when she mixed some
more she put in sugar instead OF salt. anC
left out the saleratus altogether. But bel
cheeks grew pink, and her cap strings
dew, and she nor her guest seemed Il
know the difference.
"Oh. honey :" cried my mother, hop
ping up from the Tea table as soon as she
was seated. You haven't lost you
sweet tooth. have you, Sam ?
How you do remember !" returned
Sam, admiringly.
Il should think ought to- answered
my mother, with girlish laugh. 1.-The
way you used to pick up walnnts to carry
to the cross roads store and trade ior mo
lasses and candy! Speaking OF the cross
roads store, | wonder ii you know oul
old storekeeper's daughter, she that VIA
! Sarah Curly. has lost her husband 7"