Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-09-03

not a bad one, and if you are careful mol
to rub off the plaster it will soon heal up
Are you hungry p
ssPlease. ma'am, haven't eat nothing
to-day"
Mrs. Walsh brought out some bread and
butter, and a cup of milk, and allowed the
boy to sit there in the Wash-ropn and eat
And while he eat she watched him mar
rowly, scanning every feature. Surely, II
the science of physiognomy. which her
husband studied so much, and with such
faith, was reliable, this boy ought to have
grand capacities. once more, shutting out
the rags and the filth, and only observing
the hair now CLOSING and waving, from
her dexterous manipulations, over shape
ly head, and marking the face, with its
eyes of lustrous gray, and the perfect nose.
and the mouth like a cuprd's bow, and the
Ichln strong, Without being unseemly ,-==see-
ing this without the, dregs, and the 10y
was. handsome. Mrs. Walsh, thinking OF
the little mounds in the church-yard, pray
ed to God that she might yet be happy
mother ana if a boy was to bless her ma,
ternity, she could notas that he should
be handsomer than she believed she could
make this boy.
seJim finished eating. and stood up.
ssJames, y said the little woman-for she
was little woman, and a perfect picture
of a loving and lovable little woman
''James when you are hungry and have
will tn this
door, will feed you. [ don't want you to
go hungry" -
81 should like to come, ma'am."
ssAnd if l should feed you when you are
hungry, will you try to be good for my
sake?"
The boy hung his head and considered
Some might have wondered that he did not
answer at once, as g rateful boy ought
but Mrs. Walsh saw deeper than that. The
boy was considering how he might answer
safely and truthfu lly.
eff they'd let me be good, ma'am; but
they WON'T" he said, at length.
evil you try all you camp"
eyes, 'm-I'll try all can.''
Mrs. Walsh gave the lad IL sinlll purcell
of food in a ptper, and pltteI his curly
head. The by had not yet shed a tear
since the pain of the wound had been as
suared.- Some might have thought that he
was not grateful; but the little woman
could S 4e gratitude in the deeper look OF
the eve. The old crust was not broker
enough yet for tears
After wards Mrs. Walsh told her husband
what she had done. and he laughed at her
"Do you think, Mary. that your kind
ness can help that ragged waltz"
II do not th nix twill hurt him, Silas. :;
1t was not the first time tina Mrs. Walsh
had delivered answers to the erudite doctor
which effectually estopped discussion.
After that jim came often to the wash
room door, ana wIs Ted; aiTdf he came
cleaner and mora orderly with each sue
ceeding visit. At length Mrs. Walsh was
informed that q friend WAS going away
into q far distant Western country, to take
up land, and make a frontier farm The
thought occurred to her that this might be
a good opportunity for James Ammerton.
She saw her friend, and brought jim to his
notice, and the result was, that the boy
| went away with the emigrant Adventures
| She hear,l from her friend a year later that
! he liked the boy very much. Two years
later the emigrant wrote that Jim was a
| treasure. And Mrs. Walsh showed the
I letter to her husband; and he smiled ant
! kissed his little wife, and said he was glad
| And. he had another source of gladness
| Upon her bosom his little wife bore 70
bust, healthy boy-their own son-Wht
gave promise of life and happiness in TIE
! time to come.
The years sped on, and James Ammel
ton dropped out of the life which Mary
Walsh knew. The last she heard was five
years after he went away from Ernsworth
and Jim had then started out for the gold
en- mountains on his own account, to com
mence in earnest his own life-battle.
But there was JOY and pride in the
little wonlan's life which held It's place
and grew and strengthened. Her boy
whom they called Philip, grew to be
| youth of great promise-a bright, KIND
hearted, good boy, whom everybody loved
and none loved him more than did his pa
rents. In fact, they worshipped him; OF
at least, his mother did. At the age o.
seventeen Philip Walsh entered college
and at the age Of twenty-one he graduated
with honor; but the long and severe study
had taxed his system, and he entered upoI
the stage of manhood not quite so strong
j in body as he should have been. Lis moth
er saw it, and WAS anxious. His fathe
saw it, and decided that he should haV
recreation and recuperation before he ell
/ tered into active business. Dr.. Walsh wa
slldaut pecuniarily able to send his son off OF
expensive travel, but he found opportunlt.
/ for his engagement upon the staff OF al
exploring expedition, which would com
bine healthful recreation with an equall
healthful occupation.
The expedition was bound for the West
ern wilderness and we need not tell OF tn
parting between the mother and ner be
Flowed son. She kissed him, and blessed
him; and then hung upon his neck witt
more kisses and blessings, a nd then wen
away to her chamber and cried.
Philip wrote home often while on hi
way out; and he wrote after he had reache'
the wilderness. His accounts were glow
ing, and his health was improving. Thre
months of forest life and forest labor, O
which Philip wrote in a letter that had t
he horne more than hundred miles to til
| 81 Than fO1InunI Months n
silence. Where was Philip? Why did h
not write?
One day DR.. Walsh came home pale an
faint. with newspaper crumpled an
crushed in his hand Not Immediately
but by and by, he was forced to let hi
. l. L.. i ~.