Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-06-18
ICncludel from first page. ]


tunate ones when they wish to express
suitably their own overwhelming Joys OF
sorrows!
Thus /, moving from the parlor to the
Kitchen. from the kitchen TO the parlor
back again, am moved to sing my Joy III
snch appropriate terms as
Little Betty Prngle had little pig
II wasn't very little, and it wasn't very big,
interspersed with variations of "When the
youpg Nav moon is beaming, love- and
merrily the hours go by.
While we are still lingering round the
table, John comes in, and with face in
dcative of awful and ahject shame lays q
letter-Beniamiu' missing letter-by my
plate.
II got it on Wednesday, ma'am,' he
saws. solemnly. "But comm back | found
that cussed red steer broke loose, and
a.runnin' wild in the street. and in a-chas-
ing him forgot it,
So the last cloud disappeared from
sweet Alice's face.
After we were left alone that night.
young Ben tells his father and me the OBJ
lect Of his sudden journey.
First he hands us letter 10 rtad--a let
ter closely written in fine characters, and
signed John Ford"
Il got it the day before went away"
said young Benjamin. suppose it was
meant for you. father, and opened it by
mistake. | suspected something like this
about Alice, father, and after thinking it
all over | made up my mind that, for her
sake, ought to 20 and see what sort OF l,
man and in what condition he was. J
found him lying at the point of death in a
little village in the southern part of Kan
sas. He seemed to be very grateful that
came to him, and he asked great many
questions about Alice and about you,
nanny. He died the night | got there.
..Poor John come to life and dead
again! Poor Johnn'
He gave me this" said young Benla-
min, taking small leather case from his
pocket sHe declared they We're genu-
inc diamonds. which he had found in
Mexico. He wore them in belt about
his waist, and to please him promised to
bring them to Alice, though ! don't be-
lieve they are worth anything, crystals,
most likely.
Poor John. Was he comfortable
Did you get him everything he needed? !?
All he used to be such bright fellow-a
favorite with all the girls. Was he changed
much ?'
II got him everything he needed: but
he was too far gone to want much. lie
was changed, l should think, good deal.
If he had lived | should have given him
money to go to Australia. / had three
thousand dollars mother lett me, you
know. But, as it was. invested it in
land in Minnesota Splendid lots-right
in the centre of a thriving village. They
will double their value every year live. :"
"Well, WE'LL Specializing in land, hey"
SAYS my cousin, amazedly. $50 TO bed,
Young man. You are ahead of my time
altogether"
But l can see how proud he is OF Ben.
II thought you and Alice were content
ed to stay here with nanny and me in our
old age" he continues, half pathetically.
"But going West! That is too far. | was
just making the farm over to you for you
TO manage in your own way"
"Oh, | will take the farm, too, says
Young Ben, cheerfully 'Alice and shall
always stay with you and nanny. on
ly bought the land in Minnesota for sort
of playground, in case we get too big for
this country"
And rising he stretches himself to The
full height of his splendid six feet.
go to bed-go to bed you young spec
ulator !" is my cousins answer. Then rs
the boy lights his candle, Nanny" cries
out my cousin Benjamin., ''isn't this the
first time you ever heard of a bridegroom
making his wedding Journey beforehand
all alone, and coming back just in time 10
be married.
1.-The very first time" | answer, sweet
ly. Coming back by way of Niagara,
too" Gle told Us that at the table,
"Ah what Fall is there, my country
men !" says young Benjamin. oratorically,
as he disappeared up the stairs.
.a And my cousin and / are left alone again,
doubtful If we were most sorry or most
glad.
4 So we have our wedding after all, and
there is happiness, and dancing and feast
ing. and merrily the world goes round.
For 1t is true that love moves it and makes
1t whirl so smoothly
P. SIT chanced that few weeks after
the wedding, as | was going to the city.
bethought me to take the box OF poor
Johns "crystals' to jacquard, the great
jeweller. He told me there were some
pure diamonds sin the rough" among
them. Young Ben went down to see about
II, and came home with check for fifty
thousand dollars. doubt if he got the
real value of them but as he aud Alice are
satisfied suppose ought to be.
p. P. ST. have just discovered. at this
late hour, that my story has no moral, and
hardly any point. Must every story have
moral in order to be entertaining? There
is not so much as shadow of one to
mine. unless, indeed, there can be per
ceived in it a cloudy indication OF warning
young men to exercise their own will be-
fore marriage as well as after; in which
case the bride will not be too much disap
pointed when the honeymoon has lost its
sweetness. However, my couple lived
happily forever alter, which is a good
point gained, even if it is not moral
Pleasant H0Nrs