Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-10

1
| light of the great epic that inspired them.
As the sun was going down, the boys
and Jacques sat In the cottage door.
You call each other win and George"
said Jacques, "bui, if may ask, what are
your full names?'
| The boys gave their names and the name
of their father
What was it that Jacques tremble and
then remain so still? The boys noticed
the agitation and the silence, but knew no
cause. BY degrees the conversation was
resumed. \ half-honr passed away.
jacques said TO Will, as if casually,
Your father is the missionary pastor that
has recently come to this region ana Vlsits
the settlement sometimes p
Will replied In The affirmative. The
conversation turned again to other mat
tiers. An hour later Jacques said to WIN,
"You favor your father in your looks.
suppose
"Yes, SO they say replied viii, 5mil-
ing at the old mans curiosity.
But he is not like your father said
Jacques, pointing to George,
NO" said Will, unconsciously, che Is
like mother, they say"
Why was the old man SO quiet !? Why
did his voice tremble when he spoke?
The boys noticed how humble and sad
and subdued he seemed that evening and
wondered why he consulted every wish OF
theirs SO anXiously and seemed to strive
SO hard to serve them.
In spite of their eXpostulations the her
NIT gave up his one bed to the boys. The
brothers sat by their bed before retiring.
They were whispering moment together.
What was itP Jacques heard the words,
George, mother said we always must
and then the two knelt silently at the bed
side. When they arose they saw that
jacques was also kneeling and low
sound like sob came from the dim cor
ner where he was as he rose from his
knees. There were kind good nights said
and wishes for bright tomorrow and the
lads slept.
| The wishes for Il bright morning were
realized, and the youthful travellers pre-
pared to resume their journey. Before
they went away jacques said, Il was ac-
quainted with your parents many years
ago; that is, y he continued, with strange
faltering, Il do not know as was ac-
quainted with your father-Yo GU might tell
Them" he added, "that Mr.. Jacques
sends his respects,-if they should remem-
Der me-
1t was seven O'Clock; and the sun was
shining very brightly. when the rosy-faced
boys left .Jacques's cabin, and with kind
words Of "good-by" started along the
road out toward the mining settlement.
AS they passed into the woods they turned
and looked back once more at the garden
and flowers and they waved one more
adieu with their caps to the hermit As
they did so jacques stood by the roadside,
leaning upon his staff and weeping bitter
| ".
THAT is a very strange old man." said
George.
$50 he is" said WILL Il think he was
crying all last night" And the two, 50
young and inexperienced in the voyage of
life. passed on, not knowing what mes
sage they had brought to this shipwrecked
mariner, upon his lonely rock in the vast,
mysterious ocean.
jacques health declined. Nellie thought
it was not safe for the old man to live
alone. She urged upon her husband the
propriety of bringing their friend to their
own house. But Jacques, when invited,
said no, he could not leave his home. In
the winter following, Nellie's husband Wis
tied Jacques several times, making the
Journey upon snow shoes. But he always
found the hermit in about his usual health,
and able, he said, to visit the settlement
whenever he desired to.
1t was spring again. Robins and blue
birds came and jacques garden hummed
with the bees and bloomed with flowers,
when the fre-pulsed, leafy June was glow
ing with the life of a new summer. Mel
lie and little Mary went in their wagon to
visit old Mr.. Jacques at the lake. They
came to the cottage. The timid little mai
den sprang out OF the wagon and went for
ward through the gate, while her mother
remained to tie the old gray horse to Il
post Mary went close up to the cottage,
The door was open and she stepped in.
Then she called back to her mother that
jacques was asleep. Nellie felt the pre-
sentiment. She entered the cabin, and
there upon the bed was the weary traveller,
foreve" at rest.
1t was plain that the great conqueror
had surprised him. jacques was dressed
with his usual neatness and care. His
Milton had fallen from his hand and was
lying upon the bed by his side. The clock
was ticking upon the shelf, and the flow
ers upon the little table at the bedside were
still fresh with the morning dew. The
little window toward the lake was open,
and the light summer air stirred the white
muslin curtain that shaded it. Nellie and
little Mary stood for awhile awe-stricken
in the great hush and stiffness of the pres
ence of death Then Nellie closed the
house, and her tears fell as she realized
that she was doing the last service she
could render her friend. Then she and
little Mary returned to the settlement, and
suitable aid was secured and sent to the
cabin.
1t was proposed that jacques should be
brought out OF the common burying
ground but it turned out that he had
strictly charged Nellie that his grave
should be at his home. The place he had
chosen was where the flowers grew, and
the bees and the birds and the sunshine
came first in spling.
The hermit's wishes in regard to his last
resting place were complied with. The
funeral was upon the Sabbath: and Il SER
vice at the settlement was omitted, in or
der that the people mighe assemble at the
HERMITAGE II WAS esteemed fortunate