The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-09-20
THE LAST LEAP.

A small, oh fashioned cottage where
awoman sits working in the porch. As
she sits there alone, Mary Sullivan is
dreaming the old dreams which have
cheered her through her ten years of
Observation-Disclosures but never impossi-
BILE dreams of the future of her only son
and she is glancing backward, too,
over her own life, wondering a little,
Just little, If many women of her age
nave seen no more of the world than
she, who has not spent one night of all
her lifc-ror ever wished to do so-be.
yond this village where her husband has
been scnoolmaster. Is it to be always
so stcadfast light comes into her
eyes, and her quiet lips break into q
smile, made beautiful by proud and low
Ing trust That shall be left to Davy,"
she says, uttering softly the cne name
which now mears all the world to her.
ills choice will be my choice"
Sic does not know how intently she
is listening for his footstep upon the
gravel. nor how her face brightens when
he comes in at last.
Mv;her |"
"Oh, Davy, Davy T.
The greeting bursts from the hearts of
both, in that first moment; then the
boy's lips are clinging to his mothers,
and her arms hold him in that entire
love which II widowed mother so often
!avlShes upon an only son. He is home
to spend his vacation-a whole month
from school.
The first vacation of David's Dassed
like dream to his mother, and now
that the last day has arrived. she feels
as II only week had sped, though she
has so regretfully and hunerily counted
leach morning and each nlght) both the
days that have been spent and those
that are to come.
Another long absence follows; another
bright home coming Gin the frosty
christmas darkness now, another alb
sence; and SO on, and on, and on, until
David comes home from school for the
last time of ALL
He meets his mother just within the
porch, where the flowers bloom that
summer as they have bloomed through
every summer of his life, and he has no
cloud upon his face. But, later on, his
mothers anxious question is answered a
little sadly.
eyes, mother; heard from the law
yer yesterday. Grandfather's will does
not mention either of us. He has given
: me all the help he meant to give. Well,
ne has been very good, and now I am
ready to make my own start in the world.
But must go at orce. One delicious
day with you here, then for London /
Don't look so sad, my mother: this shall
not be long separation; not even 20
long as the old school terms, for will
soon come back to fetch you"
30 after this one day he goes, laugh
ing over his scanty purse. b. cause his
hands are strong, he says, and his for
tune, hope and courage. But when he
looks back, it is only through mist of
tears that he can see the little cottage
where he leaves his mother in he's lone
liness.
After David's departure the days pass
for Mrs. Sullivan just as the old school
days have done, except that now she has
daily excitem ent in his letters. Never
can she settle to anything until the post
man has come up the garden path, and
gwen into her trembling hand the letter
David never fails to send; the letter
which does his mothers heart such
good.
At last one letter comes in which he
tells her he has found employment in
an accountants Office; employment
which is very easy to him, and which he
AhoS, tHouSu Ine ealary ne Is TO receive
is much smaller than he had antic ipated
when he 80 hopefully began his search.
But will work so we'll" he writes,
"that the firm will raise my salary soon,
and then will come for you. All,
mother, 1 can indeed work hard and
long and teadily for that good end"
$50, n the cottage, Mary works hard
too, conad ent in the realization of his
plan, and living with him, through her
long day dreams, in London which
exists in or imagination only-a wide.
calm city W here all the young mon have
David's fac and David's nature, and
guide skillf ully the machinery OF the
world.
But the time goes on, and David
only earns what he earned at first.
"And 80, he writes, little sadly now,
"the home with you is still out OF my
reach, for poverty here, mother, would
be to you hundred times worse than
poverty nt home"
When he has been absent for year
he comes home to spend his birthday
with his mother summer day which