The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-02-17
MOTHER AND I.

''Take a seat sir, and welcome this is
my favorite spot, sir, under this maple.
Mother and are here every day in sum-
mer. in fact, as soon as the trees leave,
out we come too"
A very pretty place it was "under the
maple" charming enough to be the IA
vorite spot Of any one possessing the
least admiration for nature Two old
fashioned, cushioned chairs sat side by
side, and near them little rustic table
with some newspapers, a copy of ''Step-
ping Heavenward, and a half-knit, blue
yarn sock lying upon it. One chair was
empty, for Mother Bray was Cooking
after supper" and Father Bray occupied
the other, and gave the stranger a
cordial invitation to take a seat at his
side.
The stranger accepted readily; in fact,
he looked SO weary, this quiet resting
place seemed delightful haven.
''What lovely spot!'' he exclaimed, as
he gazed about him, ''this is indeed a
| home %
In front OF them a smooth lawn, with
shaded path leading to the gate at
which the stranger had fingered few
moments since. On the right, separat-
ing the lawn from the carriage way, was
q low lattice fence, almost concealed by
| a luxurant growth of honeysuckle
known to the old people as perpetual
/ bloomer," and to the children as friend
that always held ont to them a tempting
spray, and proved itself public bene-
factor by filling the air with its delicate
perfume. Beyond a similar lattice on
the left, covered with woodbine, lay the
kitchen garden, the equal pride and de-
light of Father and Mother Bray. Di-
rectly before the house, or rather before
the gateway, ran the conntry rood, zaauo1r
used, beng the most direct way to the
all-important ''mill." Across the road
way neatly kept gardens and pretty
homes attracted the attention, while
woods and hills stretched far away. The
houses, five in number, were owned and
who boasted early and late of the GIVE
homes with the best and happiest grand
children the world ever saw"
While the stranger gazed about him,
Father Bray gazed at him at length he
said:
Travelled far to-day, sir ?"
''Yes, sir, long distance
Business in these parts, may be?"
'tNot much," said the stranger, in
careless tone, 'tonly looking after speci
mems"
"Oh!" said Father Bray, with vivid
recollection of two specimen hunters of
previous season, who had filed the
best china basin in the strangers room
with all manner of creeping things, and
whose exploits with some turtles had
caused all the young Brays to go extern
sively into the turtle business but the
old gentleman did not allude to his for
mer guests.
"This is the sweetest place have seen
in years." said the stranger, as he lifted
the blue yarn stocking from the table.
''That's Mothers work she's always
knitting for some of her boys, or the
boys children. Mother never likes to
be idle
The stranger held the knitting work
carefully, almost tenderly, and seemed
lost in thought. At last he placed it on
the table, and said to his new friend /:
"You have certainly something here
good, sir. which money cannot purchase
and which in my wanderings L have
Ionged fora happv nome."
Father Bray was one of those delight
full old men it is sometimes our good
fortune to know. He could talk 50
cheerily of the past, so happily of the
present, and so hopefully of the future,
it was a pleasure to hear him. He never
treated you to chapter on the sins of
| the present time and the virtues of the
past; of tie good girls and boys in his
| days, and the vicious ones of now O days;
on the contrary, he often declared that
| ''human nature was much of much
ness, just about as it always was. ~
Mother was his model woman, and a
lovely woman she was, still erect, al
though nearly seventy, rosy-cheeked,
bright eyed and kindly y-faced; she spoke
to you in sweet, gentle voice, and
looked so charming under her white
muslin cap, you could forget yourself
if a stranger, and call her mother as
sincerely as her own proud children.
Just the same year after year. ''Mother
/ Bray, never seemed old or seemed to
grow old in fact, some of the younger
members of the flock have been known
to treat certain urchins TO u sound drub-
bing for the unheard of impertinence OF
saying "old Miss Bray
1t was pleasure to hear Father Bray
speak of his wife; since the day Sam
the eldest, had nestled in her arms, be