Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-09
NO. So.
MOTHER AND 1.

'Take 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.''
very pretty place it was "under the
MAPLE charming enough to be the "fa-
vorlte 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
win some newspapers, copy Of "Step-
ping Heavenward," and half-knit blue
yarn sock lying upon it. One chair was
empty. for Mother Bray was Choking af.
ter supper" and Father Bray occupied the
| other and gave the stranger cordial in
vitation to take seat at his side.
The stranger accepted readily; in fact,
he looked so weary, this quiet resting
place seemed delightful haven. "What
a lovely spot!" he exclaimed, as he gazed
about him ''this is indeed 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. separating the lawn
from the carriage way, was low lattice
fence, almost concealed by a luxuriant
growth of honeysuckle known to the old
people as perpetual bloomer," and to the
children as friend that always held out
TO them a tempting spray, and proved
itself public benefactor by filling the
air with its delicate perfume. Beyond
a similar lattice on the left, covered
with woodbine, lay the kitchen gar
den. the equal pride and delight Of Father
and Mother Bray. Directly before the
house, or rather before the gateway. ran
the country road much used, being the
most direct way to the all.important
''miil.' Across the roadway neatly kept
gardens and pretty homes attracted the
attention, while woods and hills stretched
far away. The houses, five in number.
were owned and occupied by the children
OF Father Bray, who boasted early and
late OF the ''five homes with the be st and
happiest grandchildren the world ever
saw
While the stranger gazed about him,
Father Bray gazed at him; at length he
said
Travelled far to-day, sirP"
eyes. sir; long distance"
| "Business in these parts, may be P"
"Not much" said the stranger, In a
careless tone; "only looking after speci.
mens.n
"Ohr' said Father Bray. with vivid
recollection of two specimen hunters of
previous season who had filled the best
china basin in the strangers's room with
all manner of creeping things, and whose
exploits with some turtles had caused all
the young Brays to 60 extensively into
the turtle business but the old gentleman
did not allude to his former guests.
''This is the sweetest place I've seen in
years. said the stranger, as he lifted the
blue yarn stocking from the little table.
"Thats 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 certainly have something here
good sir, which money cannot purchase,
and which in my wanderings have longed
fora happy home."
Father Bray was one of those delightful
old people it is sometimes our good for
tune to know. He could talk so cheerily
OF the past, so happily of the present. and
so hopefully OF the future, it was a pleas
ure to hear him. He never treated you TO
chapter on the sins of the present time,
and the virtues of the past of the good
girls and boys in his day and the vicious
ones OF nowadays; on the contrary, he
always declared that "human nature was
much of muchness. just about as it
always was" Mother was his model wo-
man, and lovely woman she was, still
erect, although nearly seventy, rosy
checked. bright eyed and kindly faced;
| ch. 10 10 in a
and looked 80 charming under her white
muslin cap, you could forget yourself if
stranger and call her Mother" as sincere
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 sound drubbing for the un-
heard 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 he had
called her "Mother;" boys and girls be-
sides her own gave the sweet, holy title,
and even the Rector of st. James, man
who froze stiff all the fun wherever he
appeared, called her not only Mother
: Bray" but declared that she was "a Moth
er in Israeli
Far away in the neighboring towns she
was known as a sklltul nurse, a trusted
friend, and "a good christian if there is
one on earth"
Quite as handsome, but a little more
feeble, was her husband, who pointed out
his age in the old Bible as seventy two,
and told his friends he "had reached his
three score and ten, and was now walking
on borrowed ground" Nothing except
his Bible pleased the old man so well as a
good listener while he preached from his
tavorite text. Mother" Hand in hand,
heart answering heart. they had journeyed
on since the long ago, when she, blush
ling bride, had taken him for ''better or
worse"
The years with their joys and sorrows
had bound them closer. and the husband
OF seventy-two far surpassed as lover
the bridegroom of twenty four. All his
essays on ''Mother" ended with this SEN
tence uttered in the most emphatic man