The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-02-17
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Mother ana are bcre every day 10 sam
mer: 10 fact, 81 soon Is the trees leave
out We come, TOO.
A very pretty place Il was under the
maple, charming enough TO be the favor
lie spot for any one possessing the least
admiration for nature. Tho old-fasb-
loned cushioned chairs sat aide by side
aud near them little rustic table with
some newspapers, a copy of stepping
Ileavenward, and q hslEknit blue yarn
sock lying upon IL. One chair was empty,
for Mo.her Bray was looking aner snp-
per, and Father Bray occupied the other,
and gave the stranger 3 cordial invita-
ton to take seAt At bis side.
The stranger accepted readily; In fact,
he looked W weary, this quiet resting
place seemed dslightfal haven. What
deiithtfoi sposl be exclaimed, as be
gAzed about him; this is indeed home.
10 front Of them smooth lawn, with q
shaded path leading to the gate at which
The stranger had fingered a few moments
since. On the right, separating the lawn
from the carriage road was low lattice
fence, almost concealed by a luxurisnt
growth OF boneysuckle known TO The old
people as perpetaal bloomer, and to the
children as u friend that always held out
to them a tempting spray, and proved it,
self public benefactor by filling the air
with It's delicate perfume. Beyond q
similar lattice on the left, covered with
woodbine, lay the kitchen garden, the
equal delight OF Father aud Mother Bray
| Directly before the house, or rather be-
fore the gateway, ran the country road
much used, being the direct way to the
all important mill. Across the roadway
neatly kept gardens and pretty homes at
tracted the attention, while woods aud
hills stretched far away. The houses,
five in number, were owned aud occu-
pied by the children Of Father Bray, who
boasted early and late Of the ave homes
with the best and happiest grandchildren
the world ever saw.
While the stranger gazed about him,
Father Bray gazed at him; at length be
said:
Travelled far to-day, sir3
Yes, sir, long distance. a
Business 10 these psrts, may be?
Not much, said the stranger, in care
less tone; only looking after specimens.
Oh! said Father Bray, with vivid re-
collection of two specimen hunters of a
lpreyious season, who had filled the best
china basin in the strangers room with
all manners 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. #ft
This Is the sweetest place have seen
in years, said the stranger, as be lifted
the blue yarn stocking from the little ta-
BILE.
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 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 plea
sure TO hear him. lie 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 now-a-days on the con-
4 trary, he often declared that human ma
/ ture was much OF the muchness, just
about as it always was. Mother was his
model woman, and lovely woman she
was, still erect, although nearly seventy,
ros. checked, bright.eyed and kindly
faced; she spoke TO you In q sweet, gen
tie voice, and looked 80 charming under
her white muslin cap, you could forget
yourself il a stranger aud call her mother
as sincerely as her own proud children.
Jsst the same, year after year. Mother
/ Bray never seemed old or seemed to
grow old; in fact, some OF the younger
members of the hock have been known
to treat certain urchias 70 8 sound drub-
bing for the unheard'of impertinence Of
saying old Mrs. Bray.
II was pleasure To bear Father Bray
speak Of his vile; since the day Sam, tse
eldest, had needed in her arms be had
called her Mother, boyssnd girls beaides
their own gave her the sweet, holy title,
aud even the rector Of st. James, a man
who froze all the fun stiG wherever he
appeared, called ber not only Mother
Bray, bat declared that she was : Mother
10 Israel.
Far away in the neighborhood towns
she was known - q skillful nurse, q
trusted friend, and good Christian II
/ there Is one on earth.
Quils - handsome, bai little more
. feeble, was her husband who pointed
ont his age in the old Bibe a. seventy
two. and told his friends that he had
reached bis three score aud ten, aud was
now walking on borrowed ground. Moth.
ing excep, his Bible pleased the old man
a. well A. good lIsteRer while he