The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-23

10 come.
Another long absence follows; another
bright homecoming lin the frosty Christ
mas darkness now; another absence: and
so on, until David comes home from
school Tor the last time of ali.
He meets his mother just within the
porch where the flowers bloom that sum.
mer az they have bloomei through every
summer of his life and ne has no cloud
upon his face. But, later on, his mothers
anxious question is answered little sad
ly.
Eyes, mother; heard from the lawyer
! Yesterday. Grandfather's Will does not
meL ton either of us. He has given sii
| the help he meant to give. Well, he has
! been very good, and now l am ready 10
make my own start in the world. But
must 90 at once. One delicious day with
you here, then for London? Don't look
so sad, my mother; this shall not be
! long separation; not even solong as the
old school terms, for will soon come
back to fetch you"
So after this one day he goes, laughing
over his scanty purse, because his hands
are strong, be says, and his fortune 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 her Loneliness.
After Dsvid's departure the days pass
TOR Mrs. Sullivan just as the old school
| days have done except that now she has
a daily excitement in his letters. Never
can she settle to anything until the post
man has come up the garden path and
given into her trembling hand the letter
David never fails to send; the letter full
of love, and bravery, and hope) 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 likes,
though the salary he is to receive is
much smaller than he anticipated when
he 50 hopefully began his search.
"But | will work so vel" he writes,
chat the firm will raise my salary soon,
and then | will come for you. All!
mother, can indeed work hard, and
long, and steadily for that good end"
So, in the cottage, Mary works hard,
too, confident in the realization of his
plan, and living with him, through her
long day dreams in London which exists
in her Imagination only-a wide, calm
city where all the young men have
David's face and David's nature, and
guide skillfulIy the machinery of the
world.
But the time goes on, and David only
earns what he earned at first. "And so,'
he writes, little sadly now, the home
with you is still out of nay reach. for pow
erty here, mother, would be to you a hum
dred times worse than poverty at home
When he has been absent for year
he comes home to spend his birthday,
with his mother; a summer day which
they have spent together for al the eigh-
teen years of David's life. Then he goes
back to his work, still hopeful of the rise
which his earnest and untiring servitude
is to win.
Six months pass, and then, one Sunday
night, David walks Unexpectedly into
the cottage kitchen, where his mother sits
beside the fire, softly singing 10 hcrsclfa
HYMN which she mas heard in church
that day. When she starts up--hcr face,
in that moment of surprise, white rs
death - David sees how little able she is
to bear any shock where he Is concerned.
But her delight, one minute atterward,
makes up for all and that Sunday night
is one which both will love To- remember.
"Can you not stay one day" the moth
err pleads. "MusL YOU really go back to-
morrow, DavyF
To-day YOU mean, mother. Look, We
have chatted till after midnight, already.
Never mind, we have four whole hours
more, thanks to the new railway. Don't
60 to bed, mother; | cannot spare you for
that time"
She has never thought of leaving him;
so beside the cheerful fire they sit and
talk; first OF the lives which they have
separately led. and then of that life which
they are presently to lead tOgethcr-for
David has come home on purpose to
bring joyful tidings. The long-ta kedot
home will be ready soon, for he is earn
ing high salary now, ana all the bright
plans are to be carried out.
"But, Davy' Mrs. Sullivan says,
when she rises at last to prepare the ear
be working only to be spared one day,
after whole twelve months of service!
| could have had one holiday between
he answers, but would not take it. 1t
was wiser not, mother, AS this is AN eX-
pansive journey, even now that we have
the railway
"And you have been sending me your
money, David
But | am earning SO much more now
the young man says, with bright cx.
element in his eyes,
"And are you happy, David?
Every happy, Misunderstanding how
soon everything will be as planned it
long ago
"But for myself alone are you happy,
dear she asked, wlstiully.
81! Oh, yes, mother, quite happy
Another good-bye-"But the last,
David says, as again and again he kisses
his mothers shaking lips.