Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-21
VOL. 72.-3671. NO. 10.

one person in this great world to love me
tonight"
"Then will" said the child and with
bound he was in the strangers arms The
gentlemen looked at each other and smiled
The boy played with the strangers watch
guard, asked some questions about q strange
charm upon it, and at last, looking the
stranger full in the face, he said, with child
ish abruptness, " I've seen you some place
before"
" Have you ?" said the stranger, "where
could it have been? ? never saw you before"
"Praps it was up to the State Fair" said
the child
Think not my man. have only beeV
in the state few hours"
"Joey, dear, don't annoy the gentlema
with questions"
DO 'noy you 2" queried joey.
" Not particle" said his new friend.
81 know I've seen you some place" said
Joey, confidently, ." or else you are Just like
somebody somewhere"
"Joey takes queer fancies in that head of
his sometimes" said Uncle viii.
The stranger did not reply but watched
the boy closely "Joey," said he could
you remember who the somebody was if /
took my hat off 2"
"P'raps so; do it." And the stranger
did, but still Joey looked puzzled. "May
be dreamed about you" said Joey.
Joeys father was busy just then telling
the family group about new pump he pro-
posed trying, and no one observed Uncle
Will the stranger and little Joe.
"Joey," said his new friend, with quick
glance at the doctor " do | look like your
somebody now p and the stranger brushed
his wavy locks away from his broad, full
forehead The child gave one long, search
ing look, and then reaching up nearer the
strangers ear, he whispered. You look Just
like Uncle .Joe's picture is you ?"
Yes, darling he answered, in a husky
voice, "your own, wandering uncle, come
home at last"
Dr. Will sprang to his feet; he never knew
what became of that "superior cigar" but
seizing his brothers hands, he led him into
the group, saying. Father, mother. here's
the best present you ever had; here's our
dear old Joe, God bless him
Mother Bray kissed the "dear child as
she had done twelve years before. Father
wept like child over his "precious boy"
and brothers and sisters whired him until
he threw himself on the grass quite ex-
hausted, where he was joined by little Joe,
| who declared. he is mine anyhow, for
fnded him first" The children were al
lowed to sit up an hour later than usual, and
their parents asked so many questions of
Mr. Josephs" he insisted upon it that they
attacked him as fercely as mosquitoes in
India.
How about those specimens you ras-
cal ?" said Dr. viii, giving him an atfec-
| tionate pinch.
IL was looking for specimens Of the hu-
man heart" said Joe. gravely, land found
rare, precious ones"
/ oil a,t1
still 2" said Ben.
81 nearly broke down. he answered.
when went into the old dining-room and
saw mother but she did not see her baby
| in the rough man. and then, when you all
came in. nothing but that cigar kept me
| from PLAYING the baby; and came near
dropping that when viii was telling me
what he would give to see his brother once
more"
The doctor responded to this with hearty
shake OF the hand
II think, children" said Father Bray,
eve had better walk into the sitting-room,
and say a few words to a friend that has been
very good to US all.especially to mother and l."
And they went in, the old man leaning on
Joe's arm After prayers, came the good
nights, so very hard to say, when each had
so much to hear and tell. VIII declared
| 81
the slip for one night, and try his old quar-
ters with Joe; and Joe heartily wished he
would. and asked If the shed roof still came
under the window so he could steal out and
help himself to melons as in the old day.
'' Better stay, viii have thousand things
to tell YOU
But Wits pretty wife looked sober and
mother knew they would talk all night. No,
they must all go home. and all return, even
the wee baby, to take breakfast with Joe
next morning; it siould be a grand holiday
Tor old and young
"All right, old fellow" said Sam, get
your pipes in good order for day of talk
? lug" Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight
sounded on all sides of happy Joe.
When the door had closed after them, he
took up his lamp. Come up for our little
talk. mother, or shall not realize that am
t home again; but no, you precious woman
YOU must not, you are too old for that, now
= "A woman is never too old to tend her
r baby. Joey, if he is bearded man; | shall
= come dear"
y Once more in the old room, the man real
| lied the beauty of home as no one can
r save those who have been tossed about on
the restless, changing scenes OF life among
t strange people, in strange places The little
(; room looked like the face OF an old friend
e even his old slippers were in the old corner ;
his pictures We're still hanging in the old
r, places, and the pencil sketch of sweet Annie
/ Lee still hung over the mirror where his
hands had fastened it. lie looked from one
i thing to another, and prepared 10 retire, saw
V ing to himself, =" Ii all is well with Annie, |
a shall think my coming home almost a visit
- to Paradise; and TO think that these dear
n people did not get all the presents | sent
9 them, and not even one letter for years
n He had Just settled his head on the pillow
i when he heard his mothers rap. Come
in," and in she came in her wrapper, sitting
d down on the side of his bed as she alway.
e had in the old days, and taking his hand III
It hers in the old gentle way.
IS For time they enjoyed silence too sacred
4, for speech. At last She said, as she might
s have done had no years come and gone be
d tween her last visit aud the present " Has
e, my boy anything to tell mother tonight 2"
. Yes, mother, something TO tell and one
N question TO ask. want to tell you thai
your wanderer has never done any one ac
g that would cause You to blush for him. and
c. also to say that it was your love and the
g memory of our goodnight talks that serveC
ID to keep me from evil have returned prouC
st to hold vour dear hand, and feel deservin.
Is OF your love-
c. Joey, my prayers are answered a mal
10 in wears, child ut heart and now. tn
question:
e. The man glanced toward the little sketcl
I'd and his mother answered his uuspokel
thought.
er Annie is the same, dear your sweet
it. heart when you left, yours still. She ha
e- been a great comfort to Us all she had sucl
nd perfect faith aud trust in you, she knew yo
or would come, and she was sure the sllenc
1 for haY tn IA