The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-02

foolish thing to say. "Leave it to us, "
said they, "and well have it all, one
day."
This being agreed to, the women stole
toward the old man, one on each side.
Lurcher rose and snarled, and old Brian
hurried his gold into his ample pockets,
and stood on the defensive.
"Oh, father and is it you come back ?
Oh, the Lord be praised Oh, the
weary day since you left us, and all our
good luck wild ye "
Brian received this and similar speech
es with fury and reproaches. Then they
humbled themselves and wept, cursed
their ill-governed tongues, and bewailed
the mems folly in listening to them.
They fattered him and cajoled him, and
ordered their husbands to come forward
and ask the old mans pardon, and not
let him ever leave them again. The
supple sons were all penitence and af-
lection directly. Brian at last consent
ed to stay, but stipulated for certain
chamber with key to it. For, said
he. 81 have got my strong-box to take
care of, as well as myself"
They pricked up their ears directly at
mention of the strong-box, and asked
where it was.
"Oh it is not far, but 1 can't carry
it. Give me two boys to fetch it.
"Oh Guillaum and Shamus would
carry it or anything to oblige long-lost
father"
So they went with him to the farmers
cart, and brought in the box, which was
pretty large, and above all very full and
heavy.
He was once more king of his own
house, and fattered and petted as he
never had been since he gave away his
estate. To be sure he fed this by mys-
terious hints that he had other lands be-
sides those in that part of the county,
and that, indeed, the full extent of his
possessions would never be known until
his will was read which will was safely
locked away in his strong -box-with
other things.
And so he passed pleasant time, en-
bittered only by regrets, and very poig-
nant they were, that he could hear moth
ing of his son Garrett. Lurcher also was
taken great care OF. and became old and
lazy.
But shocks that do not kill undermine.
Before he reached three-score and ten,
Brian Taafe's night-work and troubles
told upon him, and he neared his end.
He was quite conscious of it, and an
nounced his own departure, but not in a
regretful way. He had become quite n
philosopher and indeed there was sort
of chuckle about the old fellow in speak
ing of his own death, which his daughter
-, Ioxx, ac ,al,
and, what was worse, unchancy.
Whenever he did mention the expect
ed event, he was sure to say, "And
mind, boys, my will is in that chest"
"Don't speak of it, father" was the
reply.
When he was dying, he called for his
sons, and said, in feeble voice 81
was a strong farmer, and come of honest
folk. Yell give me a good wakin', boys,
an gran funeral"
They promised this very heartily.
"And after the funeral yell all come
here together, and open the will, the
children an all. All but Garrett. I've
left him nothing, poor boy, for sure he's
not in this world. I'll maybe see him
where I'm goin'."
So there was n grand wake, and the
virtues of the deceased and his profes-
sional Importance were duly hOwled by
an old lady who excelled in this lugu-
brious art. Then the funeral was hur-
ried on, because they were in hurry
to open the chest.
The funeral was joined in the church
yard by stranger, who muffied his face,
and shed the only tears that fell upon
that grave. After the funeral he stayed
behind all the rest and mourned, but he
joined the family at the feast which fol-
lowed and, behold, it was Garrett, come
day too late. He was welcomed with
exuberant affection, not being down in
the will but they did not ask him to
sleep there. They wanted to be alone,
and read the will. He begged for some
"reminiscences of his father, and they gave
him Lurcher. So he put Lurcher into
his gig, and drove away to that good
farmer, sure of his welcome, and praying
God he might find him alive. Perhaps
his brothers would not have let him Po
so easily had they known he had made
large fortune in America, and was going
to buy quite slice of the county
On the way he kept talking to Lurcher,
and reminding him of certain sports they
had enjoyed together, and feats of poach-
ing they had performed. Poor old
Lurcher had been pricking his ears all
the time, and cudgeling his memory as to
the tones of the voice that was address
ing him. Garrett reached the farm, and
was received first with stares, then with
cries of JOY, and was dragged into the
house, 80 to speak. After the first ardor
of welcome, he told them he had arrived
only just in time to bury his father.
"And this old dog" said he, "is all
that's left me of him. He was mine first,
and, when left, he took to father. He
was always wise dog"
1--WE know him." said the wife, "he
has been here before" And she was
going to blurt it all out, but her man
said, Another time," and gave her a
look as black as thunder, which wasn't
his way at all, but he explained to her
afterward. "They are friends, those
three, over the old mans grave. We
should think twice before we stir i'll
blood betune EN-" So, when he stopped
her, she turned it off cleverly enough.
and said the dear old dog must have his