The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-27

his head; "sure we've none of yer tick.
| cts"
Money, them" said the conductor
impatiently.
" An we've no money, aither," an
swered Jem; Though it's not Squire
Ashley's darter would be travelin' wild
out any if we hadn't been brought of
unbeknownst to u.s."
don't know what you are talking
about, my man, and I've no time to
waste. Hand over your fare"
Didn't | jist be tellin' we had none?'
responded Jem, emphatically.
What are you doing aboard the train,
them"
DOM aboord? It's goin' home am.
We got locked in car and brought off
on yer ould raleroad widout wantin' to
come at all; and it's goin' home we is
now"
I've got nothing to do with all that.
II you can't pay you must get off" said
the conductor, angrily.
The little Oak looked up with a sudden
burst of tears
80 no, no! don't put us off! Jem
hasn't got any money-indeed he hasn't
and must go home to mammal
" What is it? What is the matter?"
called two or three voices from seats near
them; and some of the passengers drew
neal to listen.
| hardly know" answered the con-
ductor, his tone softening at the child's
distress. Where is your mother, sissy"
And, looking up with fearful, innocent
eyes, the child told her simple story-the
dainty slippers she wore, the white dress
(woefully soiled now, and her mass of
tangled curls adding their unconscious
confirmation to her words.
You poor little toad" said a gener-
Gus, bOyish voice; "never fear; you and
Jem shall go home all right Lend me
your hat, little one, and I'll soon raise
the funds"
The little hat, with its owners story,
was speedily circulated by the warm
hearted young student, and presently
returned, as he had promised, with
money enough to carry them home; and
Oak, drying her tears, grew cheerful and
hopeful again. 1t seemed long days
ride, that homeward journey; and the
two faces-the mans and the childs-
were turned constantly toward the
window, watching for familiar land.
marks. A long days ride! though their
fellow travellers We'd with each other in
kindly effort to render them comfortable.
1t was almost sunset when they
reached the little station near which they
had first embarked; and, with a hasty
farewell to their new friends, Jem
hurried away with his charge, as if
afraid that they might be carried off
again, and, not pausing moment at the
village, started homeward. AS they
passed along the old road he turned aside
for a moment where he had left the
horse. 1t was not there-he had not ex-
pected it would be; and, catching the
child in his arms, he fastened forward
with long, rapid strides, and in the gray
twilight passed under the dropping trees
of the old avenue, and up to the house.
Who can describe that home coming?
The glad shout of the little fellow who
first discovered their approach was fol-
lowed by~ the sudden rush of many feet
to door, hall, and piazza. Exclamatons
thanksgiving Inlnsiea In stang ovnfa,
sion, while Oak was overwhelmed with
kisses. The horse, it seemed, frightened
by the lightning, had broken loose from
his fastening, and made his way home
with the empty wagon. That had first
created dread and alarm, which was in
tenslfed by a long and unsuccessful
search for the missing ones, of whom no
trace had been found from the time they
left the mill until they reappeared at
home. Jem was questioned and cross
questioned, and told his story again and
again, first above stairs, then below, to
the group who gathered about him there.
"And now little Oak must come and
sit on grandpa's knee, and rest after her
long ride" said old Col. Ashley, as the
family gathered in the brightly-lighted
drawing room.
The child sprang to her favOrite seat,
and leaned her head against the old mans
shoulder. AS she did so her eyes fell
once more upon the picture upon the
wall; and, drawing down the silver head
until it almost touched her golden one,
she whispered:
what it means now about HIS being a
refuge from the storm, because in the
car prayed to Him to bring US home,
and He did: didn't He?"
cay, He did," answered the old gen
tleman, drawing his arms still closer
about his recovered darling. Then, as
he recalled the chilling dread and pain,
the long anguish of the preceding night,
when there was for them no thought of
strength and comfort save the sure knowl-
edge that the everlasting arms were
around their loved one still, he added
so earnestly that through all the years of
her after-life Oak never forgot it:
"Ah, my darling, my darling! this
holy faith of ours is indeed the shelter
ing shadow of great rock in world
that without it would be a weary, weary
| landw
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