The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-07-17

searching gaze. They had honest, man
Iy faces, but hard and defiant lines we're
already coming into them.
She sat silent long time. The drive
on the Wissahickon and the dance 1t
was not easy to shut the door on that
dream of delight At last she looked up
cheerfully.
"What do You say, children, to pic
mic? EARLY start, big basket, boat to
Rockland, fishing,-all kinds Of fun"
"Nelly -
"Do you mean it ?"
The children started up. 1--WE never
did such a thing !" cried Alice. "I
never was farther out of town than the
water-works in my life !"
"Oh, Ally, that cannot be true"
eyes, it is true. You don't take any
care Of me, or you would know. no
BODY does-since mamma died." The
child's lips trembled.
"I will take care of you now, little
sister," said Nelly, putting her arm
around her. "Well, what do you say,
boys?"
Thad and Joe looked at each other.
"Wc made sort of engagement, said
Thad; "but we'd rather go with you,
and-we will 20" he added, resolutely.
Mr.. Bigelow had left the table and
wandered aimlessly to the window. Nell
ly ran after him and caught his hand. It
was like caressing a wooden statue.
"Papa,-you will go with usP"
81, Nelly, on a party of pleasure !"
He stared down at her. The co.or
actually rose into his withered cheek.
"Xou don't think I could, my child
You do not want poor old man like
meH
Something in his look revealed to Mel
" the truth, the utter loneliness of the
old mans life, the hungry craving for
love and companionship, which she had
never given him. She held his hand in
hers a moment, stroking it, and then
kissed it. She could not speak.
"Iwill go, my child"
Her fathers voice was strangely alter
ed. He went into his own room, and
did not come out again.
Nelly was busy until late in the night.
There was tongue to boil, and GER
tain kind of cookies to bake. The boys
lowered over her, happy, meddling at
every turn, but singularly gentle and
affectionate.
"Mother used to make this kind of
cakes. Arn't they nice ?"
Alice had her sleeves rolled up and her
apron on. Never was anybody more
busy or more important. Nelly joked
and laughed, and made more fun out OF
the packing of basket than was ever
made since time began. But her heart
was sore within her. What trife was
needed to make these children happy,
and to bind them to home How solitary
and cheerless her fathers life had been
these many years A little out.spoken
love, little cheerfulness, was all that
was needed, and she had been blind to
it all these years
The picnic was very simple matter.
People who can afford pleasure every
day would have laughed at it. They
went out to the park in the horse cars
Then they sailed up the broad, bright
river to Rockland. Then Mr.. Bigelow
found dark pool, and rugged his old
rods, and taught the boys how to fish.
| They found out he had been famous
! fisherman in his day. He told wonder
full stories of old exploits, brought up
| old Jokes, and was not little vain of the
boys shouts of applause.
The children actually never had heard
their father talk before. They felt they
knew him for the first time. Thad was
moved to confide his scrapes with the
Latin teacher TO him, and little Joe fel
asleep with his head on his knee,
"Don't take him away, Nelly" saio
the old man, when she would have re-
moved him. eff only my children
would come closer to me in this way
Perhaps they will"
Nelly left Alice to preside over tn,
dinner. She spread it on big rock
Her father and the boys kindled fire
and Mr.. Bigelow cooked the three fisl
they had caught.
You never heard such jokes and laugh
ing-you,, never saw people with sucl
ravenous appetites After Dime
Thad, who had very sweet little pip
OF voice, sang some songs; and thel
Mr.. Bigelow asked them if they kneV
"The Bay of Biscay, obi" and sang il
1t was moonlight when they cam
home, floating down the river betwee
the dark, wooded banks. Nelly sat wit
Alice clinging to her. "You are the bes
sister in the world!" said the child.
Her father took her hand in his. 81
has been one of the happiest days of m
life, Nelly. thought my children care
nothing for me, but shall never b
alone again.
Years have passed since that day
Thad and Joe are now sturdy youn
fellows, and engaged in business. Alic
, is a gentle, bright-faced girl. Nelly is
} happy wife and mother. Her old fathe
sits by her fireside, and her children al
3 his pets and darlings. There has nc
= heent an hour in which she has nC
striven in little ways to make other
] happy. But she never forgets that fir
day when she learned the lesson of sci
J sacrifice, nor the tone of her father
1 voice as he said, "I shall never be alor
Q again. - Youths Companion.