Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-23

uncertain SOtt VI way ~ u uc HAUL
or ought not to have heard such things
able Annie. But the thing worked In his
feeble head, and as Fools rush In where
angels fear to tread" and sometimes do
good service by their folly, so Jim plunged
into the middle OF things the very next
morning, as he was brushing the shoes for
h-going. while the deacon read over
his Sunday school lesson BY the window.
Say! you hain't got any sou. have ye,
deacon?r
The old man looked at Jim with an air OF
terror as well as wonder, and turned pale
as ashes:
Yes, I've got son." he answered me-
chanically.
why, l haint never seen himl' ex-
claimed Jim, as il he still scarcely believed.
"He has not been ut home for i've long
years, Jim; he Is . prodigal who filleth
himself with husks." solemnly replied the
deacon, who had somewhat recovered his
poise.
well. why don't ye fetch him home nd
give him suthin' better to eat?'
The deacon stared at Jim, but could not
answer.
Whats he ben an done anyway ?" went
on the simple torturer. KILLED anybody
stole anythin'?'
mo. no, no, CIRCULATED the Deacon.
raging inwardly between the persistency
Of his questioner, aud the imposslbility OF
explaining to him the reason OF Sans ban
ishment. Perhaps, too, the reason why
this was so difficult to explain, began TO
wrestle with his conscience.
well, fm dretiul sorry" said jim.
muslngly. MY daddy. now, was poor
cretur. drunk mostly but he was real good
TO me. lm glad he want no better {;
mebbe shouldn't ha' ben good enough tor
him TO speak TO, too"
The deacon could have struck jim, who
went on brushing the shoes rs seriously as
II they were AN algebraic problem.
We'll, jim, the fact Is, he didn't believe
In the Bible, Sam didn't
Poor cretur, poor cretur." said Jim,
warming into sympathy at once. well,
deacon, ye know what you was = readn'
about TO me last Saba day; tryin' 20
drive inter my head ye know?-takes lot
o. time to drive anythin' Into . fools head
but l cant disremember that. twas so
kinder marciful like, bout how the good
Lord forgiv them iellers that killed him,
cause he said they didu't know what they
was doin'. Mebbe your sam don't; what
ef ye was TO take him TO Saba school, an
larn him better? You tell me where he
stays, an III 20 fetch him.
jim was in eager earnest; his eyes were
lit with unusual rays, and one hand held
awkwar1ly out toward the deacon but the
old man could not answer; he stumbled
away to the bedroom and fell on his knees
by the bedside. What he said to God Is not
for US to know; what he did, was to write
q letter that very night to Samuel, and beg
him TO come home to his old father, and
his loving mother.
As for jim, the matter passed clear out
of his oddly made up mind he had salts
fed himself the deacon had q son, the im-
mediate curiosity was at rest, He did not
see Annie Palmer the next day; In fact,
SO inconsequent were his mental processes
when under the external excitement, he
did not oace think OF what she SAID 10 him
but only missed her as he would miss sun
shine, or fire or food; tor Annie had be-
come a necessity TO the largest share of his
nature, his heart.
A week alter, Mrs. EIlery came out into
the garden where Jim was wedding.
"Oh, jim" said she. My dear sou.
my sam, is coming home to-morrer; and
ON To be married.'
We'll, I'm glad ont" cheerfully an
swered Jim.
7 Yes. he's a comm home to-morrer
haln't sot eyes on HIN this five year an
more; and Thursday he's goin' to be
married to Annie Palmer"
"Oh Lord" said jim with gasp: but
the good woman did not hear him heart
and head were full OF Sam, and she turned
and went into the house.
Jim did not come Ia after milking that
night the deacon found him curled-dowD
In corner of the barn.
Il guess I'm sick" was all he said; but
somehow he reminded the deacon of an
old dog he once had that was mortally
wounded by accident. and stole into that
very corner TO die. There was the same
hurt, protesting look In both pair of eyes.
They took Jim into his own room, an
In 8 day or tive he was better, but neved
well again he lived few months. feebler
patient, smiling and doing all he could.
The only queer thing about him was that.
he never asked To see Annie Palmer, or
even spoke her name again. Sam went
up stairs TO see him. but jim was asleep.
he said, and he wouldn't waken him. Per.
haps Deacon Fllery, being reticent man
never told his son how much he owed TO-
the poor old fool. Annie forgot him, too
probably, but what can You eXbcct of q
happy young bride? When Winter came
Jim went. DR.. Green srid the cold was
too great for such low state of vitality
perhaps it was. However that might be.
one starry and splended night quick II y
sprang into the ia0gud eyes. ''Mothei :.
he said. with an accent of rapture and
jericho Jim WIS gone to the Jerusalem
which is above. Rose Terry Cooke, in
Sunday afternoon for March.