The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-11-14
OFFICIAL PAPER OF ALEXANDER COUNTY
WAITING AND WAITING.

One evening, about ten years ago, was
sitting in my cherries, unhomelike hotel
parlor when letter was handed me bear
ing the posmark Of q remote little village
among the Connecticut hills. had been
there once long years before, and as took
the letter watt from the breezy hills and
fragrant woods swept over the remembrance,
causing again the thrill Of pleasure with
which first welcomed them.
opened my letter; the writing was
familiar, l glanced at the signature. 1t
was that of my old college friend, Phillip
Rodent.
shut my eyes then and thought awhile.
The tide of memory was too strong for
me; | had to let it float me away. Twenty
six years before Phil and l had clasped
hands over our farewell, he to finish his
medical studies abroad, 10 enter the theo-
logical seminary And now l was an old
man, with failing health, and he the phys-
clan of the quaint little village where We
had once idled away our summer vacation,
with many a jest at the old time ways and
customs of the primitive inhabitants. Are
lives ever what they iiupe 10 bet How
many tired feet fall and falter? how many
eyes grow dim with watching for the dawn
that never - =" oh >~s------ -. hnnA
snst me great hereafter blighted buds
may swell and blossom into the perfect
ilowerl
Il have heard of you, my friend" wrote
Phil. you are out Of health and spirits.
Come to me, and we will cfeer you up. |
have room ready for you in my bachelors
hall, and we need you here. Our minister,
good old man, has gone to his well earned
rest, and we are shepherdless flock. We
have young man preaching for us, talent
ed and good intented; but he scared among
the clouds too much for us; and our heads
grew dizzy watching his aerial flights, so
we shut our eyes and left him, thinking
that, as he seemed to know the way, he
would some time reach terra frma again.
But that is not what we want we want to
be baptised and married and buried in the
good old way, and you must do il for us.
Say when you will come, and Ned (my
horse) and l will meet you at the
station"
Kind and hearty as ever.
If any man can give me strength and
happiness, it is Phil Rodent" | said to my
self.
Early in the next week the train left me
at the quiet station, little different from
what | remembered it, and no sooner had |
stepped upon the platform than CHEEKY
voice exclaimed:
Welcome, old fellow, welcome at last"
and Phil clasped my hand in both of his.
saw the brakeman smile as we two old
men walked off together, Pills arm thrown
across my shoulder-a boyish trick of his
but thank God in my heart for thus
strong, faithful friend who had kept the
memory of our boyish days still fresh and
green amid the frosts of age and the chill
ing winds of change and absence.
One balmy September morning was in
stalled pastor of the old-fashioned little
church, and then / went to housekeeping.
Phil and were busy all one week getting
my home ready and then wrote to Abby,
who, poor girl, was glad enough to leave
her boarding-place and come to keep house
for me. Many years ago she had buried her
hopes of happiness in the grave of young
Richard Phelps, and since then her life had
been rather cherries one. We had two
brothers married, but though "Aunt Abby"
was very useful If the children had measles,
or scarlet fever, there was no place to call
her "home;" SO now we two, the odd ones
In the family, planned to end our days to-
gether.
Phil and were much with each other,
and one evening in the beginning of De-
cember we were sitting in his sanctum
smoking aquiet pipe together, and he tell
ing me OF some improvements which he
meant to make on his place, when | said,
jestingly:
"What a pity it Is you haven't made
some woman happy with the gift of your
hand and pleasant home with ali it's
etcetras of lame horses and charity
patients
Phil pulled cloud of smoke into the
air, and sat watching the soft rings in sill
ence for some moments; then he said
quietly:
IL have been waiting these twenty years,
Archie for my wife, and still believe she
will come, though it's long time, he re.
peatcd musingly.
Was my friend dreaming9 said moth.
ing but sat awaiting some further enlight.
eminent.