Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-24

dreadful cold found him dwelling ever alone
in the silence of the great woods. As the
long decades were passing, the silver OF
his locks changed to snow.
II came to pass that message from the
years gone by penetrated to his seclusion.
reaching his saddened spirit more to wound
than to cheer
II was an August night and was raining.
Jacques sat in his cabin, reading news
paper dated three months back The light
of candle which he held in his hand fell
upon his face, revealing how strangely and
sadly it was chastened by his lonely life.
| The rain beat dull and dreary upon the
window-pane. A mouse nibbled in the
cupboard and then ran across the floor. a
low. moaning sigh came from the forest.
Jacques put his candle upon the table,
pushed up his spectaces. closed his eyes,
and sat thinking. There were strange
stories in the newspaper he had been read
ing about spirits coming back To this
world. lie was not surprised at the idea.
| He had felt his deceased brother near him
many times, when he was utterly heart
broken and weeping in his solitary hours.
But he did not think it likely that the
spirits would make noises and disturb peo-
pie. He was satisfied that the accounts in
the newspaper were not true. Then he
wondered again what it was he had ielt
coming all day. Perhaps it was nothing.
Yet why should he feel it always before
people came? He would not have believed
such things years ago.
Jacques opened his eyes. Was that a
faint lightning flash upon the Window 1t
was too long and steady for that. He rose
and peered out into the blackness of the
rainy night. His window overlooked the
lake. Across, upon a point of land that
projected out from the main land, a ruddy
fire was burning. Its red glare came in
"a misty, shimmering track across the
waves.
'Some hunters. probably thought he.
And yet the hunters never came to the
lake, and there was no fishing there. at
must be some one who has come all the
way through the woods on the old mining
road" he said to himself. He tried to be-
levc that it was not remarkable, but he
did not sleep very soundly that night for
thinking of it, although the beat of the
rain upon the roof soothed him.
The next morning was clear and beauti-
full. The green, wet woods were stream
ing in the warm summer air, and the bees
were humming. At eight o'clock Jacques
sat reading in his open doorway. A
bright. active boy, dressed in a blue suit.
and about twelve years of age, came along
the shore of the lake and to the door OF
the cabin.
Good morning, Mr.. Jacques, :" said the
boy, with CHEEKY smile; and his clear,
blue eyes looked kindly and curiously at
the long white hair, and grave, sad face OF
the hermit. Jacques pushed his specta-
cles back from his forehead. and turned
his dreamy look upon the young face be-
fore him.
The boy proceeded TO tell Jacques that
he and his older brother had walked sixty
miles along the roads through the woods
for a vacation. and were camping over on
the point. He said that as it was Sunday,
they should stay over until tomorrow
They told us back at Smiths that YOU
lived here and that your name was Mr.
Jacques" said the boy with juvenile vol
utility; and turning partly away, the lad
commenced biting the green bark from a
fresh birch branch in his hand, CHANGING
at the man meanwhile to discover what
impression he was making. When the
hermit spoke few kind words in reply,
the boy seemed to Judge that it would be
safe to develop his policy. You see, Mr..
jacques, ." he said, ''we want some new
potatoes from your garden, and l guess
You will hate to let us have any"
The boy found but little difficulty in ar
ranging with kind hearted Mr. Jacques
The hermit was ready to do more than
was asked of him. He urged that the lads
should come and stay at his cottage.
((npt;pn.I 4