The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-12-18

mer. 81 don't believe it. I've no doubt
il was the most sensible thing Nathaniel
ever did-in dream"
"And please go on, begged his wife.
g And he took my hand,n the widow
went on, and said-oh! ! can't tell
you all | dreamed he said, but he ended
BY saying: sAnd so, of course, l must
think of YOU no longer-a poor, crippled
fellow like me- And | said
" What did you say?" cried Nathaniel,
springing to his feet and looking eager
ly toward her, totally forgetful of the
rest of the company.
Nathaniel Bracket, you're an IDIOT"
"Just as | expected" murmured
poor Nat, sinking into his chair again.
"If you hare lost your arm-your
right ARM" the widow calmly proceed
ed, "you haven't lost your head, and
that head, as happen to know, con-
tanned the usual, perhaps little more
than the usual, amount of brains, and
if, as | hear, a thousand or two will give
you an interest in Tom Aliens bust
ness, why what is to prevent me,
having little money at my command
and no one to take care of but myself,
lending it to you-for the sake of your
sister, of whom am very fond? Or, if
you won't look at it in that way, why
can't 4 become partner, gerry silent
one, and you manage for me, taking a
fair equivalent for your services?' And
that the end"
"Never!" shouted Nat, springing
from his chair once more, and taking a
few steps toward her. 1.-THE dream
never ended in that way Nathaniel
made some further remark, I'm sure he
did,
81 believe he did," said the widow,
knitting her pretty brows, as though in
thought, while a rosy blush overspread
her face, " but dreams grow so shadowy
at the last, and this became so cery in
distinct after l had spoken of going into
the printing business myself that | can
scarcely remember u
"That Nat Bracket said,n prompted
Nathaniel, "'God bless YOU for dar-
ling! and I'll accept the offered loan on
condition that you'll add to it Christ
mas gyt-a gift above all price-your
precious SELF
"Well, well, how did you ever
know?" exclaimed the widow in pre-
tended surprise.
Cant imagine" said Nat, his eyes
sparkling with fun for a moment, and
then, us she rose from her seat, he came
and stood before her and said entreat-
ingly, "But don't know what answer
you dreamed You made
q Nor |" laughed the widow.
''But 4 do said Mrs McChilly, with
an emphatic rap of her cane. 81 do
Mrs. Nathaniel Bracket
And we all shouted and clapped our
hands like a parcel of children, and
then we all mot one of us, I'm sure,
could have told why cried little and
were. quietly feeling for our handker-
chiefs to wipe away the tears, when the
old lady spoke again, looking down on
the Rosebuds, who were still sleeping.
80 UiH be a friend to these little ones
and their parents y she said, ga good
friend. That part of the dream shall
come true. As for my grandson"
/" Here he is" screamed Mamie, with
a hystericaI laugh, as she flung open the
door that led into the dining room.
And there he was, to be sure, with his
sweetheart on his arm, and in an in
slant they were both kneeing before
their grandmother, with one of her
wrinkled hands in blessing on each
bowed, young head.
Mr.. Summer turned from the pretty
tableau and bent and kissed his
wife, and softly whispered some
thing to her that made her "eyes
like stars indeed, as she exclaimed in
a voice trembling with joy, 'My part of
the wonderful dream has already come
true
"And mine came true this morning."
said l, as l took the letter from my
pocket.
''And mine,'' stammered Nat, as his !
only arm stole around the widows waist, |
90 can it come true?n
sit cqn," said Widow Winterpippin. !
Etynge, IN Detroit Free
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