The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-05-06

every feature. Surely, ii the science OF
physiognomy, which her husband
studied 20 much, and with such faith,
was reliable, this boy ought tosEhASe
grand capacities. Once more, shutting
out the rags and filth, and only observ-
ing the hair, now glossy and waving,
from her dextrous manipulations, over
q shapely head, and making the face
with its eyes of lustrous gray, and the
mouth like cupid bow, and the chin
strong without being unseemly-seeing
this without the dregs, the boy was
handsome. Mrs. Walsh, thinking of
the little mounds in the church-yard,
prayed God that she might be happy
mother; and, if boy was to bless her
maternity, she would not ask that he
should be handsomer than she believed
she could make this boy.
Jim finished eating and stood.
"James," said the little woman-for
she was little woman" James, when
you are hungry and have nothing to
eat, il YOU will come to this door, will
feed you. / don't want you to go hun
gry.I J.. ,.,,
"And il / feed you when you are
hungry, will you not try to be good, for
my sakew
The boy hung his head and consid-
cred. SJme might have wondered that
he did not answer at once, as grateful
boy ought; but Mrs Walsh was deeper
than that. The lad was considering
how he must answer sadly and truly.
"If they'd let me be good, mann, but
they WON'T" he at length replied
"Will you try all you CAM"
"Yes'm, I'll try all can"
Mrs. Walsh gave the lad a small parcel
of food in paper, and patted his curly
head. The boy had not shed tear
since the wound was assuaged. Some
might have thought he was not CRATE
full; but the little woman could see the
gratitude in the deeper light of his
ewes. The old crust was not broken
enough yet for tears.
Afterward, Mrs. Walsh told her hug
band what she had done, and he laughed
at her.
"Do you think, Mary, that your
kindness can help that ragged waiff'
81 do not think it will hurt him,
Silas?"
1t was not the first time Mrs. Walsh
had delivered answers to the erudite
doctor which effectually stopped dis
cussion.
After that, Jim came often to the
door and was fed; and he came cleaner
and more orderly with each succeeding
visit. At length Mrs. Walsh was in
formed that friend was going away
into far western country to take up
land and make a frontier farm. The
thought occurred to her that this might
be a good opportunity for James Am
merton. She saw her friend and
brought Jim to his notice, and the re-
suit was the boy went away with the
emigrant adventurer. And she heard
from her friend g year later that he
liked the boy very much. Two years
later the emigrant wrote that Jim was a
treasure. And Mrs. Walsh showed the
letter to her husband, and he smiled aud
kissed the little wife, and said ne was
glad.
And ne had another source of glad
ness. Upon her bosom his little wife
bore robust, healthy boy-their, own
son-who gave promise of life and hap
piness in the time to come.
The years sped on and James Am
merton dropped out from the Ii ie that
Mary Walsh knew. The last she heard
was five years after ne went away from
Ellsworth, and Jim had then started for
the golden mountains on his own ac-
count, to commence in earnest his own
life battle.
But there were joy and pride in the
little woman's life which held its place
and grew and strengthened. Her boy,
whom they called Philip, grew to be q
| of L.
hearted, good boy, whom everybody
loved; and none loved him more than
did his parents. In fact, they worship
ped him; sor,at least, his mother did
At the age Of seventeen Philip Walsh
entered college, and at the age Of twenty
one graduated with honor; but the Ions
and severe study had taxed his system
and he entered upon the stage of man
hood not quite 50 strong in body as h,
should have been. His mother saw i
and was anxious; his father saw it ant
decided that he should have recreation
and recuperation before he entered int
|, active business. DR.. Walsh was no
pecuniarily able to send his son on u
, expensive travel, but, he found oppor
, tunity for his engagement upon the sta
of an exploring expedition which wouIi
combine heaithful recreation with 81
equally healthful occupation.
, The expedition was bound for th
/ Western wilderness, and we need no
! tell of the parting between the mothe
, and the son. She kissed him and bles
: him, and hung upon his neck with NOR
= kisses, then went away to her chambe
and cried. ,zsA
Q Philip wrote home often while on hi
way out; and he wrote after he ha
Q reached the wilderness. His accoun,
I were glowing and his health was in
proving. Three months of fores. iii
and forest labor, Of which Philip wroi
in q letter that had to be borne moi
than a hundred miles to the rearel
post, and then followed months {
e silence. Where was Philip Why di
he not write3 @aM - =. ~ i2sEz
One day DIR. Walsh came home pal
and faint, with newspaper crunple
2 and crushed in his hand. Not inip,
diately, but by-and-by, he was forced
let his wife read whag be had seen
that paper. She read, and fell like on
'e mortally stricken. TWAS paper fro
far distant city, aud it told the ga
tate OF the exploring party under II
n charge of Colonel John Beauchamp
d hew they had been attacked BY an owe
9. powering body Of Indians, and bo
" those not massacred had been carrie
l. away captive.
ID Poor little womanl Poor DIR. Walls
lg But the mother suffered most. H
i'd head, already taking on its crown
ie silver, was bowed in binding agon
"a and har .haart waa wel1.ni0h hr0ka