The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-29

III du luCtouA -
ours and held out one little hand to catch
he CLEAN. But the CLEAN could not be
and now the head was held up to
zee where the cunning CLEAN came from.
It came from a very bright place; and the
little one, rising on it's legs on to the open
door of Silas Manners cottage, and right up
to the warm hearth where Silas' coat lay on
the bricks to dry. The little one squatted
down on the coat, and presently the warmth
had a lulling effect, and the little golden
head sank down on the old coat asleep.
But where was Silas Mariner? lie was ID
the cottage, but he did not see the child.
He had gone to the door to look out, and
nut his right hand on the latch OF the door
to close it-but he did not close it he was
arrested bv the invisible hand Of catalepsy, |
and stood with wide but sightless eyes, hold
ing open his door, powerless to resist either
the good or evil that might enter there.
When Manners sensibility returned he
closed the door, and turning towards the
hearth, where, to his blurred vision, 1t
seemed as if there were gold on the floor IN
front of the hearth.
Gold his own gold-brought back as
mysteriously as it had been taken away.
He leaned forward at last, and stretched
forth his hand but instead Of the hard
coin, his fingers encountered soft, warm
curls. Could this be his little sister, come
back to him in adream? He had a dreamy
feeling that this child was somehow a mes
sage com to him from that far-off life. But
there was a cry on the hearth, and Sllas fed
and soothed it. He found it had o. wet
shoes, which suggested to him that she
must have come from out doors, so he raised
the child and went to the door and the little
one cried nanny. Bending forward he
could just discern marks made by the little
feet, and he followed their track to the
rurze bush, and there he found human
and half covered with the shaken snow.
Silas knew that all the town was at the
grand party at the Squire's, SO he carried
the little one right there In search of the
| doctor. The doctor, Godfrey, and a few
others, go to the stone pits, and then lind
that the woman is past help-dead. They
urged Silas to part with the child, but he
presses it to him and says:
mo, no! | can't part with it. It's
com to me Il We a right to keep it."
1t was a bright autumn Sunday, sixteen
years after Silas Warner had found his new
treasure on the hearth.
ringing the cheerful peal which told that
the morning service was ended. He called
her Eppie for his sister, and that morning
as they walked home together, in low muir
muring tones, Eppie talked to him.
"Father, if | was to be married, ought
1 to be married with mothers ring ?"
why, Eppie, have you been a thinking
on it"
''Only this last week, father" said ZIP.
pie, ingenlOusly, since Aaron talked to me
about it."
And what did he say?" said Silas.
"He said he should like to be married
haoa1,ca ho uoc ooinn on conr q nd wnptr op6
had got a good deal of gardening work, now
Mr.. Motifs given up"
And who Is it as he's wanting to marry?'
said Siias with rather a sad smile.
why, me, to be sure, daddy" said Ep-
pie, with dimpling laughter, kissing her
fathers cheek; "as if he d wanted to marry
any body else"
And you mean to have him, do you?'
said Silas.
Eyes, some time" said Eppie, II don't
know when
Every body's married some time"
Aaron says.
But | told him that wasn't true, for |
said, 'look at father-he's never been mar.
ried.".
My child" said Silas, your father was
a lone man till you was sent him."
but you'll never be a lone man again,
father" said Eppie tenderly. THAT was
what Aaron said
Il could never think O. taking you away
from Master Mariner, Eppie." And" ]
said, it'ud be no use if you did, Aaron, anc
he wants us all to live together, so you
needn't work, and he'd be as good as a SOL
to you. But [ don't want any change
Only Aaron does want a change, and ht
made me cry a bit-only a bit-because he
said | didn't care for him, for if | cared fol-
him, | should want us to be married, as hi
did
"Eh, my blessed child said Silas
You are Der young to be married. But
shall get older and helpless, and l SHOULD
like to have you have somebody else beside.
me-semebody young and strong, as us
take care O you to the end"
Then you would ike NE to be married
father?"
"Ill not be the man to say no, Eppie
but will ask your godmother. She'll wisl
l. tho cinbf +h1pr ly ,.o, onl l-