Morris tribune., 1880-09-16

and it's not long we have to stay in this
world, you know"
t'Will you tell me the history of this
place, Mr.. DerbyG" asked Mr.. Faxon,
"How did you come to lose ItG' M
sit was mortgaged, SIR said the old
man, "to pay the boys college bills. You
see we had three chlldren-Selwvn, Ros-
coe and little Annie. Mother and did
not have an eddication, but we said all
along that our children should have; an
they went to the distric' school, ar then
the academy-an' by. 'n-by we fitted 'em
off for college. Bright, smart boys they
were-everybody said my boys had good
parts, though Roc was allus little wild,
/ think mother, there, loved him little
better for that. He was more trouble,
an she chung to him closer because 9TH
ers blamed him at times. Annie, his sis
ter, was always a-pleadin' for Roc, too.
H. played truant, and whipped the boys
who told on him. He was always putin
his bones in peril, an twice he was half
drowned-yet, in spite of it all, he was
ready for college when Selwyn was, al
though Selwyn was as steady as clock.
Mother an had been scrapin' together
for years, an at last we fitted them off.
I'VE went on denyin' ourselves, for 1t
was just the one hope of our lives to
have the boys graduate with all the
honors; an time went on, but many of
the crops failed, an failin' to get to.
gether the money the boys sent for-es-
pecially Roc-we mortgaged the farm
for five hundred dollars.
''They were nearly through, you see,
an mother and Annie thought that Sell
wyn might be principal of the academy
or something when he came home, an
Roc would be a lawyer, cause he could
argufy and speak SO smart IN public, an
the money would be paid back easy.
"But from time to time there came ru-
mors didn't like, as &c how Roscoe was
up to his old wild ways, and at las: 1t
came like thunderbolt-Roc was sus-
pended and had run away to foreign
parts. Well, pass over that, sir;
tried not to be too hard on the boy.
Then Selwyn came home. He hal grad
uated we'll, but he had cough. He
didn't complain, but he was thin and
pale, an soon mother an I saw that the
son we had ment to relyson was an inva-
hid upon our hands. The thought struck
me dump. But mother was all energy
We travelled here with him, we travelled
there. We saw all the noted doctors
East and West. We borrowed more
money on the old place, and We never
paid any back. made one or two pay
ments at first, but they were but drop
in the bucket. At last we brought Sci.
wyn home to de-"
Don't, Danielr" said the mother, softly
He wants to hear the rest. There's
only little more, but it's no better. An
ME was like Selwyn-good an patient
delicate like too. We didn't mind it al
first, but her cheeks grew thin and too red
a cough she had from child grew hard
er, and though the best doctor we could
get came early and late, it was only 6
year after Selwyn died before we laid An.
ME down among the SHOWS. Thank We
sir, for your pity! Mother and I have
shed most of our tears
Mr. Faxon put his cambria han6ker
chief back into his pocket.
| "Your other son, Roscoe, Mr.. Derby
did he ever Gomez .
"Never! its nigh eight years since We
have seen Roc. He knew he disappoint
| ed US; but that was nothing-was it mo
ther2''
81 never think of It, said Mrs. Der
by, shaking her head. Perhaps-I don
know-we took the wrong course witt
Roc. He was restless and active. h
was wild but he was loving"
Her voice broke.
Mrs. Derby said Mr., Faxon, ~ fine
I know something OF your story already
Your son, Roscoe Derby, who ran ava,
at nineteen years old, is probably living
and it may come in my way to Obtain
some information of him for you.''
The old people had risen eagerly iron
their seats; but he went on, quickly:
"Meanwhlle, be at no Inconvenience
regarding your stay here IN your oil,
home. Your right to occupy it is I'm
questioned in my mind, and let me as
sure you that you will never, during you
lifetime,be required to go hence. Their
IS the mortgage"-he placed some pa
pers on the table-"the Derby place j
your own" -. e.-s,.
| He rose, putting them gently back a
they pressed toward him, trying to ez
press their gratitude.
"No-no thanks! Believe me YOU ow
me nothing-nothingr'
He took his hat. The old man. VIII
was voiceless, wrung his band. Nj
Faxon turned to Mrs Derby, and takin.
her soft wrinkled fingers in his stron
palm, bent low and kissed them. The
he turned toward the door, but in a me
ment he had come back.
"Mother-father!" he said, II canno
go, for I know you have forgiven mel"
And the next instant the strong ma
was kneeling with his head on his moth
er's knee.
"After long years, mother" he sale
as she stroked. his temples with fond fir
gers. I am bat twenty-eight years OLE
but sorrow for my early faults has brougf
some gray hairs about my temples"
"And You are not Mr.. Faxon. after al
, Roc?" said the father. with puzzle
smile.
"Yes, am, dear father. Five yea
ago had the good fortune to gain IL
goodwill of one of the wealthiest Anne
lean shipping merchants then in Lol
, don. He gave me asgood position, an
decided to return home with him, an
> served faithfully In his employ, unit
just before his death, when, havir
formed an engagement with his on
. daughter, he gave his consent to our ma
, rage, with the proviso that would tai
: his name and carry on his interests G
aetly as they had been. To thus I CO..
sented, for in spite of settled habits an
ideas, / felt as an alien and alone; bu
mother, i have a good wife and the be
of sons--a little fellow two years o.
: named Derby. Does that please you
All, indeed! What loving old woms
is not pleased with her grandchil,
I Soon the house was graced by the pre-
ence of Violet Faxon and her lovely DO
}, whom grandfather could not prai
enough and grandmother con.d not TO
die enough; yet it was sweeter, perhaE
to Roscoe Faxon TO hear his mother
= voice whisper: t
~ like yorr wife; and Go you kno'
"a q = a