The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-12-30

| pthhtHR OfcE HeF.
"Better, much better, thank yot
good lady" she says In voice whicI
trombes from ago as well as weakness
"and very grateful TO you for you
goodness"
hear Mt once, by the accent, tina
abe is English. "Arc you strou,
enough TO tell ms how you got lost OF
tho moor, and where you came flon
and whore you were goingl" continued
my wife.
"Abl was going to my lad, m,
roor lad, and ] doubt | shall never sec
him moreI" says the poor soul, with 4
long sigh of weariness.
"Where is your lad, and how fal
have you come :"
"My lad ID soldier at Fort George
and ! have come. all tho way from
Liverpool TO SEQ him and givo him his
old mothers blessing before he goes :.
the Indies" And then, brokenly, with
long pauees Of weariness, the little old
woman tolls ua her pitifnl story.
Her lad, she tells un, III her only re
naming child. She had ak, and this,
the youngest, Is the Only one who did
not die Of want during tie Lancashire
cotton famiee. He grew up q line,
likely boy, tho comfort and prida Of
his mothers heart, aud tho ntay Of her
declining years. But strike threw
him out oG work, and unable to endure
the priyation and misery, in ft oi
desperation ho "onlislcd." His regi.
mcnt was quarlered nt Fort George,
aud be wrote regularly To his mother,
his letters getting moIe cheerful and
hopeful every day, until suddenly he
wrote 70 say that his regiment was
ordered 10 India, aud begging her 10
send him her blessing, ns be had not
enough money TO carry him 10 Liver.
pool TO sec her The aged mother,
widowed and childlcss, save for this
one remaining boy, feIt that she must
lock on his face once moro before shc
died. She begged from few ladies,
whose kindness had kept her from the
woTkhouse, sufficient money 10 carry
her by train TO Glasgow, and thence
she had made her way, now on foot,
nov begging LIE in passing cart or
wagon, 70 within few miles Of Fort
George, when ahc was caught in TIC
snow storm. and, wandering from the
road, would have pcrished in the SNOW
but for Iaddie
Ay wife is ia tears all Mary IL
sobbing aud:bly as ,be lilile old wo.
maa concludes her touching aad smpla
story, aud / walked to tho ~ialow
aud look out FOR moment before /
ask her what her sons narns IL. As
] tell her VIC are bu, few milca from
Fort George, and that l will seud
over for him, sm;!o Of extreme con-
ten: illnmines the withercd fee.
Ellis nsme ia John Salter," she says
''he il g tall, handsome lal they
know him by that"
Ihastened | down stairs and write
a short note TO C1l. Freeman. whom
know intimately, informing him OF the
circumstances begging that he will al.
low John Sllter to come over at once,
and | despatch my groom ia tho dog
cart that ho may bring him bach with
out loss Of time.
As / return to the house after % ing
him start, / met DIR Bruce leaving the
house.
"Poor old soul" he says. "Ier
troubles are nearly over she il sink
ing fast. / almost doubt whether she
will live I'LL her son comes"
"fTow she could have ecomplishcd
such journey at her age, | cannot un.
derstand," ] Observe.
Nothing is impossible TO a mother," /"
answers DR.. Bruce "but il has
killed her"
go in, but end cannot scttle to
my usual occupations. Ny thoughts
arc with tho aged heroine Who ia dying
up staira, and presently ] yield to tho
fascination that draws me hack TO her
presence.
As DIR. Bruce says, she is sinking
fast. She lies back on the pillows, her
checks "a ashy gray as her hair. She
clasps my wife's hand in hers, but her
eyes are wide open, aud have an eager,
expectant look in them.
"At what timo may We expect themi"
whispers my wifoto M.
"Not before four" answer in the
same tone.
"lIe will be too late, fear she is
getting rapidly weaker. "
But love is stronger than death, and
she will not 60 until her son comes.
All through the winters day she lies
dying, obcdiently taking what nour-
ishment is given aer, but never speak
ing except to say, "My lad, my lad
God is good ; he will not let me die
till he comes.'
And at last | hear tho dog-cart. /
lay my finger on my lip ard tell Mary
to go and bring John Salter up very
quietly. But my caution is needless !;
the mother has heard the sound, and
with the last effort of her remaining
strength she raises herself and stretches
hut her arms "My lad my lad r
the gasps. as, with great sob, he
springs forward, and mother and son
are clasped in each other arms once
more.
For moment they remain so. Then
the little woman sinks back on my
wife's shoulder, and her spirit is look
ing down from Heaven on the lad she
loved so dearly on earth.
She lies in our churchyard under a
yew tree, and on the stone