Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-07-13

come to the open door and taken up
the hickory stick, turned back hastily
with a few hurried words, aud the aged
woman dropped her knitting and rose
up, with paleness dropping over her
face.
But, while Mr.; Faxon hesitate d
on the porch again, both came to the
donr. Sad, startled faces, they both
had, but they were civil. Their greet
ing was kindly, as 10 friend.
My name is Faxon,' said the visitor,
u
We know who you be, SIR said the
old man we know who you be, though
we have meyer seen you before. VIII
you come in|
Mr.. Faxon stepped across the white
ball floor into the quaint, cool and COM
Portable sthng-room.
The rough blue paper, like chintz, on
the wall, some honesty and dried
grasses in opaque white vases upon the
high, narrow mantle-piece, unconscious
ly struck bis eye while he took his seat
his mind occupied with other thoughts.
We've been long expectin' you, Sir, ,
said the cid lady.
Her hands, clasped on her spotless
gingham apron unon her lap, trembl0d
a little, but the serenity OF her manner
was not much changed.
But the old mans eyes swan in tears
He rested both hands on the hickory
stick between bis knees, as he sat in a
corner, and bending his forehead upon
them, partially hid his face.
Yes! yes! but it comes sort o. sudden
now said the old man.
Mr.. Faxon sat in speechless sympa-
thy.
After a little pause, old Mr.. Derby
looked up. nd met his eyes.
'Of course, it's all right, sir. We
don't question your right to the place
but we've been sort of unfortunate. L
think so-1on't you, mother?
The old lady lay back among the
cushions of the dimity-covered chair.
She had look Of physical weakness
Mr.. Faxou had not noticed before. She
did not speak.
Her husband looked at her attentlvely
A sudden flush went over his thin face.
'Ips not for myself 1 care it. her!
he cried, strikingihis cane,,violentlylupon
the floor. She helped to earn this
place when she was young. There
was no kind Of work but what them
hands you see lyin' SO weary IN her
lap, sir, was put to. She was up early
and late, always doin' fur me aud the
children. God never made a better
wife and mother. And nov, sir, it's
hard that she should be turned out Of
her house in her old age.
Hush, hush, Daniel y said the old
lady, softly. The Lord will provide
and it's not long we have to stay in the
world, you know
will you tell me the history ofthe
place, Mr.. Derby?' asked Mr.. Faxon.
How did you come to lose lt:'
1T was mortgaged, sir SAID the old
man, at last, 'to pay the boys college
bills. You see we had three childr en-
-Selwvn, Roscoe, aud Little Annie.
Mother an didn't haye an education,
but we SAID all along that our children
should have; an they went to the dis
tric' school and thon to the academy -
and by and by we fitted them OIL Tor
college. Bright, smart boys they were
Everybody said my boys had good
parts, though Roc was always little
wild. l think mother, there, loved
him better for that. He was more
trouble, and she clung to him closer
because others blamed at times. An
mic. his sister, was always a pleadln' ',
too, for Roc. He played truant, and
he whipped the boys who told on him;
be was always putin his bones IN
peril, aud twlce half drowned-yet in
spite of all he was ready for college
when Selwyn was, though Selwyn was
steady as a clock. Mother and L had
been sOrapin' together for years. aud at
last we fitted them of.
'We went on denying of ourselves,
for It was Just the one hope OF eur
lives to have the boys graduate with all
the honors; an time went on, but
many of the crops failed, and there
came disappointment here, and dis
appolntment there, and failing to get
together the money the boys sent for
especially Roc-we morlgased the
farm for five hundred dollars.
They were nearly through, you see'
an mother and Annie thought that
Selwyn might be principal OF the acade-
nv or something, when be came home
an Roc would be lawyer, cause he
could argue and speak 30 smart IN pub
lie, and the money would be paid back
easy.
But from time to time there came
rumors dln't like, as TO how Roscoe
was MP to his old wild ways again. and
at last it came like a thunder-bolt-
Roc was suspended and had run away
lo foreien parts. Well, pass over
that, sir; l tried not to be too hard on
the boy. Then Selwyn came home
Ha had graduated well, but he had q
cough. lie didn't complain, but he
was thin aud pale, an soon mother
and saw that the son we had meant
to RELY on was an invalid upon oul