Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-02-12

IlOn so well, IL SeemoQ as II ne cOUlQ
see it rising up plainly and running
along in a lustrous line. There was
light, too, he could see in the VIM
dows of the old home! How wei
coming! What if the wind did
blow? Frank was on land now. He
had been saved from the fatal grasp
of the ocean. And then he was go
ing home, going to a reconciliation
with ghis father! sit was a lighter
conscience hat makes a lighter
heart. - -
s'Yes, | am going to see father
said Frank, shut Til go round the
back side of the barn. I'll steal up
to the window and look in. L want
to see how father looks and have an
idea how he will take this meeting"
And the father, he had started
from the house, and instead of gong
theaold way oJeel Berry's Thought
he would take the route by the back
side of the barn.
'.It is all so strange to me-" said
old Gallison, ''this seeing Frank. |
wonder how willing he is to see me !!
1t may be best. to give him a little
more time to think of it, So he
took the longer route back of the
barn.
Frank had just turned the barn
corner and was struggling against the
wind, when he suddenly became con-
scious of a lantern held near him,
and the next moment there was the
shock of an abrupt collision with the
lanterns owner.
"Why, father!'' !'' broke from his
lips. The old man said not a word,
but burst into violent weeping. He
threw his arm about his sailor-boy,
and drew him into the house. Still
sobbing, he placed him in the old
armchair by the kitchen fire. He
drew up to his sons side the little
round table his mother knew how to
spread so attractively, and the old
housekeeper covered it with the best
her stores afforded. Then with tears
in the eyes of each, father and son
broke bread together.
This was the way old Collisions
Frank came home.
The next morning, aunt Polly
Quick was going by. 1t was now
fair weather. The sun shone gaily
across the old farmhouse as if trying
to clasp bracelet of gold over it.
Aunt Polly Quick heard noisy ham
mering in the house.
''Massy! What is to pay! Old
Collisions goin' crazy!''
She ran her sharp nose into the
open door like woodpecker thrust
ing his bill into the bark of tree
after bug. There was the farmer
hammering away at a closed door.
The boards were coming down from
Franks apartment.
"What We doin', mister Gallison ?"
''Fixin' up"
"'You might say for who," she
asked, but the woodpecker's bill
brought no bug.
Farmer Gallison grinned, yet kept
his own secret, and hammered away.
1t was only a secret for a little
while. Into this room, soon went
Frank and Kitty as husband and
wife. All the black funereal hooks
came down from the other doors, and
through the opened windows came
Gods sweet air and pure sunshine.
AS it is now many years since the
rooms were thus opened, they are
filling up with old Collisions grand
children. And, with them, would
seem to come back the farmers chill
dren, SO faithfully have family names
and features been continued. Sam
came with his ''curly hair Jane
with her "pink-and-white skin," Will
ly with his ''broad shoulders" Jim
with his ''way of jekin'," and Tilda
with her "way of smilin'."
1t is long, long day since old
Gallison has had any cider barrel in
his house, and he has no difficulty in
saying his prayers.-Reo. Ed,cdrd
Il. Rand.