Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-10

The farmer started, put his hands to his
face and groaned.
"Father, Frank has come back I"
"Come back ?" he asked, repeating the
words in low, husky tones.
"Yes. His vessel was wrecked on the
sands an hour ago, but he is saved"
"Twss the knockin' heard" said Old
Galison. al knew it wasn't the wind. o
God p he calculated, sadly moaning as If the
sin Of his hard-heartedness were coming to
him in one quick revelation.
Yes, he is here, and whom God has sent
to us, shall we refuse TO receive ?" asked
Kitty.
"Take me to him." was his only answer.
There are some natures that go by con-
WILSON'S, by tornadoes, by freshets and
Farmer Collisions nature was of this kind.
He was now ready to meet his boy, ready
even to search for him.
"He Is at our house. | will meet you
there" said Kitty. al will go ahead"
Kitty's home was a gray cottage on high
ledge Of rock by the shore. From the white
sands, long, rough fight of stairs went up
the side of the rock TO the cottage above.
Kitty's home looked like an eagles nest on
high cliff. To Joel Berry, the fisherman,
IL was the cosiest, warmest nest in the
world.
Frank Gallison was sitting near the fire.
place with its wide, ample mouth, sitting
alone as Kitty entered. His face frightened
as she appeared even as the sea takes on a
new luster when the sun comes up.
"Frank, | have been up TO see your
father"
"In all this wild weather ?"
"That is nothing. And he is coming to
see you"
Dear Kitty, you are peace-maker. 1
will go to him."
"That is right. Hurry, don't wait for
him to come. In the old home, Frank,
meet and be reconciled."
The young sailor hastened away. He
had laid aside his wet garments and was
wrapped in the thick, warm clothing Kitty
had brought from Joel's wardrobe under the
dark chamber stairs.
Wind and ocean still roared as Frank
took the old path through the pasture.
Going up to see father 1t seemed like
the fsr.awsy days. How well he knew the
old way to the house The path was
winding one, passing clumps of baybeny
bushes, and thick was its wrapping of dark
ness. Still he know its direction so well, it
seemed as if he could see it rising up plainly
and running along in lustrous line. There
was light, too, he could see in the win
dows of the old home How welcoming
What if the wind did blow2 Frank was
on land now. He had been saved from the
fatal grasp of the ocean. And then he was
going home, going to reconciliation with
his father. It was lighter conscience that
made lighter heart.
"Yes, | am going to see father" said
Frank, "but will go round the back side of
the barn. I'll steal up to the window and
look in. 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 going the old way to
Joel Berrys thought he would take the
route by the back side of the barn.
at is all so strange to me" said Old Gal
lison, this seeing Frank. / wonder how
willing he is to see me 1t may be best 10
give him 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 conscious of 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 word, but burst into a
violent weeping. He threw his arm about
his sailor-boy, and drew him into the house.
Still sobbing, he placed him in the old arm
chair by the kitchen fire. He drew up to
his sons side the little round table his
mother knew how to spread so attractiyely,
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 CALI
sons goin' crazy"
She ran her sharp nose into the opened
door like woodpecker thrusting his bill
into the bark of tree after a bug. There
was the farmer hammering away at closed
door. The boards were coming down from
Franks apartment.
"What ye doin', mister Gallison 2"
"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 secret for 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 CALI
sons grandchildren. And, with them,
would seem to have come back the farmers
children, SO faithfully have family names
and features been continued. Sam came
with his "curly hair" Jane with her "pink
and Tilda with her " way of smiliu'."
1t is long, long day since Old Gallison
has had any cider barrel in his house, and
he has no difficulty in saying his prayer