The Republican journal., 1883-04-26
BELFAST, MAINE, THURSDAY, APRIL

none 10 Dldme, nuuneT," lnt6TpOSeu
Prudence, with great deal of emphasis
'Tve seen old Staples, down to Trescott
He's that mean, he'd skin mouse for the
hide and taller"
"Pve been trying along for chance to
work." continued the boy, smiling family
He was very near to tears now, but he
held them back sturdily. "But there
don't anybody seem to want me-"
Miss Abigail was moved more than she
would have cared to own, by this recital.
Even to her, who had lived for self so
long, there was something indescribably
pititul in the thought of this little wan
derer battling alone with the world, buf-
teted by fortune, drifting here or there,
as chance might dictate
1t had grown dark now,-the lamps
had long since been lighted and there
were mutterings of distant thunder in the
air
''lts going to rain, said Miss Abigail.
"You needn't 90 tonight you may sleep
| in the stable-loft.'
Barry thanked her.
The storm broke with great violence.
And while Miss Abigail listened to the
sharp peals of thunder, and the pouring
of the rain against the windows, she
thought of the lonely little wayfarer in
the stable-loft with new, strange throb
of pity.
Morning came, merry with birdsong,
and glistening with myriads of rain drops.
Prudence was up betimes, but early as it
was, she heard the sound Of an AK in the
wood shed; and when she opened the
door Barry smiled at her from bis post
by the chopping- block.
Il don't think | paid enough for my
SUPPER eat such a lot" he said $50
I've split some kindlings and III milk
for you this morning you want me to-"
Prudence brought the milk pail with
out word. But when she had prepared
Miss Abigail's morning meal, she made
ready good substantial breakfast for
Barry, also.
When he had eaten it he took up his
hat
go out the way you come in said
Prudence, "r'else you'n bring bad luck"
Barry gave little incredulous laugh,
but he went out to the porch. Miss Abb
gail was there, taking deep breaths Of
the fresh air; and she bade him a kind
''Good morning" as be went off the step
and down the path again between the
lilacs, eXuberant in growth but meager
in bloom
~ wonder why my Iilacs do not flower
more freely" This Miss Abigail said to
| Prudence, who had followed to the door
81 Dunno" answered Prudence.
Barry heard, and turned NI guess it's
because you leave the old blossoms on"
he said, hesitatingy. "Mother used to
say must pick the blossoms off one year
if | wanted any the next"
And then he went out of the gate,
closing it carefully behind him, and along
the moist, brown highway
THAT is very uncommon boy" said
Miss Abigail, looking after him with
serious eyes.
"Yes," assented Prudence, "he's a
clever 'nough little chap-for a boy"
''To think of his knowing about the
lilacs," continued Miss Abigail, medita-
lively. al must cut off all the flowers
this spring.
AN he got as good a mess O milk
from the heiter as | could hal done my
self with a well hand,' Prudence went
on
'Yes, he would have been handy about
milking and getting the wood for you"
said Miss Abigail.
An bringin' the letters from the post
office" proceeded Prudence. OTIS good
piece over to the village, in muddy
walkin"
80 it is said Miss Abigail. She
gazed retiectively along the road which
wound, serpentine, to the little hamlet a
mile away. Barry was climbing the hill,
a mere, pititul, lonely speck in the dis
tance, as he was a mere, insignificant
atom in the great body of humanity.
Miss Abigails eyes filled
eve might have kept him." She said.
"'Taint too late yit.," put in Prudence
The two women looked in each others
eyes.
fyou could make him hear" began
Miss Abigail.
For answer Prudence strobe to the
road, and sent long, quavering cry after
Barry.
"B- -o-o-oy "
But the little figure they were watch
ing plodded steadily on.
Gimme the old tin horn outer the
kitchen, Miss Abigail y called Prudence,
eXcitedly, "Quick." :"
Miss Abigail, staid spnster that she
was, without a thought of the ludicrous-
ness Of the proceeding, ran to the kitchen,
snatched the horn from its nail and ran
out with it to Prudence And Prudence
put it to her lips and blew a blast SO
long, SO loud, that it startled the birds
into silence, and set the echoes ringing
from hillside to hillside.
ale en- hear that if he en- hear ANY,
thing" she muttered.
He did. He stopped. Prudence flour
ished the horn in frantic excitement
There was a moment of SUSPENSE and
then Prudence turned to Miss Abigail
standing by the gate.
Hes a-comin' back" she said
When Barry, breathIess with the haste
he had made reached the cottage, Miss
Abigail was waiting on the porch.
We've made up our minds to keep
you,' said she, $50 long as you don't give
too much trouble"
80, thank you, ma'am y cried Barry
"Indeed rll try to please you"
am sure he has succeeded s. for the
lilacs have been in bloom three times
HlltO tlldl HlolIlllS, dIll lIc Is Will MISS
Abigail yet, growing tall. and strong and
manly, as the years go by. He tills the
bit OF farm, which had so long lain un-
improved. and in winter attends school
at the village, where he is in excellent
repute. He is, withal so faithful and
helpful and kind, that Prudence is fain
to apothegmatize the horn after this
fashion,
"Harnsome is as harnsome does; an
you're deservin' Of bed O velvet, old
horn, for the good deed you done that
day" Good Cheer
The POcaSSat Irrapadv