The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-10-11
TsE BKoAD WAY.

surviving child a his aged parents.
One By OBs the others, whose brief
lives were full Of blessings, had bSen
buried in the village ehurclyzrd; and,
without a shadow Of doubling, the old
couple hoped 70 Ne their b0y's pOmis-
ing youth ripeu into the fragrance and
fruitags Of perfect manhood.
Alasl they never sat under the AiIa-
dow u that tree, nor inhaled the per-
fume, nor gazsd on Its beauty, DOR par
took of its bounty, for the are was
carly laid at the roots!
Percy was just twenty when be left
iiis native house, for the distant city
his fathers village, with its simple cheer
for homeless abode among strangers;
lis fond parents, and the tried friends
n his youth, and the sweet girl Of his
CiiOics, for the mixed multitude Of the
metropolis.
Had you been there when the stage
coach stopped at the lane gate; had you
zen the serious faces Of the nsighbors
gathered around, the aged mother, wip-
ing her streaming eyes, the feeble father.
ittering his blessing; and Annie Collins,
I'eTcy'ssweetbsart rushing distractedly
Into the house, you would almost have
thought that the saIne thing had never
happened before. They, at least, thought
~. The nsiglilOTs, a. they walked
LOmsward, said one 10 arOther that
there were not many boys nowadays
like Percy Howell. The old couple re-
turning " their Gresids, wept TO Sc his
vacant chair, his lonely dog, his empty
place at table, and his Impressed pillow.
Surely no other son 80 dear had ever
left home 10 sOrrOWful
Al for Annie Collins, she went tack
10 her fathers cottage, and quietly dis
charged her daily duties. But what
ever occupied her hand or heart, there
flowed constant undercuuent Of
thought, and Percy was It's burden.
my Percyl" she whispered TO herself
thousand times day. az II 10 insure
her sad heart Of it, blessed ownership.
During the journey, Percy, with eyes
on the lookout and ears On the alert,
and with heart full u bright hope.
and uDtried expectations, went joyfully
on, and thought but little Of the dear
ones at home.
Yet, when at nightfall he found him
sslf In little hall room, containing a
bed very suggestive Of a bier In its six.
by-three dimensions and white covering
a washStand Of iron, with ordinary ac.
compartments, minus soap; one chair
aud diminutlye lOOkinR-glass, he be
gan " wish himself at home.
'Wh-e-w!" aald he, giving vent TO a
deepdrswn breath. wonder how An
ME bal s'pOse she's thinking about N,
this very minute 'FraH father won'
get along with the out door work. VIA
! hadn't ha' come! Don I believe therer
fellow in New York that's got /;
mother like minel w.h.s-w! guess n
look at the uswsr'
lie bad already seen everything o
Interest in the daily paper, but he caugh
1t ny and glanced over II 10 keep tn,
moisture from gathering In his eyes
Running down the columns, he chancec
upon the "anuseInents, and the fol
lowing attracted his attention:
Clerks, young men from the coun
Try seeking employment, cleTRymen, tn
Judges " the various courts, policemen
aud all officers u the law, should Ylsl
the Widegate Theatre, U zee 1.-THE Oh
Man u the Moor"
Wasn't brought up 10 go 10 the the
',tTe, Thought Percy reading II again
Don't believe IN IL; but"
A knock at the door. Instead Of cal
ling Come in" az man does wheI
be has been six weeks In bOardln
houH, Percy cautiously opened the doc
and peered out. A iine-looking fellow
beside whom he. had rat at the 81
O'Clock dinner, said.
Beg pardonI As you are stranger
thought you might he lonely
Wouldn't you like 10 go out fnT a slloI
strOlly''
Percy was very grateful, and said q
much; then took his hat, and fOllOwe
, his new friend down the stairs, and o.
into the lighted street.
7 They went directly to Broad WA,
B Walking along that brilliant thorough
. fare, Percy tried TO appear IN II he n,
ticed nothing; but he saw much, an
= thought more. Among other things, /
9 observed that the majority Of young me
= carried slender walking stick, whit
!. seemed TO add grace aud dignity to Il
. bearers. Analr Of elegance surround,
Il these men, which, TO Percy's min
u came directly from the fancful rec,
- which they waved coqusttishly Wi
5, daintily glDyed fingers. M0reOye
II they afforded employment for otlterwi
r. unOccupied hands; and Percy wished I
d cane. Kingsley-that was the nan
~ OF his new friend carried "a beauty
the top representing an exquisite leg Al
f. foot, the kneejolnt forming the bend
le The handle. Percy resolved TO have o
r just. like IL. In fact, he greatly admin
Is Kingsley lie took on no airs, "
10 neither superciliOus nor patrOnzin
., and Percy, grateful for ms attention
y, pronounced him First, rate fellow. -
y, "Do you drink, HOwell9" said kim
IL ley, pausing hesitatinRly before br
Of liantly lighted saloon.
II; NO. said Percy, IN II ashamt
us ~
al Neither do |, - said the other, mt
Ing on.
q II take glass OF champagne, oc,
es slonally, but champagne is light, y
know"