Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-11-12

prairie again and to meet two travellers.
aGood night, stranger"
Guide night to bath O you. Ken
you whar can get bite and sup and
nights lodging
Yes, sir straight ahead. You'll
come to the jedge's in half an hour.
! They are right smart folks, and you'd
best light there for tonight, reckon"
Thank you, gentlemen. GUIDE
night" =
+ He rode on very anxiously. The sun
was sinking fast, and an inexpressible
solitude was around him. One lonely,
silent bird flying hastily to it's covert
gave still easier feeling to the hour
and scene. Suddenly he heard the Joy
ful laughter of children at play. He
quickened his pace, rounded a clump
OF trees, and then saw white house
spreading itself beneath them. Some
children, black and white, came running
to the little gate to meet him.
well, BARNS, is the Judge at home ?"
! mo but ma is" said little lad about
six years old. $50 to the house. sir !:
jim and I will take your buggy"
| He let them take it very gladly, and
went to the house. A pretty little woman
met him on the piazza. She needed
no explanations. He was stranger
wanting food and shelter, and she gave
them with a charming courtesy that at
once put the deacon at his ease.
Il am sorry my husband is away" she
said, with pardonable wifely pride, "but
he is member of the Legislature. and
it is now in session."
Then the children came back, and the
deacon took to them wonderfully. Chill
dren were new form of humanity to
hlm, he knew nothing about them.
But there was an independence and
good fellowship about the little lad. as
ne told him all about his animals and
his adventures, that quite delighted the
old man. d.
Alter little they went to bed in the
next room, and he heard them saving
their prayers to their mother. "God
bless grandpapal" How the words
smote him. He grew SO nervous and
restless that when the baby lisped out
the same petition he could no longer
| sit still. He walked to the window.
where there was table and lamp and
some newspapers. Then he noticed q
large bible, and he drew it toward him
Almost unconsciously he turned to the
family register, alexander McNab,
born in Glasgow, March 20, 1s-," was
the first name he saw. He made no
cutlery; he never moved. His ewes
were riveted upon those that followed:
Mary Baylor, born in Galveston, Janet
McNab, Margaret McNab, Peter Me-
Nab" On the opposite page the "death
OF Janet McNab, aged ten months. He
had objected to her bearing her grand
mothers name, and she was in Heaven
with her.
He opened the door softly and went
out on the piazza. God had led him to
his sons house, aud he had eaten at his
sons table and bad not known it. His
emotions were incommunicable, even to
the heavenly Father. He sat as still in
his Joy as he had often done in his grief
and opened not his mouth, because he
was so sure that God had done it.
After little Alexander's wife came
and sat down beside him, and he en-
couraged Ter to talk of her husband and
bis prospects. She at least, believed in
him sub]imely. He was the best and
greatest man in Texas-she had not q
doubt about it. Peter could have smiled
If he had not been so full of thought.
Finally he asked if her husband was
born in Texas.
"Oh, mol" she answered, frankly, che
was born in Glasgow, q town in Scot
land. l suppose you know the city, for
you talk like Scotchman."
II haze many friends and business
connections there, ma'am."
She hesitated few moments and
then asked: did you ever know or
hear tell of Mr.. Peter McNab? He is a
lawyer"
Il may say ken him vera weel. II
dinna think much O. him either, ma'am.
He's hard auld man"
"He is my husbands father, so you
must not say SO here. His son thinks
very highly of him, and perhaps you
may be mistaken. In business men,
even kind men, are often obliged to be |
hard" Then she turned the converse
ton, and the deacon was glad of it.
He did not sleep much, and the next !
morning was on the road to Austin at |
daybreak. He reached there in the |
afternoon, and went to Smiths Hotel. |
A few words of inquiry satisfied him.
The Judge was staying there--he |
would be in from the capitol about 5 |
o'clock. If the gentleman had any
private business there was no use
going there. The Judge was chair
man OF committee, and not apt to be
on the floor in the daytime.
But Peter could not sit still. He re-
freshed himself, and then turned his
face to the great white building stand
ing so loftily at the head of the beauti-
full avenue. He soon entered its halls
and gazed upon such body of law
makers as he had never dreamed of see
ing. and he was wonderfully impressed
both by the men and the methods
But he did not find his son, and after
an hours stay he determined to 20 back
to the hotel and wait there for him.
As he entered it the landlord said:
~The Judge is in his room stranger:
second door on your right hand"
he walked straight to it and opened
it. Alexander, who was asleep upon a
sofa, turned his head, gazed one
moment, and then leaped to his feet.
Father! My dear, dear father!"
"Ay, ay, my lad, I'm here. A bonnie
like journey thou hast brought me, an
auld man like me, too. o, Alexander"
And then the old parable which had
sent the father to seek his son, was re-
newed in all it's sweetness and tender
ness, and that night the deacon went
up to the Capitol leaning on his sons
arm, and he was proud and happy be-
yond expression.
"You made vera fair speech, Alex
ander," he said as they returned home.
1T would haze been better if there had
been fewer steps between your premise
and your peroration, but you'll do in
time and wi mair practice. I dinna
much wonder your wife sets such store
by you"
my wifel Have you seen Mary?"
"Ay, I stayed at your house last night.
She's no as bonnie as some women, but
she's loving and ladyike, and what's
meir, she's q prudent body, and can
bath speak and hold her tongue. So