The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-12


"Davy, my boy, the world isn't so very
big, and the people in it often run
amuck when they don't calkerlate."
We were lounging at the doorway,
and Uncle Stanton was seated on the
raised floor with his back against the
easement. pressing down the tobacco
in his pipe with the end of his stubby
finger.
"What is it, uncle?" I queried.
There seemed to be something on his
mind, and l fancied he wanted to talk
to me.
"Sit down here. lad, and I'll tell you
a little story. It's astory there's none
left to tell but me. and Pm agoin' to
let ye hear it, Davy, because you've
bin good and because in y'r face I've
found the only comfort I've had many
long day. You don't know how
those eyes of your'n have gone to my
heart-how they've brought me back
to when my boy Harry was so much
like you that sometimes when I've
looked at you I've stopped my work
and let my irons grow cold
Had he forgotten what he was about
to say? He had paused and was
searching his waistcoat pocket for a
match, and his head was bent down.
AS he relit his pipe and puffed it into a
glow l saw that his eyes were moist
and his hand was trembling. 1 edged
close to him, and placed my hand on
his arm.
"He was happy little chap, Davy,
and the folks O the village used to fill
us with feelin's sort o pride like, by
the things they would say of him. You
see, he was smarter'n whip, and if
thar was anythin' agoin' on among
the young folks Harry was at the head
of it. Well, he growed up and got to
readin' all kinds O books with larnin'
in EN- that set his mind a wanderin',
and then somehow Harry was changed
like and didn't care for our oldfash-
ioned ways; he wanted to 60 to the
big city, and at last one day he went. "
did he run away, uncle" asked
"run away and leave you?"
eyes, he ran away, Davy, leavin' me
an mother; mother who loved him
and who used to pray for him every
night until my heart would get tc
bleedin'! He ran away, Davyl He
didn't come to us like the little man
he used to be, but he stole away one
night, it was just after harvestin' time
and then, but he never writ to US
never writ to mother!"
The old man touched his eyes with
his apron and drew hard on his pipe.
Ali this was years ago, but 1 have
not forgotten the deep impression il
made on me-his sad, worn face
which seemed so much more troubled
than ever before, and the nervous
twitching Of his hands, all of which J
scarcely realized then. l can see it al
now; we two sitting there in the ole
doorway, the sun setting back of tht
hills and the long shadows streakine
the road that fell away from the shoI
into the little valley below.
Don't tell me any more.' I said, "i
it makes you feel so bad. Listen
There are the COWS over at the Dea
cons; they are coming in for thu
milking"
He paused and then went into thu
shop. He raked the Goals at the forge
and covered them up for the night.
fancy that he did SO that might no
discover his agitation.
"He never writ to U.s." he presently
resumed, "but Joe Wheeler did, ant
when that letter came which told u:
how Harry-our little Harry--hat
been put In Jail for crime. it broke
poor mother down. But we nevel
knew what came of him. Thar wa
nothin' we could do; we were fal
away
"Oh, uncle, and you have never seer
him since that time?" asked, feeling
a great lump in my throat.
"Seen him, Davy? Seen him? Tn,
world is wide and the years have beer
long, but Davy-'
He turned away from the forge ant
came near 10 me.
"Davy, 1 seed face last night ou
on the road thar that KEEP me awak
till the light came in my winder thi
mornin'. / seed a face that's a biz
CROWN and a CROWN on me; itt'wan
a ghost, Davy, but it was him, him
my Harry!"
1t was dusk when I left Uncl
Stanton that evening. 1 helpe,
him close up the blacksmith shop ant
walked with him down the road to 10
} Wheeler's old house, where Uncl
Stanton boarded, and when 1 starte
, back again to my own humble home
remember that was so full of though
that mother, who waited me anxious
ly, said:
"Davy, l didn't hear your happ
, whistle as you came along; wha
makes you so late, child?"
How well remember next day wit
, its drizzling rain AMI the wet leave
3 of the big maple tree which wer
| tossing against my little window whe
3 / awokel had slept very late. an