Connecticut western news., 1885-09-09

oAu O SI0db I0LllOTS0 Ludu0 ulLu S1Ch and faint. He had never. put it in the agreement about sickness, over flows, and bad crops, as he had just said; neither had he "put it" that Mary, in her young blooming matron- hood days, should die-his first born? How could he bear it? and it was all the harder because of the cruel words he had uttered while she lay dead at home Did he say he would never forgive her--did he really really say that? Fanny had tried to stop him, and brought it to his mind that he was "church member" and Christian. AS if father ought to be merely a Christian to his own child. Why hadn't he given her the money ? Might have done so five times over and never missed it. And the old man groaned remorsefully, as with these thoughts in his heart, his gaze wandered over the great fields where the cotton would soon be a simmer ing, feecy sea, bringing new treasures to his hoarded gains, and making no hearts happy save his own.
 Those few, poor, stunted acres of Johns and Mary'sl Swamped by the overflow last spring, stock drowned, and John, wading waist deep, fighting with the waters, laid up with the rheumatics.
 Suppose he had given 'em thou sands dollars
 Oh, the sting of remembering evil when it is too late to turn evil into good. And then there was that un- kind letter. Did his child read those cruel words with the dying light in her eyes, or would it be left for the strick- en husband to be treated to the short, stern homilyl He went back to the kitchen, where Fanny sat crying over the telegram. "Lock up the house" he said in hur- ried way, for fear of his voice would falter; well go at once. I'll hitch up while ye get ready" And when they had started on their long journey he quite broke down in talking over the past and telling Fanny little things here and there that no one would have supposed he had remembered.
 Mary was allus dutiful da'arter," ," he said, putting into brdXa sentences the grief and remorse that overwhelm- ed him; "after her ma died, and she wasn't knes-high to duck, she was like second pairent to the little uns; nussed lem through the measles, and when they was well, took it herself, and laid as quiet on the bed for fear O giving trouble as if she warn't a child"
 He didn't tell her of how, when the second Mrs. Brown was installed as mistress, Mary became the drudge and maid of -all-work, and was nurse to a half-dozen more little Browns. who, like their mother, ruled her with rod of iron. Nor of Mary's marriage with a sturdy, young fellow, who, for the lack of a little timely help, and the pressure of a large family, was kept with his nose to the perpetual grind stone. He did not tell how Mary pinched and worked, and sat up till late hours, and struggled to help her family, until in consequence of doc tors bills and babies, and poor crops, John was forced to give mortgage on his house, when her (the father) might have lifted them out of their poverty. He might even have given them better house; the oldest inhab- itant could not remember when the ugly, ramshackle affair had been built. Some ancient ancestors had put up a couple of rooms, then added on a few more, until, what with patching and propping up, Johns inheritance was an offence to the eye. MT. Brown thought bitterly of all this through the long journey. Too late, too late seemed written in words of fire on every tree and shrub. At last the house was in sight; poor, miserable place enough, but now, in the month of June, sweet with climbing roses and honeysuckle that the mistress's s hand had trained to the porch.
 "Who-o-o, Dandy" The children were in the yard; with shout they ran to the gate, and as the old horse stopped, somebody rushed down the steps, and with cry, "Why father, why Fanny" Mary in her famous clean calico and apron, and cheeks likes roses, with the pleasure and ex. citement of the visit, was in her fath, CTS arms-her father, who held her as
 he had never done before, and kissed
 her with the tears running down his
 face.
 ''My child," he said presently, ''you were dead, and are alive again Thank Godl" -.#-G
 "Why, fatherP" questioned Mary : again, what on earth is the matter !? ' , And she looked with frightend gaze al her sister, vaguely wondering if hel father were stricken with some sud den insanity. For answer, Fanny drew out the telegram from her pock ct, and gave it to Mary. 'Its all a wonderful mistake" ex claimed the elder woman, glancing i over, and hugging father and sister excitedly again. "We have neigh Dor, Mrs. Mary Harris, who died las