Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-03-20

a'nusA When they don't calkerlate."
We were lounging at the doorway,
and Uncle stanton was seated on the
Falsei lloor with his back against the
easement pressing down the tobacco
in his pipe with the end Of his stubby
finger.
What is it, uncle2 | queried
There seemed to be something on his
mind, and fancied lie wanted to talk
to me.
sit down here, lad, and I'll tell you
q llttle story Its astory there's none
leit 70 tell but me, and I'm 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
a long day. You don't know how
those eyes Of your'n have gone to my
heaft-how they've brought me back
70 when my boy Harry was so much
IKE 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? lie had paused and was
searching his waistcoat pocket for a
match, and his head was bent down.
As he relit hispipe and puffed it into
glow saw that his eyes were moist
and his hand was trembling. / edged
close to him, and placed my hand on
his arm.
lie was a happy little chap, Dayy,
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 a whip, and if
thar WAS anythin' agoin on among
the young folks Harry was at the head
of 1t. Well, he growed up and got to
readin' all kinds o books with larnin'
in EN- that set his mind wanderin',
and then somehow Harry was changed
like and didn't care for our old-fash-
ioned ways; he wanted to 90 to the
biz city, and at last one day he went.
Did he run away. uncle" l asked
"rpn away and leave you?"
tes he ran away. Davy, leavin' me
3sSs E- hor --~.-ssA- who lscsea-s.uzsa
arblwho used to pray for him every
night until my heart would get to
bledin'! He ran away, Davy! He
didL't come to us like the little man
heused 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 l have
not forgotten the deep impression it
made on me his sad, worn face,
which seemed SO much more troubled
Than ever before, and the nervous
tWltching of his hands, all Of which 7
scarcely realized then. can see it all
now; we two sitting there in the old
doorway the sun setting back of the
hills and the long shadows streakino
the road that fell away from the shop
into the little valley below.
Don't tell me any more l said ff
1t makes You feel so bad. Listen
There are the cows over at the Dea-
cons; they are coming in for the
milking.
lie paused and then went into the
shop lie raked the Goals at the forge
and covered them up for the night. /
fancy that he did 50 that | might not
discover his agitation.
"Ie never writ to us, he presently
when that Iattar .,.,l, W., anu
now Harry-our little Harry-bad
been put in jail for a crime, it broke
poor mother down. But we never
knew what came of him. Thar, 'gaes mes
nothia' we could do; we were far
away aG,
On uncle and you have never seen
80, ; n.aat siti'e =, 'nat Tune" lasked, feeling
" s,ea' lump in my throat.
'so'l World is wide and the years have been
long. =. but Dayy-"
ne turned away from the forge and
came near tome
paYy seed face last night ont
u ~, 'ne road thar that KEEP me awake
~ 'ne light came in my winder this
nornln,. seed a face that's a bin
CROWN and GROWN on me; it tt'want
ghost Dav.,- L.. !.