The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-30

the open prairies and got into the pin
woods. The heat increased, unknoy
insects troubled him, he saw hui
snakes gliding away into the unde
brush, there were strange sounds g
around, and the sense of awful soler
nifty came over him. He was alol
2, with God in the thick woods, and
feared Him as he had never done b
fore. All day long the prayer of col
triton and alteration was on his lip
Towards the cleaning he was deligh
ed to reach the prairie again and
meet two travellers.
"Good night, stranger"
"Gude night to bath o. you. Ke
you whar 1 can get bite and su
and nights lodgingP"
Eyes, sir-straight ahead. You'll
come to the jedge's in half an hour
They are right smart folks, and you't
best light there for tonight, l reckon.
THANK you, gentlemen. Gud'
night"
He rode on very anxiously. The
sun was sinking fast, and an irrepres
sible solitude was around him. One
lonely, silent bird flying hastily to its
coveret gave a still eerier feeling to
the hour and scene. Suddenly he
heard the joyful laughter of children
at play. He quickened his pace,
rounded clump of trees, and then
saw white house spreading itself be-
meath them. Some children, black and
white, came running to the little gate
! to meet him.
''Well, BARNS, is the Judge at home?"
''No, but ma u.s." said little lad
about six years old. go to the house,
sir; Jim and l will take your buggy"
He let them take it very gladly, and
went to the house. A pretty little VIC
man met him on the piazza. She
needed no explanations. He was
stranger wanting food and shelter,
and she gave them with charming
courtesy that at once put the deacon
at ease.
81 am sorry my husband is away"
she said with pardonable wifely pride,
"but he is a member of the Legislature,
and il is now in session."
Then the children came back, and
the deacon took to them wonderfully.
Children were a new form of humanity
to him; he knew nothing about them.
But there was an Independence and
good-fellowship about the little lad, as
he told him all about the animals and
his adventures. that quite delighted
the old man.
After little they went to bed in the
next room, and he heard them saving
their prayers to their mother. "God |
bless grandpapa!' 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 a window.
where there was table and lamp
and some newspapers. Then he noticed
a large Bible, and he drew it towards
him. Almost ANONYMOUSLY he turned
to the family register. Alexander
born in Glasgow, March 29th,
lS-," was the first name he saw. He
made no cutlery; he never moved. His
ayes were riveted upon the words and
upon those that followed: "Mary Bav-
or, born in Galveston, Janet McNab.
David McNab, Margaret McNab, Peter
McNab. On the opposite page the
death of Janet McNab, aged 10
MONTHS 4" He had objected to her
Fearing her grandmother name, and
he was in heaven with her.
He opened the door softly and went
nut on the piazza. God had led him
o his sons house, and he had eaten at
lis sons table, and had not known it.
lis emotions were incommunicable.
ven to the Heavenly father. He sat
s still in his joy as he had often done
his grief and opened not his month,
ecause he was so sure that God had
one it. Z
After little Alexander's wife come '
nd sat down beside him, and he en- I
outraged her to talk of her husband {
nd his prospects. She, at least, be- /
eyed in him sublimely. He was the c
est and greatest man in Texas-she c
ad not doubt about it. Peter could C
ave smiled if he had not been so full S
thought. Finally he asked her if q
er husband was born in Texas. a
"Oh, no ~ she answered frankly. '
he was born in Glasgow, town in k
cotland. suppose you know the t
ty, for you talk like a Scotchman." h
81 haze many friends and business n
there, ma am" 8
She hesitated few moments and h
len asked, "Did you ever know or n
Ear tell of Mr.. Peter McNabp He is C
lawyer" C
II may say ken him vera weel. N
ma think much O. him either, ma am. "
e's hard auld man." o
HE is my husbands father, so YOU Il
ust not say so here. His son thinks a
Try highly of him-and perhaps you d
ay be mistaken. In business men. II
en- kind men, are often obliged to be
'rd." Then she turned the CONVEX
ton, and the deacon was glad of it.
He did not sleep much, and the next r,
orning was on the road to Austin at -
ybreak. He reached there in the u
ternoon, and went to Smiths hotel. ~ ~
few words of inquiry satisfied him. D
The judge was staying there-he -
,uld be in from the capitol about +.
,lock. If the gentleman had any ..
ivate business there was no use go %
: there. The judge was chairman of a.
committee, and not apt to be on the a,
or in the daytime. "
But Peter could not sit still. He re- y. ~
shed himself, and then turned his "
,e to the great white building stand al al
, so loftily at the head of the beau " u.