Morris tribune., 1886-11-03
THE OLD SLEIGH.

Coming"
"There, mother, old speckle has re,
turned thanks at last" holding UP a
plump white egg that would do credit to
any queen of the poultry yard.
"Well, I alters said that hen was
thankful for past mercies, though your
father would laugh every time | said
so. Liddy Stephens has just been
here; she wanted TO see you, but you
was gone solong that l thought you
must be down to Mis- Pennell's."
Eyes, met her as she came though
the yard"
"She didn't tell you the news, did
she!''
"She told me VIII Marston had re-
turned from California"
at does beat all bout that boy
seems jest like the piece O. poetry you
read sometimes about the teller that
went off and stayed so many years
and then come back and took his
mother out O. the poor-house-only
it's the father this time. The very
worst OF the deacon's six, it called him,
and that's jest what Will was then.
I never believed he had anything to
do with that scrape down to the vii
lage. Liddy says he's terrible rich,
and is going to take care of his father;
the deacon must be glad, for l guess
he's stayed with Caleb most as long
as he can comfortably. They say he's
going to marry Sam Miller's darter
Ruth. You see, when Bob Miller went
out there for his health Will found
him out and done little kindnesses for
him, and when he was too sick to
write home Will wrote for him. Part
O. the time Sam was sick hisself, SO
Ruth answered the letters, and he fell
in love with her in that way. There
didn't anybody but the deacon and
the Millers know he was coming.
Sam drove down to the depot and
carried him up to Caleb's. Guess
they was some surprised to see him. I"
/ There Is no knowing how long Mrs.
Allen would have gone on, her tongue
keeping time to the busy click-clack Of
her needles, had not Mr.. Aliens step
sounded on the walk.
Elizabeth never talked much, and
the mother did not mind her silence
tonight. A slight culver about the
sensitive mouth alone told how keen
II the words were f felt did sigh Of
relief which escaped at the welcome
sound of her fathers voice was lost in
the noise made as he entered, stamp
ing the snow from his boots.
! "Why, father, does it snow? l ben
so busy talking I hain't thought to
look out OF the window for some
time"
Eyes, it's begun to come down right
smart; shouldn't wonderful was good
sleighing by tomorrow"
"You don't think it's going to be a
long Storm"
Mrs. Aliens face had an anxious ex-
preston as she asked the question, for
long storm meant days OF exile for
her
mo, I sh'll be surprised if it don't
clear up by tomorrow noon, so Liza
beth and can take ride to the viii
lage; that'll be treat, won't it, dar-
ter?" And the smile that lighted up
his daughters face pleased him better
than any answer could have done.
| Guess I'll get the old sleigh out.
Ben Smart's ben down to the city and
he says he saw lots jest like it. It's
five years since sent Jim to the viii
lage for the new one, and it's never
ben out since. I'm glad it's come into
fashion again, for never enjoyed my
self complete in the new one-always
felt little above my station" And
Farmer Aliens laugh rang through the
old sitting-room at the fitness of his
remark.
"Well, 'Lizabeth, you get supper on
the table, and I'll tell father the news
while he warns his feet. He's ben
down to the wood-lot all the after
noon and hain't heard nothing of the
strange things that has ben happening
up here"
Having arranged things to her salts
faction, the stocking Mrs. Allen had
dropped on the entrance of her hus-
band Continued to grow under her
def fingers, while the news lost none
of it's interest with repetition.
That night, after 'Lizabeth had
taken her candle and said good night,
Mr.. Allen sat for some time looking at
the fire, then suddenly broke out:
Mother, don't you think 'Lizabeth
looks kind O. peaked lately? Then,
she don't seem to eat as much as US
ual."
'"There, father, you're always fret
ting bout that girl. / don't know
what you'd done if you'd had six,
like your brother Jonathan"
II didn't know but the news about
Will might effect her some. You know
they used to think so much of each
other"
"Massy, father! that was years and
years ago, when they were children.
'Lizabeths too sensible girl to let a
Teller like Will Marston disturb her.
When he stopped writing to her she
gave him up. She's worked hard to-
day, and a good nights rest will bring
her round"
There seemed nothing more to be
said, SO he took a light and proceeded
to make everything safe for the night,
but long after his good wife was asleep
he lay awake thinking of the pale face
his daughter had lifted for the good
night kiss.
'Lizabeth was not likely to get the
strength her mother thought from q
nights rest. Until the first rays OF
morning lighted up the east she lay
thinking of the old days and living
them over again. She could not re-
member the time when she and Will
had not seemed to belong to each
other.
When they were children he had
drawn her to and from school on his
sled, saved her the largest half of his
apple or orange, and fought all her
battles with vigor worthy OF an old.
EN- knight. When the years in their
Atoht roada thana no Longer childran IL