Telegram-herald., 1888-02-26

Il wssx hex salirx CAV as Aazost. and
tie youDg Dsrs5a. - te xelt O. h;s FoLnas
snepg The poor ard needy of his widely
scattered PARISH oa the outskirts of the ciEy
eften STOPPED beneath the shade Of soms
y wide spreading maple or Ozx 70 wipe the
p.rspiFafion from bis moist broS. l0uBg
se-l educated, wealthy, and Of al cd
Southern family. yet he found il pleasure
70 devote services and talents Of superior
order TO the welfare OF tae poor and needy
iu Northern city, when SO many woald
have chosen differently.
From d0br TO dsOr, snd from house 70
house 10 house, he went through the hog.
dusty stre4 Is until finally, the last call
made for the day. he turasd his footsteps
toward his pwn home.
As he passed along through = portion OF
the city, strange even 10 him. he noticed a
woman, evidently bat short time from the
old country. hoeing in the little potato
patch that stretched along the side of the
house. Quite pas. the prime Of life, Of
large, gsunt frame. with haggard, scanned
face. hardened with toll and exposure. she
stood. in her faded gown and wooden shoes,
hoeing the vines which. with dwsrfed.
spinsling tops. dotted the psrched earth here
and there with their sickly, sun-burned
leaves
There was something strangely pathetic
in the sight, and. although almost repelling
in her seemingly rough garb and looks, the
young pastor passed through the gate and
up the path 10 exchange a few words OF
cheer with her. As be did so, younger
woman, evidently the daughter of the other.
came from the house where the mother
stood leaning on her hoe watching
the approach of the stranger. saluting
them, he explained who be Was and his OBJ
ject in calling, but the elder woman by her
blank face showed he was not understood.
"Priate Halianof'
A troubled look of inquiry.
"Sprechen sic De,aschY"
Still no enlightenment.
"loarlc= -rous Fraacais7'
20 Ou;, Oui, monsieur" and the hardened
face was transformed with delight at hear
ing her native tongue from a stranger. AL
ready the younger woman had surmised
who the caller was. and be caught the word
dominic" passed from one to the other as
she explained TO her mother. The elder
woman greeted him with q low courtesy,
aud soon he found hissmall stock of French
phrases exhausted before her easier ques-
tionings. The daughter. who could speak a
little English, translated as best she could.
but was of little aid. In the best broken
English at her command, she made him
understand how her mother had but lately
come oyer from France, aud already her
heart was yearning for the vine clad hills OF
her native village and the faces of her kins-
men. 1t was well for young people. full OF
hope and ambition, to seek success in the
New World. but she pined for the home and
scenes of her childhood. and if the good
Father permitted. she would 60 back when
the Winter had come and gone, and the
Spring with its flowers should come again.
Her voice faltered as she spoke of memories
so dear to her. And turning to her daugh-
| ter, she addressed her in French, which the
| daughter translated az request that she
sing for the dominic
Then barring her head to the hot rays o
| the sun. and standing erect and stalwart bv
| the side of the old mother leaning on the
handle OF her hoe, the daughter sang low
plsintive song in her native tongue, the
sweet melody of which fingered with the
young preacher for many day. lie caught
the oft repeated words of home" and
"fatherland." and as the music OF the un-
| cultured bat heartfelt tones OF her voics
rose on the still summer air, tears came &c
the mothers eyes and rolling down hel
| furrowed cheeks. washed their way through
| the dust and stain on her softened face
| while her bosom heaved from the strain o
her burdened heart.
Softly the song died away. and as with
| eyes dimmed with moisture the youn,
| dominic bade them adieu, the moihe
with soft accent and broken voice, gave ex
preston to q sentiment which, comm,
from her. was like pearl dropped from tn,
rough shell of a mollusk.
"She say" translated the daughter in he
borken English, "zat when you not under
stan we, and we not understan you. zen q
music is ze talk of re soul we all under
stan"
Six months later. the young minister, re
turned from dIstsnt ate TO ~hich he ha'
been suddenly called, again entered the lit
tie gate and, rspping at the door, inquire'
of the daughter, who answered bis knock
for her mother. The tesrs rushed to he
| eyes as she told him she had gone home.
| What across the sea to France7"
| "No, there" and she pointed upward Z
the deep blue Of the sky. CAL. A. Mtzu.