Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-12-27
Somebody Q

don beat all, There's old Slulrj Nor
crosss name ont. It's the receipt, flu |
and square. What's come over the old
crittur' lie mus a got religion in his old
age; but Ii grace made him do that, grace
has done a tough job, that 4 all but it's
done anyhow and that's all yoa need TO
care about. Wal. wal. | must git along
hum-Mariar Janell be wOndern' where
be. Goodnight, all on we and Blah s
retreating wagon wheels were OFF in the
distance, rat ling furioIsly, for notwith-
standing Mara Jane s wondering Biah
was resolved not to let an hour slip by
without declaring the wonderful tidings at
the store.
The Pitkin family were seated at supper
in the big kitchen, all ubilant over tho
recent news. The father, radiant. with
the pleasantest excitement. had fer the
first time come out to take his place at the
family board. In the seven years since
the beginning OF our story the. Pitkin BOYS
had been growing ap9ce and now sur
rounded the table. quite an arr y of rosy
checked, oily young fellows, who to night
were in perfect tumult OF animal ETY..
Diana twinkled and dimplpd and flung
her sparkles round among them an there
was unbounded l0lllty.
"WhO's that looking in at the window ,"
called out sam aged ten, who sat opposite
the house door. \ that moment IT,. door
opened, and a dark stranger, bronzed with
travel and dressed in ioreign-looSing gar
ments, entered.
lie stood enc moment, all ! o&ing curl
ously at him, then ossng the DOR, hc
kneeled down by Mrs. 'itkin chair, and
throwing OFF his cap, looked her close in
the eyes.
Mother don YOU know me 80
She looked at him one moment with that
still earnestness peculiar to herself, and
then fell into his arms 30, my son, my
son >
There were few moments of indescrb-
able confusion, during which lana re-
treated. ale and brtathless, to neighbour
| ing window, and stood with her hand over
the lo,ket VIII CHI she had always worn up
on her heart.
AZ er a few moments he came, and she
| felt him ~ her.
VIVA, ,Ousin" he said no wei me
| from you " he gave one look. and he
took her in his arms. She felt the beat
ing of his heart. an he felt hers. Nei-
ther spoke yet each felt that moment
sure OF the other.
81 say, boys" said James, "wh II
help bring in M sea chcst"'
a
antly ushered; It was contest who
should get near enough to take some part
in its Introduction, and so II it was open,
and ares began d stributing It's contents.
There, mother aid he, undoing a
hea y black India saith and shaking out
its folds I'm determined you shall have
a dress fit for you; and here little India
shawl t. go with II. Get those OH and
you III look as much like queen among
women as you ought 10. "
Then followed something for every
emEer of the family, received with
frantic demOnstra ions of app ause and
appreciation by the more Juvenile.
Oh what's that" sad am. as pack
age done up in silk aper and tied with
silver cord was disclosed.
That Oh-that's my wife's welding
dres :" said james, unfolding AMI shak-
ing out a rich satin, 'and here's er
shawl" drawing out an embroidered box
scented with sandal wood.
The DO all looked at Diana, and Di-
ana laughed and grew pale AMI red all in
the same breath, as James, folding back
the silk an shawl in their boxes, handed
them to her.
Mrs. Pitkln laughed and kissed her,
and said, gaily, ''All right, my daughter
Just right
What an evening that was, TO be sure!
What confusion of Joy and gladness!
What halftelling o. hundred things
that it would take weeks to tell.
James had paid The mortgage and had
money to spare and how he got it all and
how he was saved at sea, and where he
went, and what befell him here and there,
he promised to be telling item for six
months To come.
''Well, your father mustn't e kept up
too late, said Mrs. Pitkin. "l.et us have
prayers now, and then tomorrow We'll
be fresh to talk more, -
SO they gathered around the wide kitch-
en- fire, and the family Bible was brought
out
Father" aaid James, d awning out OF
his pocket the bible his mother had given
him at parting, "let me read my Psalm;
1t has cen my Psalm ever since | left
you. There was a solemn thrill in the
little circle as James read the verses:
They that so down TO the sea in ships
and do business on the great waters these
see the works of the Lord and his wonders
in the deep. For he commandeth and
raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up
the waves thereof; they mount up to heav-
en-; they go down to the depths; their soul
10 DCCduSc Oh lTOuDle. lnen IOey
cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he
bringeth them out of their distresses. He
make.h the storm calm so that the waves
thereof are still Then are they glad be-
cause they are quiet, so he bringeth them
to their desired haven. Oh, that men
would praise the Lord for his goodness for
his wonderful works to the children of
men3"
When all had left TIE cd kitchen
James and Diana sat by the glowing
hearth, and stoned TO the crickets and
talked over the past and the future.
''And now" said James, '';t's seven
years since l left you, and tomorrow Is
the seventh Thanksgiving, an I've al
ways set my heart on getting no II to be
married Thanksgiving evening""
But, ear me, Jim, we can't. There
isn't time "
''Why not we've got all the time
there is"
BIT the wedding. dress can't be mado
possibly"
oh. That can wait until the week
after. You are pretty enough without it,"
But what will they all say"
who car, what they say! don't. "