San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-09-16


to kindly listener
She told him all the relations she had were
two grandnephews and their families. That
twenty years ago Sam for she had brought
them up when their parents died of consump-
ton. that kills so many Of our folks went
out west. He was always adventurous, and
for ten years she did not hear from him; but
John was different and steady, and when he
came of age she had given him her farm,
with the provision she should always have a
home, otherwise he would have gone away,
too. Well, for five years they were happy,
then John married, and his wife had grown
to think her burden as the years went on
and the children when they grew big did not
care for her, she felt she had lived too long.
81 growed SO lonesome" she said patheti-
cally, lit seems | couldn't take up heart TO
live day by day, an yit | knowed our folks
was long lived. Ten years back, when Sam
wrote he was dom fair an sent me money,
| begun to think of him; fur he was allus
generous an kind, an the gratefulest boy,
an so | begun to save to go to him, fur
knowed | could work my board fur good
meny years to come. Fur three year he amt
hardly wrote, but laid that to the wild ken
try he lived in. | said bars an lnjuns don't
skeer me none, fur when | was gal up in
Aroostuk kentry there was plenty of both,
an as fur buffalers them horned cattle don't
skeer me none fur I've been used to farm
allus. But the lonesumness of these medders
has sorter upset me an made me think every
day Sam was further off than | ever cal
c'lated on"
''But what will you do if Sam amt in Den
ver2" asked the farmer.
hot fat N PrOyllpncp
answered simply, and the stranger could not
mar that trust by any word of warning
He gave her his address as he got off at the
Nebraska line, and told her to send him word
if she needed help. With a warm hand clasp
he parted from her to join the phantoms in
her memory of folks tibet had bin kind to
her, God bless EN-" and then the train went
rumbling on.
But many of the passengers had listened to
her story and were interested, and they came
to sit with her.
One pale little lad in the seat in front
turned round to look at her now and then and
to answer her smile. He was going to the
new country for health and wealth, poor lad,
only to find eternal rest in the sunny land,
but his last days frightened by the reward
for his thoughtful act of kindness
thought, 'and denied her life for them. Is
she to die unrewarded, | wonder? There
cannot be any good in the world if that be
So" He thought of her and took out his
poor purse; there was so little money in il,
too, every cent made big hole in his store;
but the consciousness of a good deed was worth
something. 81 mayLt have the chance to do
many MORE" thought the lad, buttoning his
worn OvercOat
He slipped off without word at a station
and sent telegram to Denver.
ITO Samuel Bair"-fOr he had caught the
| name from her talk-"Your Aunt Hannah
Blair, of Maine, is on the W. and W. train
| coming to you"
1t was only straw, but a kindly wind
| might blow it to the right one after all.
When he was sitting there after his mes
sage had gone ON its way, she leaned o, er
| and handed him a peppermint drop fro1i
| package in her pocket.
You don't look strong, dearie,' she said;
"haint We no folks with yeF'
None on earth"
Were both lone ones" she smiled; "an'
how sad it be there amt no one to fuss over
| ye An be kaerful of the drafts, and keep
| flannel allus on your chist; that is good fur
| the lungs"
"You are very kind to take an interest in
me" he smiled; "but | am afraid it is too
| late"
| Another night of weary slumber in the
cramped seats, and then the plain began to
be dotted with villages, and soon appeared
the struggling outskirts of city, the smoke
| of mills, the CLEAN of the Platte river, and a
network of iron rails, bright and shining, as
] the train ran shrieking into the labyrinth of
| its destination.
This is Denver" said the lad to her, land
| I'll look after you as well as can"
at wunt be no burden" she said brightly.
I've $50, dollars yet, an that's a sight Of
money"
The train halted to let the eastward bound
| express pass, there was an air of excitement
in the car, passengers were getting ready to
depart gathering up luggage and wraps, and
some watching the new corners and the rows
of strange faces on the outward bound.
The door Of the car slammed suddenly, and
big bearded man with eager blue eyes came
down the aisle looking sharply from right to
left He had left Denver on the express to
meet this train. His glance fell on the tiny
black figure
Why, Aunt Hannah" he cried, with a
break in his voice, and she-she put out her
trembling hands and fell into the big arms,
tears streaming down the wrinkled face.
II knowed Providence would let me find
ye, SAM" she said brokenly, and no one
smiled when the big man set down beside her
and with gentle hand wiped her tears away
why, I've sent John $50 month for five
years for YOU" he said angrily, as she told
him why she ran away, and he said you
sould not write, for you had stroke and was
helpless, and have written to you often and