Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-09-19

From Maine, she answered: and then
she grew communicative. for she was al
ways a chatty old lady. and she had
possessed her soul in silence so long. She
told him all the relations she had were
| two grandnephews and their families.
| That twenty years ago Sam flor she had
| brought them both up when their parents
died of consumption, that takes so many
of our folks went out west; he was always
adventurous, ana for ten years she did not
hear from him, but Johnwas different and
steady, and when he came of age she had
| given him her farm, with the provision
she should always have 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, and she felt she had lived too
long.
Il growed so lonesome, she said pa
thstically, 1T seems | couldn't take up
heart to live day by day, an vet | knowed
our folks was long lived Ten years back
when Sam wrote he was adoin' fair an
sent me money. begun to think of him;
fur he was allus generous an kind, an the
greatfulest boy, an so | begun to save to
! go to him, for mowed | could work my
/ board fur good many years to come. Fur
three years he amt hardly wrote, bun |
laid that to the wild kentry he lived in. |
said, bars an Injuns don't skeer me
none, fur when | was a gal up in the
! Aroostuk kentry there was plenty Of both.
an as for buifalers them horned cattle
/ don t skeer me none for We been used to
! a farm allus. But the lonesomeness of
( these medders has sorter upset me an made
me think Sam was further off than | ever
calculated on.
But what would you do if Sam ain in
| Denyer2 asked the farmer.
81 hey put my faith in Providence, she
answered simply and the stranger could
not mar that trust by any warning. He
gave her his address as he got off at Ne
braska line and told her to send him word
! if she needed any help. With a warm
/ hand clasp he parted from her to join the
phantoms in her memory of folks that
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 and cheer her way. One pale
/ lad in the seat in front turned to look at
/ her now and then 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
were frightened by the reward for an act
of kindness
"She probably brought these boys up,
he thought, land denied her life for them
is she to die unrewarded wonder. There
can not be any good in the world if that be
so, He thought Of her, and took out his
poor purse; there was little money in it,
too; every cent made a big hole in his
store; but the consciousness of a good deed
was worth something. II maynt have
the chance to do many more, thought the
lad, buttoning his worn overcoat. He slip
ped off at a station and sending telegram
to Denver:
ITO Samuel Blair for he had caught
the name from her talk your Aunt Han
nah, from Maine, is on the W & w. train
coming to you.
1t was only straw, but a kindly wind
might blow ii TO the right one
When he was sitting there after his
message had gone on its way she leaned
over and handed him a peppermint drop
you don't look strong, dearie,' she
said; hahn { We no folks with YEP
None on earth.
Were both lone ones, she smiled
IAN how sad il be there amt no one to
fuss over We. An be keerful of the drafts,
and keep fannels alIus on your chist; that
is good for 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 APP
peared the Struggling outskirts of city,
the Platte Bower and a network of iron
rails.
This is Denver, said the lad to her.
''and I'll look after you as well as can. W
~ wun't be no burden, she said
brightly. I've $40 yet an that's a sight
of money.
The train halted to let the eastward
bound express pass, there was an air of ex-
element in the car passengers getting
ready to depart, gathering up luggage and
wraps, and some watching the newcomers
and the rows of strange faces on the out |
ward bound The door of the car slammed
suddenly, and a big bearded man with
eager blue eyes came down the aisle looking
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 sheput ont
her trembling hands and fell into the big
arms, tears streaming down the wrinkled
face
90 lmowed Providence would let me find /
We. Sam, she said brokenly. and no one
smiled when the big man sat down beside
her and with gentle hand wiped her tears /
away
Why I've sent John 800 a month for
FIVE years for you he said angrily as she /
told him why She ran away, and he said .
YOU could not write for YOU had a stroke
and was helpless. and I have written to
You often and sent you money It's hard
for man to call his own brother villain. - (
" We wun i Sam. she said gently. but
just forget; an ] won be a burden to ye .
fur can work vet an for years 10 come. (
" Work. indeed don't ] owe you every
thing?' he cried And my wife has
longed for YOU to come. There are 50 few
dear old faces IN this country they re priced, .
I tell YOU Why it as good as a coat-of-
arms 10 have a dear. handsome old woman