The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-04-04
a moment later it did break, and what
to do or say next the old man did not

]! A1noment later it did break, and whSt
to do or say next the old man did not
know.
When he came in they were about to
spread the table for dinner, and after
some delay country manners demanded
I that they should proceed. Farmer John
watched them closely, hoping o third
plate would not1nake Its appearance on
the snowy CLOTH But 1t was placed
there, and when dinner was ready Mrs.
Baldwin with q pleasant smile asked
him to sit up and eat with them.
In vain the old man declared be was
not hungy-that he had just eaten a
very late broakfast-and that he hadn't
a very good appetite anyway. Tbs rain
kept pouring down, and in spite Of him
self Farmer John found himself seated
at the table with Helen and her mother.
As soon as they were seated Mrs. Bald
win glanced quietly at her neighbor, and
then proceeded to ask q plain, old fash
ioned blessing. Farmer John had asked
blesslng-but that was before the new
barn was built-for somehow during the
hurry and worry of the time, blessings
were often left out, aud finally dropped
altogether. To be sure they were re-
newed the spring little Ben's sleeping
place was changed from the warm room
off the kitchen to the narrow bed in the
old orchard, but only for year or SO,
and now it was never done.
Perhaps the old mans conscience was
disturbed by this omission-we cannot
say as to that-but somewhere in his
crusty. heart there was o lingering re-
spect for those who did not omit. 1t sthat
gave them warm cornerwhere warm.
corners were exceedingly scarce. Nor
can:we say whether 1t was this or the de-
sire to say something in the right place
that caused him at the close of the bless
ing to astonish his hostess with very
hearty amen.
or course Mrs. Baldwin aud her daugh-
ter were puzzled as to the object of the
old mans visit. Mrs. Baldwin thought
possibly It was some matter of business,
but his evident embarrassment about In
Producing it was inexpicable.
Helen, who never thought Of John
Sanbourn except in connection with VIII
Sanbourn, feared his visit BODIED no good
for the absent boy.
But they had not long to wait.
1T do know but might jis' 3 soon tell
ye what + come for first as last, Taint
| no pleasant Job, I; know, but felt 3
though I didn't do jist right toward ye
in the matter bout VIII, IN want to
tell ye that I'm ashamed Nv myself. +
I was too hasty altogether"
This was not exactly what be had
meant to say, but 1t was all he could say,
and it had to do.
Mrs Baldwin, greatly astonished, man.
aged to say that there was nothing fer
him to bo ashamed of. They always be-
lieved he did what be thought would be
for the best, and had no reason to think
he had done otherwise in this matter.
Helen was too much overcome to speak,
but when the old farmer extended his
hand and asked her to overlook the past
and he would do better by VIII, the
dark eyes filed and the girlish form
shook with emotion. -
Farmer John had winked back good
many tears in his day, but this proved q
little more Of that kind Of work than
even b. could manage, and one after an"
other the great tears rolled down bis
face.
Mrs. Baldwin was about to make some
further remark, when step on the front
stoop attracted their attention, and in .
moment more VIII Sanbourn stood be-;
fore the astonished trio. Helen sprang
toward him first, but Farmer John was
close second, and gTasping him warmly
by the hand extended o most hearty well
come.
An horr later the sun broke through
the clouds, and shortly after two men
could be seen lodging the puddles along
the road leading by one Of the best farms
in Central Wisconsin. One Of the men
was little bowed, with one hand rest
ing on his back just where two wide,
knit suspenders met. The other little
taller, upright and strongly built, was
trying 70 keep up with him. Which was
happier of the two itwould be hard to
tell.
1t is just four years today since then,
and Will, with strong hired man, istn
the same back; field, mending the old
pasture wall. The other boys are away
at school, and as we are passing SO near
the old farm house, let us peep into the
open door Of the long front room.
The two elderly ladies by the window
we have seen before. And the restful
peace on the face Of one of them tells
that the time when "'twill be all over
with" has really come.
a young woman with dark, earnest
eyes is fitting back and forth to the
kitchen helping, ,thegirl with the dinner,
while every: step Is taken lightly, as off
and on furtive g!ances are cast toward
the well worn lounge in the corner. For
don't you see chubby 2-year-old, with
a pair Of gold bowed spectacles In his
dimpled fist, has fallen asleep on grand
pas arm, and grandpa Is sleeping too3
We did not intend to say anything
about the baby 8 name and will not. But
you can always tell when the thin locks
are pulled little too hard, by the way
the old man says" Johnny!-Millard
Greeley in Youths Companion.
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