The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-01-19

brought them both NO when their
parents died ef consumption, that
takes SO many of our folks) Sam
went out West, he was always ad-
venturous, and for ten years she did
not hear from him; but John W8itls
different and steady, and when he
came Of age she had given him her
farm, with the provision she should
always have q home, otherwise he
Wou!.I nave gone away too. Well,
for five years they were happy, then
John married, and his wife had grown
to think her a burden ais the years
went on, and the children when they
| grew big did not care for her, and
she felt she had lived too long:
II growed SO lonesome,o she said
pathetically, fit seems I 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 a dom fair an sent me money, /
begun to think of him; fur he was
allus generous an kind, an the CRATE
fullest boy, an SO begun to save to
go to him for / knowed could work
my board fur good meny years to
come. Fur three year he aim hardly
wrote, but I laid that to the wild
keatry he lived in. said "b'ars an
Injuns don't skeef me none fur when
I was a 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 tho l6nesomeness
of these theddefs has sorter Epsot me
an made me think Sam was further
off THAI / ever calculated on"
But what will you do if Sam amt
in Denver?" asked the farmer.
II hev put my faith III, Provi;;
dence," she answered simply, and
the stranger could not, mar that
trust by any warning. He gave her
his address as he got off at the Ne
braska line, and told her to send
him word if she needed help' with
warm Handicapped ne parted from
her ID Join the phantoms III her men,
DRY of ''folks tibet had bin kind to
her, God bless en-" and then the
train went rumbling on. But many
of the passengers had listend 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 and to answer her smile. He
was going to the new country for
health and wealth. poor lad, only
to find eternal rest III the sunny
land, but his last days were bright
ened by thereward for an act ofkind-
| ness.
"She probably brought those boys
up" he thought land denied her life
for them. Is she to die unrewarded,
I 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
good deed was worth something.
II mayn't have the chance to do
manly more" thought the lad, but
toning his worn overroat. He slip
ped off at a station and sent a tele-
gram to Denver.
"To Samual Blair"-for he had
caught the name from her talk
"Your Aunt Hannah from Maine is
on the W. Il W. train coming to
YOU"
1t was only a straw, but kindly
wind might blow it to the right one
after all.
When he was sitting there after his
message had gone on its way, she
leaned over and handed him a pep
permint drop.
'You don't look strong, dearie,"
she said; 'hain't yeno folks with ye?"
''None on earth"
"We're both lone ones" she smiled;
San how sad it be there amt no
bfe to fuss over We. An be keerful
of the drafts, and keep flannel allus
on your chist; that is good for the
lungs"
You are very kind to take an in
terest in me-" he smiled; but l am
afraid it is too late"
Another night of weary slumber in
the cramped seats, and then the
plain began to be dotted with vii
lagos, and soon appeared the strag-
Cling outskirts of a city, the Platte
River, and a network of iron rails.
"This is Denver" said the lad to
her, "and I'll look after you as well
as can"
~ wun't be no burden" she said
brightly. GIVE twenty dollars yet
an that's sight of money"
The train halted to let the east
ward bound express pass, there was
an air of excitement in the car, pas
sengers 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 a big
bearded man with eager blue eyes
came down the aisle looking sharply
from right to left. He had left DEN
yer on the express to meet this train.
His glance fell on the tiny black fig
ure.
"Why, Aunt Hannahl' he cried,
with a break in his voice, and She
she put out her trembling hands and
fell into the big arms, tears stream
ing down the wrinkled face.
II knowed 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.
s'Why, I've sent John twenty dol
lars a mouth for five years for you,
he said angrily, as she told him why
she ran away, land he said you
would not write, for you had a
stroke and was helpless, and have
written to you often and sent you
money. It's hard for a man to call
his own brother villain"
"We wun't, SAM" she said gently, !
"but just furgit; an 1 wun't be a
burden to We, fur ] can wurk yit, an
fur years to come"
"Work, indeedl don't I owe you
evervthinp?" he criedl "And nv wife