The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-06-14

As soon as they were seated Mrs. Bald
win glanced quietly at her neighbor,
and then proceeded to ask plain, old
fashioned blessing. Farmer John had
asked blessings-but that was before the
new barn was built-for somehow dur
ing the hurry and worry of the time,
blessings were often left out, and finally
dropped altogether. To be sure they
were renewed the spring little Een's
sleeping was changed from the
warm room off the kitchen to the narrow
bed in the old orchard, but only for a
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 lingering respect
for those who did not omit it that gave
/ thema warm corner where warm corners
were exceedingly scarce. Nor can we
say whether It was this or the desire to
say something in the right place that
/ caused him at the close of the blessing
1 to astonish his hostess with very hearty
amen.
OF course Mrs. Baldwin and 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 inexplicable.
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.
II do know but might jis' IS soon
tell ye what l come for first as last
faint no pleasant job, I know, but
felt s though l didn't do jist right
toward ye in the matter bout viii, an
want to tell ye that Pm ashamed Nv my.
self. IL was too hasty altogether"
This was not exactly what he had meant
to say, but it was all he could say, aud
it had to do. -
Mrs. Baldwin. greatly astonished,
managed to say that there was nothing
for him to be ashamed Of Tney always
believed he did what he 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 ex-
tended his hand and asked her to over
look 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 d good
many tears in his day, but this proved a
little more of that kind of work than
even he could manage, and one after
another the great tears rolled down his
face.
Mrs. Baldwin was about to make some
further remark, when a step on the front
stoop attracted their attention, and in q
moment more VIII SanbouTn stood be-
fore the astonished trio Helen sprang
toward him first, but Farmer John was
a close second, and grasping him warmly
by the hand, extended a most hearty
welcome.
An hour later the sun broke through the
clouds, aud 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
a little bowed, with one hand resting on
his back Just where two wide, knit sus-
penders met. The other little taller,
upright and strongly built, was trying
to keep up with him. Which was the
happier of the two it would be hard to
tell
It is just four years to-day since then,
and VIII, with strong hired man, is in
the same back field, mendiDg 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 the girl with the
dinner, while every step is taken lightly,
as off and on furtiye glances are cast to-
ward the well-worn lounge in the corner.
For don't You see a clzbRy1. tEo-zsssE-old,
bis dimpied inst, has fallenasleep on grand
pas arm, and grandpa is sleeping too?
We did not intend to say anything
about the baby's 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 p Youths
Companion.