Nevada County picayune., 1889-05-01


 I've felt it all along, an it's mos
 here now. But l have something tt ask of you, Bartlett, before l go. want you to be good to Sammy That's all l ask be good my boy
 II wilI," Hicks said. lowing his head, and, for the time, no doubt feeling the force of the neglect of hi, son.
 \ little later, Melinda Hicks died and the father and son were left tt mourn her absence. The one mouruco her death because he valued her and missed her aid and assistance in the grosser duties If life. The otheI mourned her death because he loved her and missed her gentle presence and kindly acts. The husband and son. each in his way, and each for his owD reasons, mourned the loss of l the wife and mother.
 \ few months passed away and Hicks married again. The new wife was lacking in all the qualities that make woman lovely. She was un- kind and unsympathetic, and with out cause, formed strong dislike to Sammy. She wrought on Hicks mind till he forget his promise To Sammy mother, and soon the boy found his lot cruel one. and his ex- istence miserable in the extreme. and at last he made up his mind that he could submit to it no longer.
 So one day Sammy went away from the old home to try his fortune among strangers. Whither he went Hicks knew not, for he was too angry at parting to speak, or so much as give his son his hand and blessing.
 Fifteen more years passed by, bringing with them their many changes to the world and the people in it. Burr Oak Ridge had felt these changes. New homes were built, and new owners and occupants had come to many of the old ones. The old faces, many of them, had disap- peared. Some had moved away and others have gone off in that long sleep of which we know nothing. A new generation had sprung mp, and new customs came to Hicks store. But Hicks store remained the same, only its rough brown sides may have been little more weather beaten, the old window shutters a little more warped, the old sign little more dim, and the dust on the shelves a little thicker
 But Hicks was changed. He was not only grayer and feebler, but the weight of a great sorrow rested heavily upon him. He was alone in the world now. with none to love or care for him; with not soul to min gle consolation with his sorrows, or to sweeten his troubles with all offer ing of pity. His second wife was dead, and age and solitude brought up the past with its dark pictures to haunt him. Business had lost its charm, and there was no longer a pleasure in accommodating money. The old store in which he had taken such pride and found so much pleasure for years at last lost its fascination and became hateful to him, and of- ten he longed to tear away from it and leave it forever.
 One summer evening Hicks sat on pine box in front of the store, ana his thoughts went back to the old, old times-back down the channel of tune to the time when Sammy was with him, and as his eyes grew dim with gathering tears, he unused;
 ''Poor sammy Poor sammy! If you had only come back-if you would only come back now! But l have suffered for treatln' you so. l have suffered for it bitterly. I've missed It in life. I've made money and I've saved it, but Pve destroyed my only hope of happiness in dolng it. Poor Sammy, l made you suffer, but my load has been the heavier to bear. And now l am alone. 1 am friendless. There is no one to share my fortune or my trouble. No one to care for me while l live or weep for me when die. It is terrible, terrible, this being alone in the world"
 Musing thus, Hicks sat for long time, with his face buried in his hands. It was beginning to get dark when he awoke to the fact that It was