The Washington critic., 1889-01-17
WASHINGTON CRITIC
TURNED UP.

Old Grimley was sitting by the fire
half asleep. He was getting too old and
rheumatic to throw things at his wife,
but he could still abuse her with his
tongue. Near him sat his stepdanghter,
Mahala, pretty girl of 1S, and the poor
woman he had made miserable all her
life.
Grimley'was in an unusually amiable
mood that day. so he consented that they
might go to church together.
On the way there the two women
began to talk about Phil, brother of
Mahala's, who years ago had been driven
from home by Grimlcy's cruelty. The
boys sin was in going to the circus
against his stepfather's wishes, and hav-
ing been beaten in punishment he ran
away to make his fortune.
The mother and daughter felt very
happy to be alone for few moments
and free to talk of the boy who had once
been the pride of the village.
The girl, who was very young when
he ran away, was very anxious to know
all about her missing brother, and Mrs
Grimley found pleasure in telling her;
as they trudged along the dusty high
way, :,
on Gun IeInemDeT ulHi, nluudld,
the mother said, speaking as she might of
one dead, "you were SO young. But he
was such pretty boy Last night |
dreamed he came back but that will
never be now. guess he's dead. Don't
you think so, MahalaY'
GLOW can / think, mar | wish
knew" said Mahala. "It would be bet
ter for you IL his grave were here in the
churchyard.
1t was early and they went into the
churchyard and walked about among the
tombs.
At last they sat down on bench un-
der great willow, waiting for the bell
to ring and young man, who had been
walking about among the graves, paused
near them.
Excuse me-" he said. "I am the
preacher you will have to listen to to-
day. May / ask your names?'
b. The elder woman gave hers, and
added
'This is my daughter, Mahala. Will
you sit down, Dominic ?" She made
room for him on the bench beside her.
you're quite a young dominic she
said. gently. 81 hope you've got a
mother She must be proud of you. l
had boy / wanted to make minister
of, but-he's gone p
''You are very kind" said the young
man. II have mother, but she has not
seen me for years. do not know what
you will think when l tell you | ran
away from her."
The poor woman put her hand to her
bosom and looked at him anxiously.
"Ran away" she repeated.
81 ran away because l was whipped, !"
he said. My stepfather whipped me. !"
"Ohl" cried Mahala, turning pale
II went to join the circus, If | could" !"
said the young minister. "That was
what / was whipped foregoing to the
circus.
"They were good to me and let me
travel with them, but when we were far
West kind, good man talked to me as
no one had ever talked before.
''He told me that had better take
his advice and let him place me where |
would be given an education and fitted
for some other calling. | believed him,
and had sense enough to know he was
right.
I'm Western home grew to man
hood, and chose to be preacher.
Mother, don't you know me now? Don't
you know Phil Mahala, are you really
my dear little sister? i shall take care
of you both in the future"
The bells began to ring. The mother
embraced her son and he left her for a
while. When she was able to go in
they sat and listened to the sermon with
strange feelings, and joined in the sing
ing as they had never Joined before.
"Phil that was Phil r' the mother
kept saying to herself.
The end of the dreadful story had
come, and all was happiness, sweetness
peace.
Phil had returned to her, and hei
dream was realized He stood there il
the pulpit, preaching, and preaching
well. He was a good mana true son
Fears Of Joy coursed down her cheeks
1t seemed to her that life could have nc
more troubles for her,
1t was in the parsonage that old Grim
ley spent his last days.
Perhaps he was grateful; perhaps he
was ashamed of himself.
Perhaps as he grew nearer death he
had some sort of change of heart. But
he stopped scolding altogether, and al
ways declared that he "knowed Phi
would turn out we'll. Spare the rod and
spoil the child,'" he would add. "Yor
understand, fetched him up on tina
principle.
SO he comforts himself; but he does
not deceive others. Phil is too good
Christian to contradict him.