The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-12-27

| in ,ha ieS' child, | have "a so,
ulI ,,I country. A married son.
had ny' grandpa ! l didn't know W,
la.aa naa any relations ! said Stella o" h" W.
! nice rHse, I, lace n', lighting joyously. How
fore, @ why didn't we go to them be-
,,as. ,o,s And oh, grandpa If he i
'ou' son. he is my uncle. isn't he ,
;l,eSs-your-your uncle, OF course
har sa,o ,ne old man, not daring to tel
her the truth, that the stranser wa, ,s,
her father. "a
,;,t1n And' oh wonder if I have an,
NIUE NIUE couslns' cried Stella. Has m,
u''I'e got any children, grandpa
~ don't know. | haven't sec,
nm n since he was married, said III,
o.u man. to whom this was becomine
distressing. 0 @~'i'i'i's
Oh, | hope he has ! cried sts1,,
ciapp'ng her hands. 1t will be $,
nice to have little cousins ! ~
lie gave her a few simple direc
tons about her preparations. anl
then bidding her get ready as sooI
as She could, he went out.
~ h'tle money they must have
and the old grandfather had but onf
article on which to raise it. >
lii' was "; his watch, an old silver
one' of little value. But he cold !,
Tor a trlfie' and then returned to the
little cottage where Stella waited for
him.
oteila's preparations were soon
made 1t was only to wrap the bit
Oh luhch In paper and put on her
hat and little shawl.
one was waiting, all ready, when
grandpa came back. He had his
hat and overcoat on, he took his
stout walking stick from the corner.
they went out, and TUNED the kew
in the door Of the little cottage.
As they stepped out, Stella's little
dog, Skip, came bounding IN.
barking joyously, and sprinping
round his little mistress.
Oh, grandpa ! said Stella, we
can't leave Skipl There Il be no on.
to feed him, Can't Skip go too?
Yes, let him 60, said her grand
father.
They walked a good ways that
day, stopping to eat their lunch at
noon near farmhouse where they
asked for a drink Of water.
The water was cheerfully given,
and the good farmers wife spoke
kindly to Stella, and gave them
some fine red apples.
hope Ben's wife will be the
likes Of her, thought the old man, as
they trudged away again, into the
dreary winter afternoon.
AT night they stopped at a way
side inn, and Grandpa Devon. from
his small store Of money, paid for a
lodging and breakfast for both of
them.
When they departed, next morn
ing, Grandpa Devon inquired care
fully about the way, and received
directions which he was sure would
lead him to the part of the country
where his son lived.
After dinner they went on. But
the old man, as well as the child,
was growing very weary with two
days steady walking.
And soon the snow began to fall,
softly, silently, but heavily,
Grandpa, said Stella, trying 10 re-
press weary sigh, is it much further
to my uncle's1
| don't know, my child, said the
old man.
We are coming to farmhouse,
and we'll stop and ask.
They raped at the door, and
when the woman Of the house came
the old man tremulously asked her
ii Ben Devon lived in those parts.
She said, yes, he did. She gave
them directions how to find his cot
tage, and asked if they were going
to visit Ben Devon.
Yes, ma'am. He is my son, said
the old man. Thank you for your
kindness.
The night was drawing nigh as our
two wanders came to the cottage the
woman had described, and raped at
the door.
Presently large, slovenly woman,
With a coarse, cro,s face, but clad IN
comfortable garments, opened it, and
In a loud shrewish tone, demanded:
What dye want here1 We don't
Keep no tramps, we don't.
Is this Ben Devon's house7 trenu'
lously inquired the old man, while
o'eiia shrank behind him, anu oAlp
s'ood beside her and growled sullenly'
Wal, it is and 1t isn't, said the dame
setting her hands on her hips nc
live here but l reckon rule the roost'
II was my house atore it was hlsn. VINO
De ye, an what do you want with 'na'
lazy Ben Devona
l am his father, and this Dc
lore the old man could finish Stella
spoke up.
l a'n his niece and we've come u
live with you.
~ va, ye be yc, said the Son'Au'
WAL guess ,e may a, well go back
"nar you come from. Ben Devon
na'n'' got no room fur ye here h'
a." ! 10 nome now, and don't hn'"
"nen he will be, 50 ,e needn't stop
| On, grandD, Mat We 90 all tiis