Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-02-06
REUNITED.

The last little toddler had scrambled
down the schoolroom steps. the larger
scholars were at some distance, engaged in
a merry game of "tag," but l was in no
hurry to follow them. This was my one
hour Of freedom out Of the "a, and ! rested
my head on the battered old desk before
me and enjoyed 1t to the utmost.
1t was a bright April afternoon in South
ern Missouri. Already .the prairie was
bright with blossoms, and the grapevines
in the timber that fringed the stream near
by sent fragrant messages on every breeze.
The day had been oppressively warm, at
least it seemed so to my Northern ply
sique. Gradually the worn benches and
the dingy walls disappeared, and l was
busily engaged with pitchfork in New
England bayfield,, when I was startled
back to Missouri by q CHEEKY "Hello,
therew
sprang up, oppressed by the fear that
was late for supper, and that Mrs. Spriggs,
who boarded" me and was the chief
terror OF my life at that time, had
come to upbraid me for my delinquen-
cy. But instead of her sharp features and
angular form, I saw an old man, white
haired and venerable, with mild blue eyes
and ruddy face.
'This warm spring weather is rather
hard on us Northerners," he said pleasant
ly. '1t's matter of 35 years since left
old Vermont, and I'm getting purity well
acclimated, as they say, but I know jest
how you feel to-day"
wrung his hand as heartily as if / had
known him all my life. 1t was only few
months since | left my childhood's home,
and / was barely 10. The old man answer
ed my silence as if had spoken.
eyes, it's good to see anyone from the
old place, isn't iti The old LADY,, with
tender intonation lis frying her first spring
chickens, and she expects you to help eat
em, SO get your hat and hurry up. | told
Mis- Spriggs you wouldn't be back this
evening.
followed him joyously to a wagon
which stood at little distance, and he
sluIeu Ut my eNlucHt ucllSnt
"You see," he said, as we logged along,
"we've been lottin' on havin' you ever
since term begun, but we knew it wouldn't
do to ask you before you'd gone the rounds
of the youngun's houses. Folks here are
particular about that. But you're through
now, amt youl"
Yes, / was Through" at last. At each of
the scholars homes had passed night,
more or less awful, and at every one 1 had
heard of the crimes and shortcomings COM
mon to the rest, until I began to regard
myself as lamb quartered on a colony Of
wolves. On one point they were all
agreed, Mrs. Spriggs was the most wolfish
wolf among them, and was the recipient
ofmuch commiseration because, Mr.. Spriggs
being director, | was expected to board
under his roof, as matter of course.
knew by sight the old gentleman who
had now called for me, though had never
spoken to him before that evening. His
name was Worden, and it struck me as
singular that it was not associated in my
mind with any sin Of omission or com
mission. / concluded that it must be be-
cause he had no young -uns" in the school,
for had noticed that parental jealousy
was the chief source Of the torrent of
slander.
II suppose your children have babies Of
their own, by this time" | said.
"0nly one of 'em lived past baLyhood," F."
he answered, sadly, "and he was-we lost
him many years ago.
We were passing farmhouse just then,
and, to change the subject, l asked Mr..
Worden if he knew the owner.
"Ay, that l do" he answered, heartily.
zone of the best farmers in the country.
Never could beat him on corn. Wife's the
spryest little woman in the country, haint
she got flock of poultry! Bigh tempered
Likely nough These uncommon smart
folks often are. There's Blacks cousin is,
maybe, better natured, but he can't begin
to raise such corn. Not but what he's
first-rate fellow, too. We must take folks
as they are, my boy. Apples and peaches
are both good, but they don't grow on the
same tree, my boy, not OF the same tree"
Iassented to this selfevident proposition,
and the old gentleman continued:
You've heard lots Of talk since you've
been here, no doubt, but you mustn't mind
it. The folks here are not much on readin'
an such and the climate makes work easy,
50 they naturally talk good deal, but
they. don't mean anything. Bless you,
they're as kind hearted! Why, if you
happen to get hurt, there isn't man here