The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-12-17
Highest Of all 10 Leavenng PoverU Govt Report Aug ' 1909
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ABSOLUTELY PURE
A STORY OF A LETTER

/ OF work 80 earlsf
Jsues stopped 10 passing boy who
/ like himself vas one Of the workers on
large ranch. Csleb's stumpy figure wa'
bending over = table in the rough back
porch and bis face was drawn into puck
or which told that his task was 90 easy
I one.
4 Yes, ii's early know. bni i,'s mail day
to.morrow spd thought I'd send let
ter.
Folks back E,si2 asked james.
Well, / haven't got many folks. Ain
so we'll of as you are. It's my ssep.mosh
er, but she's good woman and she liket
TO bear from me, and think ] ougbt to-
No one ever thought Of taking Caleb fol
an exeuplar III anything. He was slow
aud clumsy 10 his movements and neveI
dreamed OF prtsuming to make q sugges
,ion Of duty to any one. But IT bad come
to be observed that Caleb was TO be relied
on.
II you look Tor him where he belongs
he is sure TO be there, his employer had
been heard TO say And some OF the boys
had noticed that Calebs quiet Il think
ought to" always referred to something be
was sure 10 do.
James had intended calling upon Caleb
for assistance in the turning OF water into
the irrigating ditch upon which the crops
SO largely depended, bnt he now turned
away aud went by himself with weight OF
his heart and shadow upon bis brow. II
usked the reason for it he must have been
SLOW to admit to any one else that 1t was
called there by consciousness OF neglect ol
duty, but the fact was very plain TO him
self.
Just a step mother. II Caleb thinks itt
matter OF ought 70 write TO her about
every mail day wonder what he'd do ii
he a had mother and father and ISIS
ter. Heighol didn't expect to be gone
three years when got mad quit
In the EARL spring'time James had been
saiz I'd with a,spasm Of remorse at his lone
cruel neglect OF those who loved him, te
whom be was SO much and to whom ht
realized he owed it to be such a comfort
I'll write. And some day I'll 60 back and
do my best by EN-.
He did write bis letter carrying oil thu
Joy which may lie imagined into the OLD
farm house. Father and mother bat
answered, the sight Of their poor hand
! writing bringing tears to the eyes OF th'
wsudt ring son. And Susan bad written:
Father says he'll never miss driving II
to the postoflice on the days that lelsel
could get here after your mail day. Ant
mother stands at the gate watching fo
him to come back.
1t had reached bis heart and spurret
him up to writing quite regularly fo
awhile. Then the intervals between hi
letters had grown longer, and now 10
weeks he had not written.
Passing later again near Caleb's rougl
library, be paused with half-smile. Tn
sun,tanned, ireckled face was now in th
tbroes Of an effort to accomplish fine
looking address to bis letter, drawn into
series Of knots and wrinkles astonishing t
behold. All OF q sudden they relaxed int
smile Of pride aud delight as he held n
and contemplated the scrsggy result of hi
efforts.
Id rather plo~ oil day, be said meetin
; James gtze with besming eye. Yes
would. always feel ss though I'd tack
led big job aud got the better OF 1t whe
I've wrote letter. | feel as light as
feather When used to let it slip some
times, / fet as though bad astone I
carry. | feel that way now when wriiir
times comm. But I've found the bes
way to get rid Of that feelin's Just to Rt
II bt st it and do it, think ths's the va
mos, things when you think you ought tt
don't your
Yes, do, ssid james, as be went
toward the stables. Aud when you kno
yon Ought to, as do, be added to bin
sell.
Caleb followed him with shout b
tokep,ng bis unburdened condition
mind, leading on, one OF the shaggy pom
les need 10 herding the cattle. was 500
rallopinp the four miles to the point
which the weekly mail was gathered
scsnt and irregular it ~ss. and who ca
tell bow msny anxious hearts watched Il
liz news Of loved ones. or visited 10 II
vesriness OF hope deferred for 'idint
which did not come.
The full moon arose over the vide e
p.use Of rolling moun'sinons scenery
The riders form was Iost 10 the disisnc
lanes lesued sesinst rough cart ar
oszed bali mechanically about hin.
Istsb | had sri,i,n too. ! didn't mel
10 se, Into loose ways sb7u' Is sg'in =
suress / live didn't. Mother saiehit
., the gate, susy ssid. s'pose us u
same old ss,e-the one ! used TO swing
xben | was little aud got scolded Tor
Se., tn slsy n be The day no'hrfh
wsiehiI 8. i,
In the busb of The glorious light
thousb,s wandered over yesf' gene
F.r back slnost 10 infancy OIL he me-
ory stray. bringing mp tcenes vague q
ml.,y. incidents Only dimly recalled;
IN all b,s mothers fsce. settle snd tend
seemed 10 ,i.rd Gu, disiipeily. 'tnshu
- he .vt ~ 10 church, With ibe srs
e.pression put on for The day. sone'in