The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-08-14
IsNG SUM- CECIL COUNTY, MD, FRIDAY, AUGUST

saving men-even the love of wronged
and crippled boy. Surely all their hearts
were better for having heard from the
minister's lips the story of Paul Ar
mors victory, though they knew it we'll
before.
Over on the head the day broke beau
tifully, yet with little cheer, for sorrow
and heavy poverty were there. The
children felt it, and the mother went
sadly to and fro, longing for her lame,
lost boy. Near noon she stood in the
doorway looking out to sea. A big
yacht, with all it's white sails spread,
blew into the little harbor, but she did
not see it, for her eyes were wet. She
was thinking of that island, somewhere
to the west of the blue horizon line,
upon whose cruel bar her boy went
down. She thought of him as he used
to lie upon her breast when child, and
again she seemed to sec him, as she had
so many times, coming up the path to
the door where she stood, his straw hat
in his hand, his light curls blown about
his frank blue eyes. And yet when she
turned from these fancies there was
something sweet at the bottom of her
heart. She could not tell whence it
came. Was it because the sky was so
beautiful with it's flocks of snowy
clouds, the sea so blue, the air so crys-
tai clear, the sunshine so pretty on the
dren seemed happier than for many
days, and when she went into the sick
mans room he met her with a smile.
Presently footsteps came to the door,
and Eric and his comrade, with their
sweethearts, entered. Behind them
were others bearing bags and baskets,
and the children leaped with joy.
Armor arose and came out. His step
was slow but steady and his face was
clear. The children, with Gale among
them, shouted and danced with glee to
see him grown so strong, and the big
mans eyes were filled with blessed
tears as he looked around upon the
faces of his friends.
The shadow seemed lifted: even the
mother smiled; something strange and
sweet was in the air.
Suddenly there rose the noise of many
voices near the hut, cheering and sing
ing in the sunshine. Eric sprang up,
and all stood still and hardened. The
singing and the voices came nearer.
A great light came into the mothers
eyes. She held her hand hard against
her leaping heart and listened. Sud-
denly Eric leaped out the door with an
answering shout. They all followed
him, and along the top of the green
bluff crowd poured into view, and
there, borne upon the shoulders of the
cheering men, sat Paul Armor!
He was pale and weak, and his poor
hands, swathed in white bandages, hung
down over the mons shoulders, but his
face was almost like star. All, there
was his old mother with her face
wreathed in light and fearful smiles,
and his father, looking as if Heaven had
opened. In a moment they had coma
together, and there was kissing and
crying and handshaking and happy
laughter. Then Eric noticed that little
Gale was crying for happiness in the
arms of a lady he had not seen before,
and as soon as Paul could get his
breath he cried:
''Mother Father this is the little
things nanny! She was on the
steamer that took me off the island
where l was washed ashore after the
boat sunk! She took care of me till we
reached San Francisco, an 1 brought
her here! She had my knees fixed in
the city an, oh, mother! 1 ant lame
any more!"
Then the handshaking and cries of
surprise and gladness were renewed,
and the millmen and wharfmen swung
their hats again and gave three mighty
cheers for 'sThe Hero of Beaver Head"
and went back to the town.
Trave Armor is an old man now, but
since that day he has never tasted rum.
Paul is merchant in San Francisco