People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-23
ONE HAPPY REUNION.

= Il II II u Va
Christmas eve, 1893, and bitterly cold.
1t had showed all the day before and all
the night, and had only held up about
noon on the day which was now nearing
its close.
In those days the distance from New
York in the direction of what is now the
town of Fordham was traversed by stage
coaches, drawn by spanking four horse
teams, travelling by the old Boston post
road. On this Christmas eve the leaders
plunged and plowed their way through
the snow, snorting and emitting clouds
of steam from their nostrils.
After awhile the vehicle paused be-
fore wayside tavern in Winchester
county, bearing a swinging and anti
revolutionary sign, the presentment of
scarlet clad and handsome cavalier,
and the inscription, marquis of Clare
mont Arms" There were but two pas
sengers in the coach that night-a tall
traveller in a slouched hat and shaggy
overcoat, and a little girl whom he car
ried in his arms.
AS the horses were baited and the
coachman and groom went in for a
"drop of something hot" the traveller
alighting turned quickly up q road Lead
ing northward from the inn. The man
was good looking, though foreign and
sunburned of aspect. Yet he die not
seem a stranger to the place.
On through the snow clad lanes and
by the white fences he went his way,
7,,,
the piled up drifts toward old Deacon
Marshalls homestead.
"'Tis sweet to hear the honest watch
dogs bark, bay deep mouthed welcome
as we draw near home"-but this man
fervently prayed that no watchdog be
aroused by his noiseless approach to the
old home.
He saw the old farmhouse as he had so
49, often seen it in boyhood, with its red
walls and white capped roof, with the
candle light family shining through the
rhine of the window panes.
Occasionally a sigh so deep as to be
almost a sob burst from the mans
bosom. The child was hushed and CON
tent in its fathers arms.
AS he passed through the trim yard
gate, past the old familiar butternut
tree, he said to himself, They will be
glad to see her and love her; but oh,
God! it's hard to part with her"
When he reached the farmhouse door
he set the little one down on her feet in
the square, old fashioned porch.
Now, baby, remember never to be
afraid to do what papa tells you to do.
You are going to see grandpa and grand
ma, and when your visit is out papa
will come and bring you lots of sweeties
and toys. Now you must go right in
when they open the door, and papa will
go away for a little while"
The child chung to him for moment
"a terrible moment to him-and then
stood bravely quiet as he gave three
rousing blows to the old brass knocker
and then swiftly reiterated into the
shadow of the trees.
He saw the door open and an old
white haired man with candle in his
hand look out. He saw the CLEAN of
fhe fireside in the old home for the first
time in many years. He saw the child,
fearless and confident Of welcome, enter,
and then-be still, brave heart-he saw
HIS ulOlAlCAy a ltAAs {oNA4L4O AdNCO OANl uICt-
trOn. with snow white hair, advance,
stoop and lift the child in her arms and
kiss it, as one who drinks after long
thirsting.
The door closed, and few moments
later the man outside was in the return
coach for New York, on his way to be
lost among the unknown thousands Of
the great city. .
Ten minutes before this scene Deacon
Marshall and his good wife sat before
the blazing fire in the clean, snug old
fashioned kitchen, while the busy house
maid, stout, rosy Dutch lass of eight
cen, piled her evening tasks. The ap-
petizing smell of browning griddIe
cakes and fragrant tea filled the room.
The bitter winds kowled outside, en-
HANGING the blessed sense of home
warmth and comfOrth.
Its mighty bad weather. I hope all
the children will git here tomorrow,
wife" said the deacon.
''All the children, Ezra| answered
the old lady in q tone of reproach. "You
know one Will not be here. | always
think Of him in the holidays away out
yonder in Mexico or Texas among them
outlandish people.
ooh, Ezra, he was q wild boy and a
headstrong, but there's more sorts Of sin
shan one, and you were worse than he
when you drove the boy out into the
wide world twenty years ago-twenty
years ago come New Years eve"
Had the deacon lived in this age he
would have rung the chestnut bell, $
for he had heard sermons from his wife
on his sorely repented sin full many a
time and oft.
The best of women viii preach.
al have such strange feeling about
me this minute feel as if my boy was
right here by me" she went on, forget
ting that her "boy'' was now a man of
thirty-fiye or more.
AT this instant three STARTLING. raps On