The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-08-17


grzy-bearded old farmer Eear her 80
big feel e'enmost lost IN it; but, hope
fully, ~across them deserts Ike this long
ago Providence sent 4 star 70 guide them
wise men Of the East, an amt lost my
faith
But az the day wore on, and still the
long. u0nOtonous land showed no hu-
man habitation, no oasis Of green, her
eyes dimmed. something Ike sob rose
under the black Tkerchiefon the bowed
shoulders, and the spectaeles were taken
OR with trembling hand and put away
carefully IN the worn tin case.
@Bs ye goin' fur, mother" said the
old farmer
He had brought her a eupful Of coffee
Al the I4st station, and had pointed oct
on the way things be thought might IL
terest her
TO Denver.
~Wal, wal you're from View England,
III be bound >"
-From Maine" she answered, and
then she grew communicative, for she
was always 4 chatty Old lady, and she
had possessed her soul in silence 50 long,
and it was a relief to tell the story Of her
weary years Of waiting TO a kindly listen
er
She told him al the relations she had
were two grand-aephews and their fAuli-
lies. That twenty years ago sam for
she had brought them both up when
their parents died Of consumption, that
takes 50 many Of cur folks went cut
wesE he was always adventurous, and
for ten years she cid net hear from him,
but John was different and steaIy, and
when he came Of age she had given him
her farm, With the provision she should
always have a home, otherwise be would
have gene away too. Well. for I've years
they were happy, when John married,
and dis wife had grown 10 think her a
burden as the years vent on, and the
children when they grew big did not
care for her, and she felt she had lived
too long.
"I growed so lonesome she said, 1T
seems I couldn't take up heart % i've
day BY Jay, an VT 1 knowed our folks
was l0ug-lised- Ten years back, when
sam wrote me he vas doin' fair. an' sent
me money, I begun 70 think Of him, for
be was alIus generous an sent me money,
an began to save to 20 TO him, fur
knowed could work for my board fur
good many years 70 crme- Fur three
years he amt hardly wrote, b1t I laid
that 70 the wild kfntrY he lived n I
said bars AZ Injuns don't skeer me none
fur when was 4 ga up IN ArOostuk
kentry there was plenty Of both, an as
fur beferiers, them horned cattle don't
skeer me none, fur I've been used to 4
farm alIus- But the lonesomeness Of
these medders has sorter upset ne, an
made me think every day sam was furth-
er off than I evercalciated on
@But what viii you do if sam amt N
Denver" asked the farmer.
@I hev put ny faith IN Providence p
she answered simply, aud the stranger
could not nlar that t11st by any word Of
warning.
He gave her his address as he got of
at the Nebraska line, and told her 10
send him word i she needed help. With
a warm hand clasp he parted from her to
ioin The phantoms IN her memory Of
folks that had bin kind 70 her. God
bless en-, and the train went rumbling
on its way.
But many ofthe passengers had LIST
ened to herstory and were interested and
they cane 70 ST with htr-
One pale little Ia,I in the seat IN front
turned around to look at her now and
then and TO answer her smile He was
going to the country for health and
wealth, poor Lad, only to ind eternal
rest IN the sunny land, bat his last day 2
Frightened BY the reward Of his thought
ful act of kindness
@She probably brought these bows be
thought, - and denied her life for them.
Il she 70 die unrewardei, wonder2
There cannot be any good in the world if
that be-
He thought Of her ami took out his
poor purse there was 50 little money IN
il, too ; every cent maaie big hole in his
store, but the consciousness OF good
desd was worth something.
Il mayu't have the chance to DO many
more thought the lad, buttoning his
worn Oysrcoat-
He slipped OF without a word at i
station and sent a telegram to Denver.
10 Samuel Blair"-for be had caught
the name from her taik-@Your Aunt
Hannah Blair, Of Maine, is on the ". &
". train coming 70 you"
It vas only a straw, but kindly wind
might blow it to the right one alter all
When he was sitting there after MS
message had gone on its way, she leaned
over and handed him a peppermint drop
from package N her pocket
~Yog don't look strong, dearie,' she
said "hain't ye folks with yee"
@Noue On earth
-@We're bOth lone ones" she smiled
~An' how sad It be there amt 10 one to
fuss over ye an be keerfuI of the drafts
an keep flannel allus on your ehist that
Is good for the IGngs.'
~You are very kind 70 take an interest
IN me- be smiled, "but am afraid It IS
too late
Another night Of weary slumber IN the
uncomfortable, cramped seats, and the
plains began 10 be dotted with VII
lagos. and soon appeared the struggling
outskirts of city, the smoke Of mills,
the gieam Of the Platte river, and net
work Of iron rails, bright and shining, as
the train ran shrieking into the laby-
rinth Of its destination.
@This is Denver, and III look cut for
you as weT as can > the lad said TO
her.
Il won't be no burden" she said,
brightly. @I have twenty dollars yet,
and that's sight Of money"
The train halted to let the eastward
bound express pass there was an ar Of
excitement in the car. nassengers getting