The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-12-22
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grain Of comfort, one genuine emo
| tiOn Of enjoymcnt--somcthing akin to
the old bOyiSh ZeSt--SOmcthing taDgi-
blc."
Something tangible. He dwelt on
the words at the stately dinner table.
They fingered with him As he tried
to settle down toa quiet smoke in the
| library. There arose in his mind Il
| picture of the past. 1t was poverty,
ObScurity then: but thought of the
bare-fOoted ramblcS through the
woods. of the real co2ineSS of the lit
| tie attic-room back at the old home
stead. of ambitions tinged with ideal
sentiment and glowing hopes, glori-
/ fled the years now dead.
lie glanced from the window at
the dying day. Mournful, inexprcs-
>ibly cold. repellant. unlovely. seemed
the wilderness of stately mansions
and stiff, precise equipases on the
street without. How different the
dear O.d village where he was born.
The narrow streets. its quaint homes.
its hcart-warmng people tloatcd
| across his vision now. and seemed
part of another world.
| 1t was not 50 very far away. That
| little country town nesting among
/ the hills was only an hours ride from
the great metropolis. Was he getting
| sentimental? What WAS this strange
impulse that lured him to steal
thither like thief ashamed, and try
to warm the frozen currents of his
dreary life at the ashes of dead past:
All. the dear Old town. How
natural it looked. The old red
>choo!-house. the rickety depot. the
| broad common--once again, for the
first time in ten years. Richard Pen
rith trod his native soil that night
He wandered about the place like
an uneasy ghost haunting the scenes
of former experiences. lie fe!t 4
keen pang of actual envy as he pcered
through the frost-crcsted windows OF
the hOmely village store, and saw it,
proprietor. happy, serene, all one
glow of perfect delight over the
gathering in Of an extra few dollars
for holiday bus ness. Why! Il turn OF
stock in the city often meant for.
tune for him, and yet scarcely stirred
Il nerve.
All heart. all sympathy. all human
simple felicity. What Il paradise
compared t. the hot-hou>c. superb
cial life of the city. He paused as ;
name spoken 10y bent. old man
passing with a companion, struck
his ear with shock.
81 I'll IL;
Bless her dear heart. She's nurscd m,
wife back to health, she's got my boy
a situation, and we amt the frs,
that angel of charity has helped
"Miss Hewitt is Il great friend t
the poor: yes"
Naomi - Miss Hewitt. Richard
Penrith stood stock still on the snowy
street. \ slight flush surmounte5
his brow. his eyes grew larger. thei
tender.
Strange how he had forgotten he
stranger still that after all thes'
years the sudden recurrence of tha1
once treasured name could stir hi
nature as it had not been moved fol
nearly decade.
He tried to smile at the memory o
their boy and girl love. but failed
Something chokcd him as he walked
on, and paused to peer through til,
windows of a neat, pretty cottage.
Yes, there WAS the "b1St room
brightly lighted, and old Mrs Hewitt
seated knitting, surrounded by cozi
ness and warmth. There was tn,
pretty rustic porch. How often n
had kissed Naomi goodnight undc
the edcw-spangledv vines surrounding it
All was the same. only the vines were
dead and dropping now. All wa
the same. His heart gave Il grca
bound as the vivid lamplight showed
little framed portrait on the wal!
his picture as he had been. treasured
esteemed faithfully by the winsom,
lass he had sacrificed to the cold
cynical demands of gold.
He fell to wondering how Naom
looked now. She was nat visible
about the house, and he strollcd re
luctantly on. and passing peOpl'
stared SuSpiciOuSly at him. He fol
lowed the concoursc. All. anothc
reminder Of the past. the old church
its glowing portals an open welcome
to all the weary. and hungered. ant
penitent.
: He entered aud glided to an oh
scare pew. 1t took him back tel
years. How a certain watch-nigh
meeting one New Years Eve lon,
: ago came back to his mind. Naom
was there. then. and he was her "cOm
. pany." Why! Naomi was here now
. Yes! his heart thrilled as he made he
) ont.
, Changed? Yes, as gentle years o
sympathy. and purity, and love TO
: fellow mankind change the face of
saint. The glory Of perfect woman
hood in her kindly beaming eye
made Richard Pcnrith shrink at
ness.
Angelic influences were here to
. night, surely. The white-haire,
preacher seemed to appeal to hi
: heart rs to 4 brothers. He was dis
tressed, awakened, and then peace
| full calm swaycd his soul-he hate
the things he had loved, he realize
, the hollowness of the bright baubl
he had striven for, holding at its ca!
! only bitter dust and flight.
How his heart beat. 1t must hay
| been dead for years? New Year
chimes ringing. he stood on tn
church porch, he timorously ad
vanced to the side of the trim. loy
ing, fond woman he had watched al
the evening.
"Naomi-Miss Hewitt, do you no
remember mc?"
t Her face paled, her little ham
, trembled as he grasped it. Then he
, soul beamed out in honest welcome
and then
They were boy and girl again
' keeping company" walking hom
from watch meeting as of yore, am
t the holy stars smiled down..
Richard Penrith babe NaOm