The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-11-26


ters simple story.
II have been to see old Farmer Brett,
he began, as he turned and walked with
me- At least, he is not so old in actual
years, perhaps, though he has aged won
derfully since his son went away.
= His son Joe 2 | questioned.
"iou know him then 2
NO" | answered: ''that is-go on.
swell, you must know his wife died
some years back, and he had only this one
son, Zoe, a fine young fellow, over six feet
and as strong as giant, but rather har-
umscarum. There was not bit of harm
in him, though, and he was Il lavorite
with everybody. Somehow he and his
father could not hit it off together. Old
Brett was rather a hard man-yes, Il
suppose | had given some indication of
surprise you would not think it TO see
him now, but then he's only wreck of
his former self and is changed in many
ways indeed, he is hardly the same man.
Well, it had been his fathers expressed
determination, ever since Joe was a youth,
that he should marry his cousin, who,
when her father died. would inherit a good
hirof property All went smoothly enough
al first and it seemed that old Bretts
wish was in a fair wav of being accom-
plished. when what does the young fellow
do but fall in love. in his usual headlong,
reckless manner, with the daughter of one
of his fathers laborers Maggy Dale was
good girl and superior to her class, but
Of course. it would be a terribly bad mar
riage from old Brett's point Of view.
Il believe there was terrible scene be-
tween father and son when it came to the
formers ears. 1t ended, at any rate, in
the old man ordering the young one either
to give up all thought of the girl or leave
the house then and there. Joe Brett
took his father at his word, left his home
that very night, and has never rc-cntered
it since
Weeks went by and nothing was heard
of him, and his father, who had soon re-
pented of his harshness, sought news of
him in vain. At last a letter came, Joe
Brett had enlisted in regiment which
was ordered on foreign service, and the
letter was actually written on shipboard.
In it he implored his father to forgive
him, said that he wonld never give up
Maggy, but there was prospect of hard
fighting before him. and, perhaps, when
he returned, his father might have reason
to be proud of him and take back some of
the cruel words he had thrown at him.
The Vicar paused.
.'Then that was the girl | took to be
the old mans daughter, since she called
him daddy p
s'Yes, that is the most pathetic part OF
it. When the father realized that his son
had gone from him, perhaps to meet his
death. it brought on fit of some kind
which was followed by long gillness, which
changed him from the fine stalwart man OF
middle age to the wreck he now is-bro-
ken in health and spirit aud with but one
great longing, to see his son once more
and one source of comfort, the companion
ship Of the girl for whose sake he drove
him from the door"
| told him of the scene | had myself
witnessed.
"Ah, yes, was the reply, "every even
ing, as the sua goes down, those two stand
together and look down the road along
which one day they hope to see the wan
derer returning for | must tell you thai
the regiment has been ordered home, and
/ it is not without reason that the old maj
watches at the gate.
He paused for a moment before contin
/ uing.
"Only hope if he does come he vii
come soon, for fear the old mans strength
/ is failing fast"
After this l always contriyed to pass by
/ the farmhouse at least once in the course
of the day, generally toward sunset
when was sure to see the old man anC
the Girl, in both of whom | now began tc
take a strong interest, waiting at the gate
They were always standing in the same
direction and the old mans eyes would
be strained to catch the first glimpse o
any approaching figure as it came int
view round the bend of the road
We used TO exchange greetings, and
always the old man would inform me il
his feeble tones that they were looking on
/ for "their joe
Sometimes too, he would indulge in ;
few details.
.'Our Joe, he's bin in furrin parts fight
in fur tn Queen. Oh, yes, he were aller:
a DARN one, were Joe. | mind him wher
he were but a bit o lad, he'd think now
! o standiH up to one twice his own size
1 He never khawed what fear was, didn I
our Joe. Al, | guess they amt got many
ike him, an when he comes home he'll be
showing us tn medals he'll avon, fur he
were alters famous hard hitter, an
make no doubt he'll a.done his dooty fun
his Queen an country, an Wen all be prouC
o him, won't us, Maggy?"
1t was touching to see how he always
turned to the girl he had once scorned anC
secuted for confirmation and sympathy il
everything that related to the absent one
and how he invariably recognized and pro
claimed her rights by referring to him a
''our Joe. u
/ But each day that passed seemed to leave
him feebler than the last, and after tint
chair had to be brought out and placed
for him at the gate, where he could sit anC
watch the road One evening" remem
/ her it well-I found him sitting there, hi
face still turned in the old direction and
his eyes strained to catch sight of the rec
coat in which he fondly hoped to see hi
son attired, ''with his sword by his side
an his medals on his breast, an may b'
tn boys from til village cheerin him..
stopped as usual to talk with him. HI
struck me as looking very frail, and, with
something like pang, it was borne in upoI
me that unless the longed-for meeting oc
cured very shortly, it would never taxi
place at all in this world However, h,
was unusually hopeful. Tomorrow, he
told me, would be Joe's birthday. NJ
doubt he would come tomorrow. He wa
-''let's see, how old is he?' And he
turned to Maggy.