Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-12-21
ONE HAPPY REUNION

O1NL llAl i i OIONlO1N.
Christmas eve, 1898, 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
Z 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 BTton 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 a wayside tavern in Winchester
county, bearing 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 road lead
ing northward from the inn. The man
was good looking, though foreign and
sunburned of aspect. Yet he did not
seem stranger to the place.
~, fl,,.o7,ol tho cDoxr c1,1 Tomas on1
by the white fences he went his way,
finally turning up a private walk through
the piled up drifts toward old Deacon
Marshall's 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 SC
often seen it in boyhood, with its red
walls and white capped roof, with the
candle light family shining through the
rime of the window panes.
Occasionally Il 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 dool
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 clung to him for moment
"a terrible moment to hiln-and ther
stood bravely quiet as he gave three
rousing blows to the old brass knockel
and then swiftly retreated into the
shadow of the trees.
He saw the door open and an old
white haired man with Il candle in his
hand look out. He saw the CLEAN OF
the 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 mother, a tall, gentle faced old ma
tron with snow white hair, advance
stool) 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 nlinltes before this scene Deacon
Marshall aud 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 griddle
cakes and fragrant tea filled the room.
The bitter winds howled outside, en-
hancing the blessed sense of home
warmth and comforth.
''It's mighty bad weather. | hope all
the children will git here tomorrow,
wife," said the deacon.
"All the children, Ezra?" answered
the old lady in tone of reproach. "You
know one will not be here. l always
think of him in the holidays away out
yonder in Mexico CT Texas among them
outlandish people.
"Oh, Ezra, he was wild boy and a
headstrong, but there's more sorts of sin
than one, and you were worse than he
when y0u drove tho boy out into Tia
wide world twenty years ago-twenty
years ago cone New Years eve"
Fad the deacon lived in this age be
would have rung the chestnut bell,
for he had heard sermons from his wife
on his sorely repentad sin full many a
time and oft.
The best of women will preach.
81 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-fve CT more
At this instant three startling raps or
the knocker sounded through the old
house
Its that good for nothin Jake Meller
waiting till this time o night to fetch
them groceries. Don't leave the slap
jacks, Katrine; I'll open the door.
And the deacon took up candle and
stp11-o1 +hro7rcrb 4he 7,assaua IN tba front