Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-05-26
A THRUSH'S SONG.
BY AGNES t. HOUSTON.

1t was the close of a midsummer
afternoon, and there were few travel
ers on country road leading from
the drowsy little town of Hallowell.
A winding, stony road 1t was, but it
led over picturesque bridges and clear
rivers, through woods that were dark
and cool, and fragrant with the breath
Of pines, out again past comfortable
farmhouses, and suddenly up steep
hills from whose tops charming land
scape was visible.
The air was clear and full of cer-
tain bracing quality that makes Maine
delightful sojourning place in sum-
mer.
So at least it seemed 10 Mark Hough-
ton, as he breathed the air of his
native state for the first time in twen-
ty-five years. He had purposely left
his coming unannounced, that he
might enjoy the luxury of walk over
the old road, whose every scene had
once been so familiar to him. Memory
plays strange pranks with the most
strait-laced of us at times, and as
suredly it was only her magic that
made this New York lawyer enjoy n
dusty country walk for auld lang
syne.
A sudden turn and he came upon
the little schoolhouse, just where it
used to stand, and but little changed
in outward look by the inevitable
wear and tear of years.
''It holds its own better than had
hoped" thought the lawyer, and moved
by q sudden impulse he turned from
the road and went up to the door. 1t
was not locked, and in a moment he
stood inside. Here he saw numerous
changes that altered the aspect of the
place. Desks aud seats of more
modern style replaced the rude
benches he remembered, and the walls
were covered with blackboards and
maps. Walking over to the teachers
chair he sat down and thoughtfully
regarded the little room, which had
the desolaie look peculiar to empty
school-rooms.
Here he had learned his first lessons
in days that returned to his memory
only in fragments and half-remem-
bered incidents. Here, as he grew to
be larger lad, he had wrestled with
many "knotty" example, or surrep-
titiously planned frolics for recess.
He recalled, too. some of his boyish
day-dreams of "great things to do by
and by" and smiled half bitterly as
he contrasted them with the prosaic,
self-centred life of his after years.
Then there were the later days
when, as young collegian, he came
back to spend his vacation, and taught
the little school himself to help meet
expenses at college. What a hum
drum life it was, 10 be sure, sitting
there through the long summer days
and hearing the rural lads and lassies
stumble through their lessons! What
a stupid lot of pupils they were-all
but one of them.
And here Mark Houghton came
chronologically to the thought thai
had been running with more or les:
self-assertion all through his musings
the thought of Leah Hastings. She
was the brig ghtest of his older pupils,
and had even shared with him some
of the studies he was trying to s.mak,
up" during the summer. But it was
not as his pupil that he remembered
Leah. it was as tho gay and light.
hearted yet womanly girl, with hel
great. serious eyes and frank smile.
ga curious mixture she was, in,
deed" thought the lawyer. 'sOal
love seems like some faraway
dream, some bright idyl. won
der, il we had not quar-
relied, how she would have change,
my life, with her high ideals an,
happy nature?"