The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-21


cakes in which Sonny soul delighted. He
covered them thickly with butter and maple
syrup, and then watched the child eating
them, with their sweetness thousand
times intensified in his own consciousness.
While Sonny ate material cakes, old Daniel
fed on some which might have served
angels. He never ate his own breakfast
until the boy had gone; he could not forego
the exquisite delight of watching him, and
that finer way of satisfying his own hunger
The sweetness of the very honey of love
seemed trickling down his throat and
through his blissful soul as he looked at
his beloved child eating with such delight
the food which he had prepared for him.
What cared he for other breakfast while
that lasted?
Daniel was small pensioner of the war
of 1872. He had always regarded his
little quarterly dole from grateful govern
ment as a noble income. He went to the
salectmen's room once in three months for
it, with an air of prince claiming revenue.
"It don't aetilly seem to me, sometimes,
as if l had any right to t, he used to say,
with modest ehuckle, which revealed his
real pride and delight, like an opening
door. II only fit in that war bout three
days, RELY, an the rest of the time l
stayed in a fort didn't git hurt, as ]
know of, nuther. don't S pose l should had
thought that gov'ment owed me any thin,
if my son William, Sonny's father, hadn't
set out 1 could git it. An arter I got it |
thought there wa mt no use in my worryin'
over it. Ef gov'ment wanted to give me
that money, it want none of my lookout.
Gov'ment ought to know better'n me
, whether I deserved it or not. It's got
more brains than one man. Is'pose, most
likely, was more vallyble in that war than
/ knew for. | tell you, the United States
gov ment is the best one in this world to
work for
Daniel was much troubled by the re-
Election that this fine income must cease at
his death, and Sonny could then have no
further benefit from it. He boarded
every cent which he could save from their
simple expenses, and deposited it in the
bank
''Don't let 'em lay out no more on my
buryin' than they kin help he told Han
nah. to whom he had confided the matter.
81 never wanted to make a show An the
rests fur Sonny-every cent. There
mustn't nobody else tech it. I'm astii to
} leave it with you, Hannah, to see to.
f When it comes to money matters 'tWixt
relations, women is full as straight as men.
, Don't let George have any use ont
Daniel had many worries, as any one
' must who loves either himself or another
much. His ever.active anxiety was
concerning Sonny's welfare after he should
/ be gone Would Hannah Price and
> George care for the child as faithfully and
tenderly as he had? They had two boys
of their own; how would little, pretty, pet
ted Sonny fare in the same nest The old
!, man thought of it day and night; he often
broached the subject to Hannah, but her
good humored assent did not satisfy him
a he was still suspicious.
When Sonny had been in school with
his new teacher half-term or SO, he went
i home one night and did not find his grand
r father in the house as usual.
t He looked about little and called
/, "Granpa - several times; than he sat down
and ate his supper. 1t was all set out fol
him on the table; the supper he liked best,
gingerbread and milk, and plenty of
) sauce. There was good fire in the stove.
Everything was very comfortable. After
, the boy had eaten his supper, he began
calling "Granpal' again.
The dusk was settling down fast. Son.
ny stood in the middle of the kitchen, his
little face shining out like star from the
soft gloom, calling piteously, over and over,
''Granpa Granpaf
1t grew darker Suddenly Sonny was
wild with terror; the darkness and the
loneliness seemed to hold terrible pres
ences. His call spread out into an mar
ticulate howl, and he sprang out of the
house and across the yard to his Aunt
Hannah s, as he called her
"What on earth's the matter, child? =
said she
He clung to her, choking with fear,
trying to speak.
t "Granpa,' he gasped out finally.
aGranpal What's the matter with
granpa2 ?"
"He's gonel He-ain't-there =
'.Is that all? said Hannah relieved
"He's gone down to the store for something
or other, guess, Sonny. You can just
wait here till he comes back. You were
afraid all alone there in the dark, wasn't
you?"
Sonny, easily comforted, in the lamp
light, with people around him, composed
himself to wait, and after while fell
asleep in his chair, his pretty head wagg-
ing sideways, his little pointed chin dipp-
ing down into his gingham breast.
Finally, Hannah was alarmed herself,
as it grew later and Daniel did not appear.
She sent George down to the village to
inquire if he had been seen at the store,
or at any of his wonted haunts. By mid
night a search was fairly organized. Ian