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

DoN ~ u7Ss nv eOAA AhA7 "AS'
"Uncle Danl amt seen his brother for
twenty years; an there never was much
love lost between 'em. Uncle Cyrus is an
odd stick. 1t amt reasonable that he'd
go off there now this way an not say any
thing about it
George settled down to this belief when
no response came to the letter. At the
end Of month they had nearly given up
ever seeing old Daniel again. They had
alittle thrill of expectancy still on every new
morning; but it was fast dulling Sonny
went to school as usual; he had cried
some at first for his grandfather, but he
no longer did At times, when Hannah
would not indulge him to an extent which
he desired, he would appeal pitifully to
the memory of his grandfather Gran
pad let me-, he would say, ''if he was
here
On these occasions, Sonny, with the
artless and candid selfshness of childhood,
suffered genuine regret for the absent
Daniel He would run raving over to his
old home, and search through the rooms,
to see if he had come.
But these occasions were few Hannah
Price with treated Sonny more leniency gen
orally, than she did her own boys, and the
child was contented enough.
One night, about dusk, a limping old
figure came plodding up the road to
George Prices There had been Il fall Of
snow that day, and it was heavy walking.
The figure pushed on resolutely. When
it reached George Prices, the door opened
suddenly, and little form appeared in a
radiance of yellow lamp-light.
Sonny, Sonny !"
"oh, granpa granpa! Aunt Han
nah, here's gran pa"
"Was you-a-lookin out fur granpa,
Sonny"
81 was lookin' out to see if Tommy was
comm. He's gone down to the store to
buy rat-trap. Say, amt that him down
the road p
"Glad to see granpa, amt you Sonny !?
Sonny flung his little arms tight around
the old mans neck. "Don't you go of
ag'in, grandpa
''No, l amt never goin' to. Iwouldn't
ha' gone this time, if it hadn't been on
your account, Sonny
Then the two went into the house
Sonny running ahead, and crying, Gran
pas come Aunt Hannah, look here
quick Granpa's come r.
George Price and his wife appeared
with white faces and awed eyes. Thel
could not appreciate the simplicity of th'
marvellous, as could Sonny on his over
looking heights of childhood. Then, too
they had beliefs and theories, whose over
throw shocked them, and Sonny haG
nothing but his infantile acceptance of the
| situation,
"Where have you been, grandpa 2
stammered Hannah, at length.
"You act mighty queer, seems to me
you an George" said Daniel, "I've jes
been over to Barnstable, to Cyruss, tt
stay few weeks
"0ver to Barnstable, to Cyruss?'
! 'Yes; l hadn't seen him for twenty
| years, an thought twas bout time. He
didn't know me, as twas, at fust. Tain
right fur brothers to be livin so."
! aWhy on earth didn't you say anything
about it
"Why, l didn't see no need of maxim {
great lot of talk bout it. thought
could jest slip off kinder quiet, an come
back when got ready.
II should think you was crazy Why
we've been most scared to death abou
you. Didn't Cyrus get that letter wrote
him ?"
eWhat letter p
81 wrote to him, and asked him if hec
seen anything of you
Lord Cyrus never goes to the post
office. | don't believe he's had lettei
for forty years
"Everybody's been hunting for you.
"Huntin for me Well, dun know
what ye were thinkin'.. bout. | should
ha' Is sposed yd thought | was bout olt
enough to take care of myself"
As soon as he could escape from ths
wonder and reproaches, dimly tincturet
with joy over his return, he retreated tt
his own little home with Sonny. Aftel
he had got fire started, he sat down il
his old chair and took the child up on hi,
knee
''Look a-here, Sonny, I'm a-goin' tt
ask you somethin, an you mustn't nevel
say nothin bout it to your Aunt Hannah
You'll reclect, won't you2 Now, Sonny
l Jest want to know how your Aunt Han
nah treated you arter ] was gone. Was
she real pleasant with you"
Sonny reflected. Then his innocent
eyes kindled. "She wouldn't let me SO
a-slidin' on the river, cause she thought
the ice was too thin: it want
'she didn't thrash you, nor nothin'
bout it, did she ?"
aNo; she give me some cake if d stay
to home. The ice want too thin, granpa. =
s'Didn't she thrash you once while ]
was gone r
NO. | guess she didn't, granpa,"
aYou'd rec'lect eff she did, wouldn't
-, on