The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-04-19
A THRUSH'S SONG.
BY AGNES 7. HOUSTON.

1t was the close of midsummer
afternoon, and there were few travel
ers on a country road leading from
the drowsy little town of Hallowell.
A winding, stony road 1t was, but II
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 a charming land
ecapc was visible.
The air was clear and full of cer-
tain bracing quality that makes Maine
a delightful sojourning place in sum-
mcr.
So at least il seemed to Mark Hough-
ton, as he breathed the air of his
native state for the first time in twen-
ty-tive years. He had purposely left
his coming unannounccd, that he
might enjoy the luxury of a walk over
the old road, whose every scene had
once been so familiar to him. Memory
plays strange pranks with the most
etrait-laced of us at times, and as
suredly it was only her magic that
made this New York lawyer enjoy a
dusty country walk for auld lang
'syne.
A sudden turn and he came upon
the little schoolhouse, just where IL
used TO stand, and but little changed
in outward look by the inevitable
wear and tear of years.
s'It holds its own better than l had
hoped" thought the lawy yer, and moved
by a sudden impulse he turned from
the road and went up to the door. 1t
was not locked, and in moment he
stood inside. Here he saw numerous
changes that altered the aspect OF the
place. Desks aud seats of q moro
modern style replaced the rude
benches he remembered, and tho walls
were covered with blackboards and
maps. Walking over to the tcacher's
chair he sat down and thoughtfully
regarded the little room, which had
the desola,e look peculiar to empty
schOol-rooms.
Here he had learned his first lesson.
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 will
many "knotty" example, or surrep
titiously planned frolics for recess
He recalled, too. some Of his boyisl
day dreams of "great things to do b.
aud by" and smiled half bitterly Al
he contrasted them with the prosaic
self-centred life of his after years.
Then there were the later day,
when, as young collegian, he cam,
back to spend his vacation, and taugh
the little school himself to help NEE
expenses at college. What a hum
drum life it was, 10 be sure, sittin.
there through the long summer day
and hearing the rural lads and lassie
stumble through their lessons! Wha
. stupid lot of pupils they were--al
but one of them.
And here Mark Houghton cam
-chronologically to the thought tina
had been running with. more or les
assertion all through his lnusing
the thought of Leah Hastings. Sh
was the brightest Of his older pupils
and had even shared with him som
of the studies lie was trying to .'mak
,up" during the summer. But it wa
not as his pupil that he remembcre
Leah, it was as, the gay and ligh,
hearted vet, ,womanly girl, with he
great, serious eyes and frank smile.
ga curious mixture she was, il
deed" thought the lawyer. "Ou
love seems like some farawa
dream, some bright idyll. / wol
der, IL we had not qua
rolled, how she would have change
my life, with her high ideals an
Aappy naturea"'