The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-10-03
We'll, because / have 10 have plaes.
TO sleep and something 10 eat"
Where's your home 49,

/ les children had come 10 his Office b'
the dozen In some ea-es he had help
e-d them, and too often had found tha
they Were the tools Of worthless parents
and Hamilton June was a caution
man.
He went into the florist, whom h,
knew, and said "You may send 10
Of that holly up TO my house, VIII. Th'
housekeeper i English. and maybe sh.
would ike 10 trim up her kitchen 70
the holidays" And then, as he Wa,
going, he turned.
You might send il up by that boy
outside think il would do him gccC
TO run about a Bit
Somehow the manly grace Of the boy
had pleased him There was some
thing in the straightforward look ofhi,
clear eyes that made Hamilton fee
kindly toward him
Then a. be left the florists he walk
Cd up 10 the wide white residence stree
toward the old home. Ii stood dark a.
prison in the great white square o
snow-covered lawn Only away in III,
rear one window glowed with light
where Meg was sitting at her lonely
tea
is that YOU, Hamilton 90 she said
A. she opened;the door for him, ''Well,
| am glad 10 see YOU" and she drew
him III and took his hat out of hi-
hand 1T seems good 10 have YOU
coming in ike this, all unexpected
quite like old times
II haven't been to see you in a good
while, have l. You see business i ~
pressing"
''Ie-, business was always first with
YOU, Hamilton. / am afraid business
i eating upall the good sou might en-
joy" And then she came and laid her
arm around his shoulders ~ she used
10 do when he Was child, and she
wanted Ia talk 10 him earnestly. Are
you always going 10 live like this,
Hamilton, with the old house shut up
and you At the club?"
'-Oh, / guess not, Meg. But You SEE
| haven't time now TO think about il
how i the house: In good repair -
He got up and walked into the din
ning-room, where Meg had built fire
in the Fireplace, for she kept the rooms
in perfect order always The glass can
delabra and the silver side-board flashed
back the light from the crate The old
chairs were dark shadows against the
wall There WAS the fathers chair
with its high hack, and there by the
hearth was the little rocker where FL
len used To sit
Ellen. Why was il that he was for
ever thinking Of Ellen? Ellen had
not been out Of his mind for years, and
now, since he had received that letter.
he had done nothing but think Of her.
He sal down in the high-tacked chair
before he fire. Tine warmth was CRATE
full, for he had peen thoroughly chilled
He awoke. from q half sleep to find
that the florists hoy had brought the
holly and was warming himself by the
kitchen fire. Meg was asking him
questions, and the boy wa> answering
reluctantly Hamilton could just catch
the childish treble of his voice
Then he heard something that made
him start. Was he dreaming, or what
was tina; the child was saying?n
Mother Sews for living, and she
has tao 10 support besides me, ~ ran
away tn Try To find something 10 do. |
thought there was lots Of work for q
BOY, but nobody >semS 10 want any
thing done | get job shoveling snow
when can.
Il think | can find something for
YOU" kind-hearted Meg said ''You
may come early in the morning" And
then. just a. the boy started to 90, she
asked, Nv hat l. your name
Hamilton June Mellen."
Was Hamilton June waking or sleep
ing:
In novels, in stories, in plays such
things might he possible Coald they
be in real life?
Meg's next question followed fast in
a voice strained by excitement: "And
your mothers names"
ELLEN MeIlen.''
'-Come here" Meg grasped the boy
by the arm and pulled him into the
dining-room-
Hamilton, Hamilton, This Is
Ellen's child,
Hamilton was thoroughly awake
nOw. He had even taken time Ia calm
his surprise
.'Sit down" he said 10 the boy, and
10 Meg, .'bring lights"
Question followed question, until
Hamilton had proven conclusively in
his own mind that the boy was really
EIlen's child. He looked AT his cold
purple hands, at the old jacket and the
hard shoes, and for the first time in
wears hi. voice treInbled a. he said
quietly:
Il am glad"
The bov looked at the handsome man
whom he now understood 10 be his
uncle. and because there were tears in
the proud eyes, and because his face
was white and his hand trembled, the
boy got up from Ellen's chair, where
he had sitting, and came over 10 him
and said in fearless, boyish frankness:
80 am L.
And if YOU should go up past that
mansion now YOU would
see that the windows are radiant with
light at night The wide walks 20 the
great front door are free from snow. a
stately man comes up the street Two
children rush out and hang TO his hands
with cries Of '-Oh, Uncle Hamilton ~
And nj the door sweef-faced woman
waits, and as he comes in, he says:
..WeIl, Ellen, did the Christmas troe
come to-tiays''
And Hamilton June Mellen says:
..Yes, and - did the holly"
Somay the life Of man be changed
in day; - may selfishness he driven
out by the arousing Of the true feeling Of