The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-15
delight over the occasion without wit

hurt and chung closer together as they
entered the dark and silent dwelling,
every step Of which was like hallowed
ground to their tired feet.
II most wonder the girls amt left
a light Albumin for us. First time they
forgot" said the old man as he STUN
bled over a chair.
You know, father, Ann Maria's
visitin them. 1t makes a difference
said the mother in gentle, apologize
tones, that were her VOL when defend
ing 1.-The children"
"Seems right good to be home again.
Let's set an rest II spell afore we light
up" suggested the old man, dropping
into "A handy chair.
But his form had scarcely touched it
before he Strengthened himself out of it
and said testify:
ut don't seem nat'ral. 1t most broke
my back to set in that cheer! Mandy,
there's something wrong!'
Mandy had been feeling along the
shelf for the candle that year in and
year out stood there like a tallow senti-
mel, and had never failed her in the
darkest night. She found it, but not in
its old place. 1t had been moved a hairs
breadth to the left and felt queer to her
touch.
"Gimme a match, Eben. I want to
see what like is the can'le. Lord
azmercy, look at it, MANI
1t certainly was not the same brand
Of candle that for all these years had
been run in the tin mold behind the
pantry door. 1t was a gorgeous twisted
design in green wax with yellow stripes.
That the girls doin's, l bet, said
the old man, putting ON his glasses to
take a better look at the intruder.
Gosh! What a lookin candle!'
AS its rays diffused a light through
the room the two old people began to
investigate. They looked around, then
into each Others faces, and both fear and
wonderment were expressed in their
startled glances.
MANDY" said the old man at last,
"we've gone and got into the wrong
house,"
Il b'leeve it,, answered Mandy fee
bly,, but then whereabouts is ours?'
Lets look at the outside" And the
girls, who were watching at their
W windows, saw a glimmering light
dancing like an ignis fatuus before the
old house and could discern the unwont-
ed spectacle Of their father and mother
inspecting the outside Of their home by
candle light. 1t struck them as very
funny.
Meanwhile the truth had revealed
itself in part to the old people, and hold
ing aloft the flaring wax candle they
took an inventory Of the new furniture,
from the carpet on the floor to the
paintings on the walls. 1t was we'll the
conspirators were not there to hear
them. 1t might have given them a shock.
Even the pianny's gone, said Man,
dy, wringing her hands, 1.-The dear old
pianny where Ann Maria learned tc
play Hang Up the Baby's Stockin'
afore she was 10 years old! I couldn',
have b'leeved it, and my hit and miss
carpet that l made with my own hands
and the red tablecloth, the ch~eerfulest
thing you could see it for a mile
when the door vas open and we wa
lighted up-and my picters Of the chill
dren taken every year Of their lives
it's worse than robbery. I don't doubt
they meant we'll, but it's broke my
heart"
II e broke my back tryin to sci
in one Of them new tangled cheers
said the old man, spurning the smart
chair with his foot. Il do wonder, Man
dy, if they left US anything to set on?'
They've left the clock" said Man
dy. I'm thankful for that! l declare
father, it seems like an old friend,
and holding fathers hand she stood Ion,
before the venerable %timepiece, regard
ing it with loving eyes.
1t was near daylight when the two
old people had seen the last of their new
possessions, and arranged them to thei,
entire satisfaction. The fancy candl,
had burned down to q mound Of greer
and yellow wax and been replaced b,
a straight, uncompromising tallow
homemade, that shed a serene light OF
two old faces that looked very tired
but wore a conscious expression of peac
and triumph. And even in their dream
they smiled.
y
"To think Of it!" said Ann Maria
when she tells the story. After al
u planning and %contriving, when W
went over the next day to see how the,
were enjoying their new surroundings
they had put back every article Of tn
old stuff we moved, rag carpet, photo
graphs and all, and packed the new
things up in the attic. They wouldn'
have a new chair, nor a tablecloth, no
anything. Said the things weren't com
Portable. Talk about Ephraim bein
joined to idols-father and mother coul
give him pointers out of their expert
ence," and she sighed over the deger
eracy Of age. Mrs. M. L. Rayne in d.
troit Free Press.
The Story Told Of Mannis Heatherton.
= Mannis Heatherton, a 90-year-ol
3 citizen of Greenup, KY, was once ca
v;oJ ~ lv m r,rflor orl 0-oo 1;t%1a -