The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-07-28
WAS NOT FORGOTTEN
AS HIS SON RETURNED TO
THE OLD HOME.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE SMOKES

A Story of Long Waiting and Fila
Affection Behind the Blue Ridge In
the Shadow of the Great Balsam--A
Pen Picture of Home in a Mountain
Cove of Western North Carolina.
A Sweet Story Told by an Unaffected
Young Girl.
| Special Correspondence
It was behind the Blue Ridge in the
shadow of the Great Balsams. Through
the afternoon my way had lain along a
narrow valley torn by the Tuckaseegee
river with hills crowding about so close
that scarce footway remained between
the bluffs and the plunging water,
Presently the gorge opened into broad
meadows and the road sped away in one
| long straight lane. The evening was
coming on, and at the far a way
end of this lane the grey roof of farm
house rose gratefully above the fields OF
corn. The sun was low, and the valley
and the hills around had taken on the
purple of evening. With the assurance
| of rest and shelter and the soft calm
about me there came a certain relaxation.
The bride fell upon my horses neck, and
he realizing that his days journey was
done, Stacked into an easier gait.
| fell a-thinking of how the people had
changed from day to-day as / passed
among them; now sturdy, intelligent
and kind, now lank, depraved and mean.
And that as the soil, so the people were.
Upon the thin gravel of the barren hills
the pine trees grew aenemic, the cattle
were ragged, the pigs lean and wild
And the men! All, those menl Thin OIL
chest and narrow shopldered; long and
lank, with that look of hopeless poverty
knowing but the desires of beasts anG
bearing in their hearts only bitterness
for every man.
And now as l idled across this half
mile valley, noting the loamy soil anC
the thrifty corn and the old farmhouse
uHder its widespreading oaks, felt that
already | knew him who was master
here, broad of chest and big of Drawn
His father and the father before him
had plowed these acres, watched the snI
go down behind the great Smokes, the
valley purple and darken, while with
each generation their souls had lifted
something nearer to God. He woulC
meet me with troop of sturdy children
They would look me in the face smiling
half shyly from behind him. There
would be a little one in his arms, Its
fingers tangled into the frowsled beard
He would be in shirt sleeves, his hands
hard from the pillow. But there would
be a ring to the voice and a hearty GRASP
of the hand telling me that l was with {
manly heart that loved home and wife
and babies, the very pigs that he fec
with corn in the pen, and was ready nov
to take to his sympathies the stranger
within the gates.
! | had fallen into reverie and drew to
wards the great farm gate which opened
the way to the house, without observing
that one sat there, till man lifted VI
and with hand shading his eyes from the
glow of the west, stood and gazed in
tently. l could not but note that h'
was Of great frame, and that he was old
He stood with hat in hand, and thu
scant hair fell white about his shoulders
As drew nearer and he yet did no
move, but stood observing me so intent
ly, l waited to give my greeting. Sud
denly he burst into sObbing, and cover
ing his face with his hands, sank bacl
on the ground. 81 low'd 1t war John,
he said.
My embarrassment was relieved some
what by the appearance of young girl
who, fastening down from the house
invited me to enter.
THE old man don't seem just right
since jim took and gone," she explained
But you just light and hook your horse
Father will be in presently"
AS l turned to approach the house
could see that it was mountain home
Of the better class, built of logs worn
smooth and Drowned by the years tina
had seen them there, but with broad
stone chimneys that beSpake capaciOu
hearthstones and a wide veranda stretch
ing across the front. Vines were trail
ing about this and beyond was glimpst
of garden and the gnarled orchard, be
loved of blue birds. When l assembled
the veranda the quick footed girl haC
already brought a pail from the spou
near by, and pouring water into tasir
resting on the shelf there invited me tt
refresh myself A little old woman wa.
seated in low chair near watching mo
beuignly, rocking softly the while to anC
fro. When 1 greeted her she on!
smiled. 1t was a soft, sweet face tina
time had touched lightly, but something
was wanting there.
The old man had followed slowly, walk
ing with a long cane, head bent low
And now as he assembled the steps
noted again the great frame and should
ers, the neck that set so firmly, the broad
mouth and chin that had once beer
strong, but trembled feebly now. H'
came Slowly up and without noting thu
stranger there paused before the little
old woman. 81 wouldn't athunk i
mother" said he. "But John has for
gotten US" Then he passed within, an(
from the darkness of the chamber