Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-02-09
Hf FOUND r10LL1.
The Poor Old Father Finds His
Waywartl daughter and
Takes Her Home

bend under the weight Of years. His
hand trembled and his step waverei /;
but his kind old face was still ruddy,
burned by the suns Of many summers.
He carried an old-fashioned carpet
bag in one hand and an aged umbrella
in the other He seemed somewhat
dazed as he passed out Of the big train
house on Forty-second street and look
cd around at the busy scene. The
rattling cabs, the shouting drivers, the
hurly-burly and hustle of the city con.
fused him.
The policeman Oh post, big, hon.
est fellow. approached him solicitously.
Looking for some onc?"
The old man shook his heal.
Il kinder thought Molly would
meet me-" he said, helplessly.
who's Molly ?" asked the police
man.
"Mollys my daughter; I've come
down from Stanton TO see her"
where's she at 2"
Huh y
Where does shc live =
.Oh, yes; | see. Do you know
where Chrystie street is p
II should remark. Does she live
there ?"
The big policeman looked at the
old man in quizzical, you-can't-fool-
me sort Of way. But the honest. quest
ioning face rebuked him.
"Ies, you know the place 2"
How longs she been there p
''She left tho old home about ten
years ago. rubbing his head refec-
lively. A look Of pity crept into the
policeman's face.
Il guess | could find the place." he
said.
you see. Molly was too good for
the farm"-the weather-beaten feat
ures settled into reminiscent express
ion. There wasn't prettier girl in
Stanton, nor for miles around. She
could have had the pick of the boys,
too. but they wasn't good enough for
her. either. She wanted to earn her
own living. She didn't want to de-
pend on the old folks-funny notions
girls get nowadays. One summer a
city chap, who was stopping ut the
hotel, told her he could get her a job
in the city. singin' in one Of the big
churches. Mother didn't like the no.
ton; but, says |, the girls bound TO
60 and she had better have a show.
Ii she don't like il she can come back.
Well, she didn't come back. Say,
mister, what do they pay for singin'
in the big churches here? Il must be
Il powerful lot. Ny, but don't she
cut dash in summer when she comes
up to the old place. Silks and satins
till YOU can't rest. Wherc'd YOU saw
that street WAS -
The policeman looked rs il he
didn't want to tell.
Half an hour later the old man
turned into Chrystie street. Luck
was il luck was with him. In the
second house where he inquired they
told him Molly lived there.
| Was she in:
| Yes, she would be down in a mo
ment, and the young woman in the
woman in the Mother Hubbard drcs:
who answered the bell went out int,
the hall aud called:
Say. Molly. your country friend il
is here
The old man dropped into Il chair
The strength seemed to have left hi
body. \ veil fell away from his eyes
He knew something Of the world
Even up in Stanton row and then a
breath from the big city taints tn,
fresh country air He WAS not alto
gether an ''old iloel." The silks and
satins did not mystify him any longer
Nor did he wonder what they paid fol
singing in the big churches.
There was 4 step ON the Stair. a
girl paused on the threshold OF the
door. The room was darkened. They
do not throw open the blinds very
wide on Christie street. Molly did
not recognize ''her friend" who mad
risen and stood with his back TO what
little light was admitted to the room
Crisp muslin beneath her scart dra
perry as she approached the old man
Wantonly, she threw her soft, bare
arms around his neck. and then sh,
knew.
Father
\ world of pain and horror wer,
mingled in that cry. The frightened
girl shrauk back and crouched at hi,
feet.
Father This time the word wa,
uttered in whisper. as one speak,
the name of some dear one who ha.
gone and the pain Of parting is still
fresh. Father, what brings YOU hcre?'
The old man stopped and raised the
u 4