The morning times., 1896-10-04
At the
Thorn
By GERALD BRENAS
Copyright, 1856 }

t'blNTlsHb, lou
Old shaun aud young shaun divert %
Gcthcr in thcir little matched cottage,
half way Up the wind-swcpt hill.
lie had never SCI foot IN The valley
for hc was somewhat of a cripple, anu
crutches do not admit Of mountain climbing.
Yet he knew il all 10y yhca-.--cvcry v!hAEc,
and park and stretch. or woodland. ne could
follow with closed eyes the whllc iisll-
road. and the gray bOhcIccns running into
IL. the Winding track of the Fcur River w3s
familiar 10 him. and he knew the mime, nf
all the church spires and great houses rom
the hluc northern hills 10 that chcl'tt-
ed match of sllvcTy mist which told where
the city lay.
Young Shaun knew fun well the nature
of the old farmers sorrow. 1t was his sCr-
row. too in Il measure, hut he never tLlly
realized its bitterness, since he was but Il
babe in arms when il came 10 p& :.
In the bygunu days there had been an
other Shauu-ihc second OF the name-old
Shaun's only son, and the crippled boys
father He. too. had spent hours of his
youIh in wrapt contemplation OF the beau
tifuI valley: and the drutgcry and conrine-
meut Of farm life, So far away from the
hauutS of man, filled his soul with wlid,
vague warnings for travel and adventure
elouccd to leave the black mountainside.
and to steep himself in the richness Whlch
the euticfng valley seemed To offer. In
deed he preached he subject To old Shau
but the farmer refused TO let his Son go
forth into the unknown and dreaded world.
So one day, this sorciy tempted Shaun,
wrapped up haSty bundle. slGng III on al
ashpIant, and bade farewell TO the iohciH
cottgae. -.
obedience: and when. just year later
the wanderer returned. foutsore. pennies
ard entirely disillusioned regarding the al
hiring valley. ne drove him wrathfuliy from
the door. No doubt old Shaun felt certain
that his son would come back again anu
once more beg forgiveness. In ms secfc'
heart. he meant Ultimately TO pardon the
boy, and take him back 10 the OLD hl'he
In MS heart But he reCkoncd without the
stern proud nature uf the banishcd shaun
weeks ras-cd into months, months rolled
into wears aud still his son came not 10
the mountain farm.
Al last. during tie early summer ths
cnHEraut's season. alas, in poor Ireland
there came a mcSSlg" aud gut from tHr
uI,srnt. Tile gift WAS Il meaGer, crippled
baby. aud the brief message read thus
"near father: You wuuld not have me;
perhaps You'll take the child. sham Is
hls name, and his mother i deAh I'm
off for America, unless You send ihe oos
back 10 me 10y the bearCr- Your son
Shaun
old shaun did no. "s send the boy hacA
hy thc bearer He kept Tim ana had nm
nursed and made much OF. The fact th;'t
ms charge WAS lame The farmer looked
upon aS a certain evidence oi heaven =
Gi.pleasurc with himself.
II.
And SO tt;lir h:sStcncd over tie stepping
stones Of the wear and found young Shaun
gazing INTO the valley as his father had
done and old sham. WoruSs and silent,
ever thinking and longing for thc Sc'l he
had east away. l. Was on certain faiT
day when thc grandfather ltan deIart"u
with a drove of black mountain sheep,
that Young shaun lett all alone 10y the
dvkcs.!r. iirsr evolved lis great ur"fCc;
1 The BOYS m.digatiUHs We're bToEcu III
upuu hy Il hearty voice hauiag nm lrod
arfu>s the dyke. lie looked up to Sct
aian, S;Uruy man. dressed III what seemed
10 Young shaun. very iHc olo'hcS. indeed
and sporting 4 brilliant I,ld watch chain
ucrus> the somewhat broad "NEaHsc OF his
waiStcual shaun lEc'l5hC Ran ii.Sl iucIivc'
IN Il had nH honest luO'! hU!LuTcd ia,"
and hI. eyes tTinkied IIrrrly under Then
twin tIai.neS oT hG>ry hair.
God save you said thc stranger; II
winch ynUg SUaGu answered in the qu--
delightful Irish fa>hiuu-"Gud sayc We kind
ly."
Then the stranger asked for old Shaun
and on being told That lie was at Tho
far, stepped oycr the dyke ana 80 % gct
tho lac Ia conversation He HaS = mo-
eItrrtaiiiiiiE man, titlS EGlS'"lsS!5 uIttsSt
wayIarrf, aud. almost before he knew ii
young SHAUN was eagerly Confiding III hin
all his small trials and trihuialiJnS. Iht
big man IL au=hcu peculiarly ovcrthc longing
of his hoy friend 20 explore the valley; bu
he looked grave enough wft- told of ole
Shcun'S surTuw. and how tie aged farmer
pined for his lost son. Presently he smiled
again. and asked the 10y why his grand
father had never visited the free of th,
Lost Children
Young shaun started. He had neve
heard Of any Tree of the Lost Children.
'.what!' exclaimed the stranger. Am
YOU SIicveoarney Eoyi Never heard tel
Of the famous tree?"
Young shaun shook his head. Tel
me about it. he whispered eagerly.
why said his rev fricEd, sitting bt