Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-02-18
Rob MCGrcgOr

LON Dardy pOplarS stOou scntlHei ei'heA
side the yard gate Nearer tho house
there were thick spreading trees
elms, naples, tulip poplars and oaks.
The shade Of them was so thick and cool
there was still hint Of dew on the
sparse grass at their roots
One hand lay the garden, gay with
all manner Of flowers. Upon the other
awide tangled orchard space overran
with fruit trees In full bearing. They
spread, indeed, all down the side of the
sunny lawn and on to the road.
1--WE shall begin to have heaps OF
company. Early peaches are getting
ripe Rob said to herself, with little
whimsical smile, rs she unsaddled
Bonnybel and set her at Craze. Then she
ran on to the shady front porch, saying,
with a perfect negro accent, "Marse
Robert, you don't want nobody ter do
nothin, does your
The man she spoke to was blind,
with q SCARED, mobile face and thin
hands almost as translucent as old por-
celain. His hair was like silver floss
and lay carefully brushed upon the col
lar of his fine black coat His linen,
too, was spotless, his ncckerchief care
fully neat and his soft, low shoes Of
flawless new gloss He sat among soft
cushions in wicker chair, his head
thrown back, his eyes closed, his whole
frame drinking in the scented softness
of the summer morning.
II want some one very much-that
miscellaneous daughter of mine, y he said,
affecting not to recognize her voice.
"There are just the two of us, and
miss her dreadfully, though she is SO
full Of pranks. You see, we have not
been much apart ever since she was
born.
''Nor ever will be, daddy" Rob said,
dropping kiss upon either eyelid.
Then she stood back a pace, clasped her
hands behind her, closed one eye and
looked him critically over, saying:
upon my word, daddy, you are simply
stunning this morningl I've been haunt
ed by the fear that l had not got tho
part of your hair quite where 1t should
be nor the bows Of your neokcloth math.
ematioally under your chin. You know
you hurried me bit at my work as
valet. But find you without spot or
blemish, and, as you always are, so very
much the best looking man | know l
wonder the rest don't hate you out
right"
Mr. McGregor laughed cheerily. III
the isolation Of his darkness there had
grown up delicious small vanity over
his appearance He was not only blind,
but helpless There were nervous witch.
ings in tho fne, thin hands, and when
he walked it was a bowed, hating prog
ress painful to look upon.
Over the sight Mrs. Winfold shook
her head, saying: eyes; it is real
pity; but. then, mayby, too, it was we'll
folks should see what comes Of fool
hardness I remember Mr.. McGregor
strong man, good looking, too, but
nobody could ever make me believe he
had any call ter 60 an dash in that
burnin cabin jest ter git out poor ole
niger that had nursed him when he
was baby. She didn't live but year
after ALL An look at him-blind an
crippled, that beam fallin ON his back,
besides the burns he got. Ele ought ter
of thought of his own family. 1t would
be really his fault whatever happened
ter that girl Of his. ~"
Rob's mother had died at her birth,
and there We're five little mounds beside
the long one in the graveyard back Of
the orchard. All the other children had
gone before. With her latest breath the
dying woman had whispered, "Call her
by your name, Robert, darling, and
bring herewith you-safe-across the
river.
So from the beginning Rob had been
her fathers comfort, companion, coun-
.selor She had come to 8 years old when
he was stricken and took her place as
head of the house with the quaintest
childish dignity. Everybody said how
pitiful it was to see her pattering about,
keys In hand, to note her watchful care
for her father IN every detail or to hear
her piping child's voice stumbling mu-
sically through chapsers Of the Bible.
Mighty few Of them knew what hero.
ism the reading had entailed. To the
day Of her fathers blindness Rob had
refused to learn even her letters II
hate old books. won't learn and be shut
up In school all day." she had said pas
sionately. But when she saw her father
lingering the big Bible and murmuring
snatches Of its contents it made her
throat swell, her lips culver. Yet she
said nothing then beyond telling him
breathlessly Of the little chickens and
the teeny new calf. But three Sundays
later she came, saying shyly, eff you
like, pappy, can read you some Bible
now And with that che began the
Twenty third Psalm and went through
it without a break.
do you like it, pappy? Does it sound
good and help your" she asked very low
when she had done. Mr.. McGregor
could not speak. He put his arms about
his child and answered her with rain
of kisses
loan you read, really'" be asked aft
er awhile. 1T seems too good to be true.
How did you learn?'
II don't know-only that much. Jack
Talbot is teaching me. He comes Sun
days when you are asleep. Imost know
the letters now. but they are hard, and
did not want you to wait so long for
your Bible, so he read this over and over
till I knew all | am glad you like it.
But, oh, pappy, don't cry! Rob will
take care of you until--until we both
can go to the green pastures and the still
waters
my darling, my precious child" the
father groaned, burying his face in her
silken h .ir. II think it would be sig
nal mercy of God if wo might go to him
now.