Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-03-12

began to grow homesick. At first she wor-
ried about the stock; the colouel's chief
care was his dog The fifth days visit was
their last As they were driving to the
town to take the train for Kansas, Mrs
Hucks heard her husband discoursing some
thing after this fashion,
II tell you, Jim, before I'd slave my life
out on an eighty the way you're doin' I'd
go out takin' in whitewashin' 1t is Just
like this-a man in Kansas mas lower taxes,
better schools, and more advantages in
every way, than you've got here. And as
for grasshoppers! Why, Jim West, sech
talk makes me tired. My boy Bills been
always born and raised in Kansas, and now
he's in the legislature, and in all his life,
since he can remember, he never seen a
hopper. Wouldn't know one from a sacred
ibex, if he met it in the road"
When they were comfortable seated on
the homeward- bound train, Mrs. Hucks
said to her husband:
"How do you suppose they live here in
this country, anyway, fatherl Don't any
one here seem to own any of the land Join
in them, and they'd no more think of put
tin in water-tanks and wind-mills around
their farms than they'd think of flynn >
l just wish Mary could come out and
see my new kitchen sink with the hot
and cold water in it. Why, she almost
tainted when | told her how to fix dreen
for her dishwater and things" Then, af-
ter sigh, she added, But they are 80 I'M
progressive here, nowadays"
That was the music which the colonel
loved, and he took up the strain, and car
ried the tune for few miles. Then it be-
came duet, and the two old souls were
very happy.
They were overjoyed at being bound for
Kansas. They hungered for kindred spirits
At Peoria, in the early morning, they
awakened from their chair-car maps to
hear a strident female voice SAYING:
"Well, sir, when the rain did finally
come, Mr.. Morris he lust didn't think
there was thing left worth cutting
on the place, but, 10 and behold, We got
over 40 bushel to the acre OIL of that field
As it was.
The colonel was thoroughly awake in an
instant, and he nudged his wife ~ the
voice went on:
Mr.. Morris he was so afraid the wheat
was winter killed, all the papers said it
was: and then came the late frost. which
every one said had ruined it-but law
me-
Mrs Hucks could stand it no longer.
W III ueT husband 5 cane she reached the
owner of the voice, and said
Excuse me, maam, but what part of
Kansas are you FROM
1t seemed like meeting dear relative.
The rest of the journey to Kansas City
was hallelujah chorus. wherein the colon
ell sang powerful and telling bass.
When he crossed the Kansas state line.
Colonel Hucks began, indeed, to glory in
his state He npiutaA Tho
that rose in every village, and asked his
fellow passenger to note that the school
house is the most important piece of archi.
lecture in every group of buildings. He
told the history of every rod of ground
along the kaw to Topeka lie dilated
eloquently, and at length, upon the coal
mines in Usage county, and he pointed
with pride to the varied resources of his
state. Every prospect was pleasing to
Colonel Hucks, as he rode home that
beautiful day, and his wife was more
radiantly happy than she had been for
many years.
As the train pulled into the little town
of Willow Greek that afternoon, the colon
ell craned his head at the car window to
catch the first glimpse of the big, red
standpipe, and of the big stone school
house on the hill When the whistle blew
for the station, the colonel said:
What is it that fool Riley Teller saws
about 'Grigsby's Station, where we used to
be so happy and so pore'."
As the colonel and his wife passed out
Of the town into the quiet country, where
the shadows were growing long and black,
and where the gentle blue haze was hang
ing over the distant hills that undulated
the horizon, silence fell upon the two
hearts. Each mind sped back over a life
lime to the evening when they had turned
'ut of the main road in which they were
travelling. y dog barking in the meadow
behind the hedge did not startle them from |
heir reveries The restless cattle wander |
ng down the hillside toward the bars,
made natural complement to the picture |
which they loved.
1T is almost sunset, father" said the |
wife, as she put her hand on her husbands !
Irm.
Her touch and the voice in which she
lad spoken frightened some cord at his |
hroat. The colonel could only repeat, as
lie avoided her gaze;
Eyes, almost sunset, mother: almost |
unset"
at has been long day, William, but
ou have been good to me- Has it been a
appy day for you, father"
The colonel turned his head away. He
vas afraid to trust himself to speech. He
tucked to the horses and drove down the
ane. As they came into the yard, the
olonel put an arm about his wife and
ressed his cheek a yainst her face. Then
e said drolly;
Now, locke at that dog, come tearin
p here like he never saw white folks be-
ore"
And so Colonel William Hucks brought
is wife back to Kansas. Here their youth
J woven into the very soil they love; here
very tree around their home has its sa-
red history; here every sky above them
ecalls some day of trial and hope.
Here in the cleaning tonight stands an
Id man, bent and grizzled. His eyes are
immed with tears, which he would not
acknowledge for the world, and he is
roaming strange dreams, while he listens
0 little, cracked voice in the kitchen
alf hummiug and half singing;
Home again, home again,
From foreign shore"
-McClure's Magazine.