The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-16

MAhIA w As IBE CENTKAL L lGUkE 4
operator at the station. The Deacon re
men,bered the STA the former ne-sag
had been on the young operators inieln
gence, besides he himself was not used Il
wiring messages, and so, regardless of ex
pense. he conveyed his thoughts to Sol il
| this wise:
| DEER SoL Pit yore thinkin' cap on, ant
understand jest what lime sayin' want yol
TO send void our TO the house at once tina
line comm home this eyenin on the accom-
notation train, ana bringing the bows h
keeriul and doant make lCol OF yoursel
and >kecr the wininin foxes
Respectfully y0res, JOSIAH KLEGG.
| Sol had plenty of time to study that dis
patch out, and he not only sent word "a
desired, but he communicated the news TO al
who came TO the station. Tie result wa
there was quite a crowd Of friends there Il
greet the home-comers.
The reception OF The message had thrown
the nous hold into furry of joyful eX
pectancy. II was Iar better news than the
Deacon's last letter had lei them to am icipate
After Few moments OF tearfl calculate L
ana mutual kissing over il. mother aud
daughters began to get everythi, g in rea,ii.
most Cheering welcome. Abraham Lincoln
was summon d in from his r,,il->Dlitting
which he had been pursuing quite lessureiy
during the Deacon's absence, and stirred tC
spasinodlc energy under Marias driving tC
cut an additional supply Of dry wood, and
carry 1T into every room in the house, where
little Sammy WOggles, the orphan whom
the Deacon and airs. Klesg were bringing
up, built cheer-shedding fires. Mrs. KIegg
had her choicest young chickens killed, and
alter she and Amanda had robbed every othe,
room OF whatever they thought would add tO
the comfort OF sis, she set herself to work
preparing i SUPPER which would Guido all
her previous efforts.
Hours before the tram was due Maria had
Abraham Lincoln bring out the spring-wa .on
and hltch the horses to it. Then he hal 10
lay in a bed of lean straw, and upon this
was placed soft feather bed, blank t., and
pillows. Maria decided that she won d drive
10 the station herself
Never do in the world" said she, =" to
trust them skltlish young no ses, what hahn t
done lick o. WORK since Z went away, to
tiat stoopid darby. Tn y'd surely run
away and break his neck, which ID be no
great loss, and save lots o provisions, blu t
they'd Smash that new wagon and break
$2Oa apiece
Maria, how kin you talk SO ?" said the
gentle Mrs. Kieeg reproviasly. It's sin
to speak so ligully o death o. feller-crea-
turen
Well, if he's faller-creature O. mine, !"
returned the sprightly Maria, ''the Lord
mate slack-tw .sted job of him some dark
night out o. remnants and couldn't tin | 10
gumpliOn to put into him. He gave hi IA an
ailigatOr's appetite in,tld. A I'd amt tsyin'
to save his lie? Besides, Pm nearly dead
TO see 81. want to be the first to see HIM ("
This aroused Amanda, but Maria stood on
her rights as the eluer sister, hid her way,
as sine usually did, aud drove away trium-
phantly fully two hours before train-lime
Upon her arrival ut the station she quickly
recognized tIat She was the central figure in
interest to The gathering crowd, and she
would have been more than young woman
If she had not made the most OF her promi-
nence.
Other girls were there with their fathers
and mothers who had rrothers who had been
IN the three months service, or were now in
three years regiments, OF who had been dis
charged on account OF disability, or who had
been in this battle or that, but none Of them
had brother who had distinguished himself
i'll the terrible battle about watch everybody
was now talking. who had heiped capture q
rebel flag, who had been wouna-d almost to
death. who had been reporied dead, aud who
was now coming home, a still living evidence
OF all this. NJ boy who had gone from Bean
Blossom Cheek neighborhood had n,ade the
hguie IN the pubic eye that 81 hxd, and