St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-23

blessing, had tripped by this bush. Ne
remembered how full of dreams his heart
was that morning. The picture of his
innocent self, bright and buoyant, step
ping out briskly with head high in he
air that day and band of comrades
conveying him on his way, stood out be-
fore his eyes now with saddening dis
tinctness. And he remembered well say.
ing to his convoy, as they trotted cheer
lily on, Boys, the day Micky Brogan
comes back Yankee will be big day
for lnver. It's nell make the money
spin, or I'll give yez wan gay night any
how"
And, remembering this, he put his hand
into his pocket and pulled out the con-
tents and the pocket itself. There was a
shilling piece, sixpenny and tour
pennies.
"An' the clothes on me back" he said,
then, but pitiful vans enough for
come home Yankee!" which was deplor-
ably true. For the first time since he had
set out his resolve to go to his home and
to his father weakened and he wavered
fol. several minutes. "Oth, CHI" and he
relieved himself with sigh. III go in
Gods name. If l hadn't penny IN me
pocket. or stitch to me back, I'd meet a
welcome from me father" he said then
with grim resolve.
When he came TO his fathers door his
weaker self told him to linger and to
look in at the window; but his grimmer
self said, "Mickv, if you linger you're
lost" He boldly lifted the latch and
strobe into the room. His father, with
now tinge OF gray in his hair which
had not been there in Micky's time, was
sitting on low stool smoking and so
intently gazing into the blaze OF the
hearth that Mcky's coming in did not
rouse him Micky stood a few minutes
in the centre OF the floor and then strobe
up to the fire to his fathers side, when
Suddenly his father looked up
then stood up and said: Sthran-
ger, beg yer pardon, but
was thinkin'. Take that salt" "Pm
copin-back from Ameriky," Micky
said. From Ameriky! Indeed, an
ye're welcome then, ceud failte," and he
took Mcky's hand and shookit heartily.
"Sit down, man. Any wan from Ameri-
ky is welcome here, Tor l have in that
country boy i me own boy whose
like We wouldn't meet, an thravel from
here to there an back again; fine boy
he is entirely, an the best behaved in
Aneriky; an it's me is the proud father
for him. Maybe you come across him in
your thravels He's Micky-Mrcky Bro
gan: he's fair.hared like yerstlt, but a
dali stouter an harder, an he carries
himself like kings son. Would ye have
met him at all in yer thravels?"
Micky had had to lean his shoulder
against the brace, and had let his head
drop. He said mo, no."
"Ah, pity We didn't meet with poor
Micky. Gods blissin' be about HIM
But sit, man, sit. Yere far from strong
lookin'; Ameriky didn't agree with ye,
poor tella. or We overweight verselt
You're not from this neighborhood ?"
I'm not" Mlcky said quickly I'm
from the lower en- iv Killaghtee. III not
sit, thank you for We civilIty. | just
stepped in for drink, for | was ietlln'
dhrouthy."
poor tella, surely, surely" his father
handed him a great bowl Of milk. yell
not move till we ait, too" he said.
Il couldn't ait five paid me for it,
tux hearty male at Donegal. An the
dhrooth's left me, too" he said, leaving
down the bowl of milk when he had put
it to his lips.
Its sorry am that ye didn't meet
our Mcky. In throth an it's him is
ever glad to see anywan ever lett the
baronry. An it's him makes much iy
them. Ye would "a been proud iv Micky
We had seen him. Them that comes
home, that has seen Micky, they'd niver
! tire talkin' iv him the grand fela entirely
an credit to his father, that he is. An
he'd "a been sending such heartsomt
messages to me with ye. Och, God bless
Micky!' The Yankee was moving very
uneasily from one foot to another, but
ConnaI stood between him and the door
Poor Mickv's dom better than ever q
boy wint out iv the parish afore or since
every wan comes home tells me that
But he couldn't otherwise nor well. fol
he was the fond son iv his father
Micky. goin' away, saved he'd niver Tor
get me, an he niver did An I'm wait
in every day ever rise, wantin' to SCI
Micky, jintleman from the crown Nv hi:
head to the sole iv his loot. come sthrid
in in iv that doore with his two hand:
out to the father he niver forgot. An
afther that. any time God chooses to cal
Connal Began he'll die a happy man
God Almighty bliss poor Mckyl"
In thick voice and tremulous, Mickv
Brogan said, Good night! Thanky!'
and went hurriedly out into the dark
ness.
One night, some years after, hand
some fellow. elegantly dressed, sat hin
down beneath the Lazy Bush at the
Poolby cross, and was lost in thought
for some time. He drew out a little bag
which opened on a running string, anc
looked at the little treasure of golc
pieces that it held-and smiled. He put
the bag into his pocket again, and, get
ting to his feet, pushed forward. He
lifted the latch on Connal Brogan's dool