The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-03-09

an old envelope with postmarks Of an
cient date. e
"oh, father!' Mary murmured, an,
then she turned away TO stop the fast
J flowing tears.
"Where is father?" theman asked, 1
sterner note coming into his voice.
I'm the churchyard, this many |
year" she answered. And he sat dowr
heavily.
The old woman glanced at the new
conner furtively, but silently The
other two fell into talk in low, sup
pressed tones, going over briefly the
life that lay between this and their
parting.
"Yes. sowed wild oats enough al
first" the man said, "but managed to
work my way across the ocean, and
then there came over me n great dis
gust OF myself and my evil ways. Faith
err WAS hard enough on me--but was
wrong, too. very wrong, and for moth.
er's sake ] should have been patient
and tried to do better Please God my
boy shall have no such experience"
Your boy?" Mary asked eagerly, her
face lighting up.
Aye, my boy-bless him. He's .
great lad. Well. settled down in
England, In good, sizeable village,
after awhile, and did fairly we'll.
Then / married and we had this one
boy and girl"
Where are your wife and children ?"
He turned his face away for mo-
ment to conceal its quivering. THE
boy is with me-the other two lie un-
der the sod When they were gone
Lemuel and ! didn't care to stay. So
we've been wandering bit. Then it
came over me that must see the old
place once more. and here am"
But where is your boy?" pressed
Mary.
Hes down at the hotel. Ijust want
ed to walk around and take my bear
ings first-it's all so changed except
this house"
'sYes, mother always wanted this
kept just the same against you got
back. How like you've grown to faith
err, Lem. Is your boy like your
At every mentioned his son he mans
face lighted up. Eyes. suppose he's
like me some, but he's tallerand roster.
too, since he's English born. and whilst
see look of he mother in him."
Bring himl" Mary cried. "I'm pin
ing to see him."
Eyes. I'll go and fetch him now" he
said, rising. cts seldom we're so long
separated
So she hustled about tidying up the
always neat little house and looking
INTO the glass to give some touch of inn
orovement to her own personal appear
lnce. OF which. poor soul. she scarcely
.ver thought, but she had sudden
wish to be pleasing in the strange
TounR eyes.
The mother wandered around rest
essly. going again and again to the
loor and looking out toward the hills.
Tut saying no word. And thus they
Vaited. At last the click Of the gate
and the two, father and son,
anne up the path, the latter looking
round with questioning eyes. As they
inferred wild cry rang cut, and the
Id woman threw herself upon the boy
With passionate caressss, exclaiming
Inconsciously in the words of Scrip
ure:
20 my son!my son! He was dead
nd IL alive againl He Yves lost and 10
ound!"
"HumoF her. lad" the father whis-
cred, and the boys rosy checks grew
osier as he stopped to her embrace.
Then she drew away. yet stiil cling
az to him, and looked imploringly at
he elder son.
"0h. fatheri be frieHdsl be friendsi
les good led. he means no harmi"
nd the two men slasped hands silently.
lille tranquil, happy look crept over
be poor harassed face.
So no more the sad cry rang over the
slds, but an old woman and boy
light often be seen walking together
q the road near the cottage. and late
Uses bloomed ON che faded checks, ana
as sad eyes grew ealmer. though rea-
IN no more fully resumed rte sway.
Lenuel. the older. remained In his
,r~er home and builded onto the cot
'ac. which was kept unchanged. as q
ing to the new house. where Mary
Is happy again in being mother to
rr nephew. When her short Indian
lmmer ives over and they laid the little
other TO rest they wrote "Peace" on
le white headstone.-- HOnsekeeper.