The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-02-04
CHAPTER II.
\ LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS.

C1liI INN !"
LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS.
In the rear Of Mrs. Gaston's place.
there stood in the midst OF an orchard d
log house OF two rooms, with hallway pc
tween them. There was Il mud-thdtched
wooden chimney at each end, and from
The back of the hallway a kitchen eN-
tension OF the same material with another
mud chimney. The house stood in the
middle OF 4 ten acre lot. and a woman
was busy III the garden with Il little girl.
planting seed.
Hurry uD, Annie, less finish this in time
10 fix up a tine diner er greens and tur-
nips an 'taters an a chicken. Yer Pappy
II get home today sure. Colonel GaSton's
Nelhe coIne last night. Yer Pappy was in
the ColoneIs regiment an Nelse said he
passed him on the road comm with two
one-lesged soldiers. He amt got but
one leg, he says. But, Lord, il there's Il
piece OF him left Wen praise God an
be thankful for what we've got"
Nav, how aid he look? l mos forgot
5 been so long sence | seed him." ask
ed the child.
Look. Honey. He was the hand
soonest man in Campbell county, He had
4 tall figure. brown curly beard, and the
sweetest mouth that was always smilin'
at me. an his eyes tWinklin' over some
Ihin' funny he'd seed or thought about.
When he was young ev'ry gal around here
was crazy about him. | got him all
right, an he got me too. oh me. |
can't help but cry, to think he's been gone
so long. But he's comm today. l jes
feel it III my bones"
Look a yonder, Nav, what q skeer-
crow ridin' er ole hosSt" cried the girl,
looking suddenly toward the road.
Glory to God, It's Toni" she shout
Cd, snatching her old faded sun bonnet
cr her head ana fairly flying across the
field 10 the gate, her cheeks aiaIne. her
blond hair tumbling over her shoulders,
her eyes wet with tears.
Ton. was entering the gate Of his mod
est home in as fine style as possible,
seated proudly on 4 stack Of bones that
had once been a horse, an old piece o.
wool on his head that once had been a
hat. and a wooden peg fitted into a
stump where once was a leg. His face
vas pale and stained with the red dust
OF the hill roads, and his beard, now iron
grey, and his ragged buttOnless uniform
we're covered with dirt. He was truly a
sight to scare crows, if not of interest to
buZzards. But to the woman whose swift
feet were hurrying TO his side, and whose
lips were muttering half articulate cries
OF love, he was the knightlie3t figure that
ever rode in the lists before the assem-
bied beauty of the world.
oh, Tom, Tom, Tom, my ole man,
You've come at LAST she sobbed as she
threw her arms around his neck, drew
him from the horse and fairly smothered
him with kisses.
Look out, ole woman, you'll break my
new leg" cried Tom when he could get
breath.
Il don't care,-1ll get you another
one" she laughed through her tears.
Look out there again you're smash
ing my game shoulder. Got er minnie
ban liz that one"
Well your mouths all right see"
cried the delighted woman, as she kissed
and kissed him.
Sal, Annie, don't be SO greedy, give
me a chance at my young one" Toms
eyes We're d~evouring the excited girl who
had drawn nearer.
Come and kiss your Pappy and tel
him how glad you are to see him. sal(
Tom, gathering her III his arms and at
tempting to carry her to the house.
He stumbled and fell. In a momen
the strong arms Of his wife were abou
him and she was helping him into TIL
house.
She laid him enderly on the bed, petite
him and cried over him.
Suddenly Tom pushed her aside an
sprang up in bed.
"Gecnlimy, Annie, l forgot my pard
nerS-there'S two more peg-legs out a
the gate by this time waiting for us t
get through huggin' and carryin' on be
lore they come in. Run. fetch 'em il
uuick!"
Tom struggled to his feet and met then
at the door.
Come right into my palace, boys. "
seen some fine places in my time, bu
TINS is the handsomest one | ever Sc
eyes on. Now, Annie. put the big pot i
The little one and don't stand back 70
expenses. Let's AVE a dinner thes
iellerS II never forget"
1t was a feast they never forgot. Tom
wife had raised a brood of earl
chickens, and managed to keep the1
from being stolen. She killed four {
Them and cooked them as only a Souther
woman knows how. She had sweet pota
toes carefully saved in the mound agains
the kitchen chimney. There were turnil
and greens and radishes, young onion