The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-03-19

tides of the bay. 1t was lonely some
times in the long winters, but we
soon accustomed ourselves to that.
The worst was when the autumn
storms came up the hay. for then
often the Skelands would he flooded,
and our cattle and sheep be in dan
ger. And sometimes there would be
wrecks of good ships"-he paused,
with a puzzled expression, then has
tily resumed:
But one summer James fell sick.
! can't recall the year-my memory
is not what it used to be. | am much
alone, sir. But James fell sick, and
was hard pressed to bring him
around. He recovered at last, and
then showed him letter which had
come for him. 1t was from our IA
thcr's lawyer, and it told us that ia
ther was dead, and James, as the
eldest son, should go home to settle
up the estate. Never word Of for
givcness, mark you, from him that
was dead. He was a stern man. Now
this was a good thing for James.
meaning change of air and a long
sea voyage to put new life into him.
went with him as far as Halifax,
where he took the Cunard steamer.
"Yet sometimes now | wish he'd
never gone. He was sad at leaving
the farm. /"
The speaker stopped and moved
restlcssly in his chair. Suddenly he
turned to me and said:
"You think he will return soon, do
you mote"
"Why, yes" ! replied, somewhat
surprised by the question; II don't
see why he shouldn't"
Once more the old man gave his
peculiar, wistful glance. Then he
went over to the picture above the
mantclpicce.
at fell down one night long ago"
he said as if to himself. "Thcre was
a storm and | was away-somewhcre
I forget where. The rain was flood
ing the marshes and the wind was
howling up the bay. God help the
poor ships out that night. And when
| came home the picture was lying on
the floor" He ceased. There was a
long silence. Finally, he struck his
forehead impatiently. 81 cannot re-
member what happened that night.
The storm and ,hc darkness, and
where was James? But it doesn't
matter now, for he's coming home
soon" Another pause followed,
which lasted until rose to leave.
Going down the garden path he
stopped and called attention to his
| flowers.
II am getting all in order for
James Homecoming" he explained.
"IIc is few If bright flowers"
"lll lool ut for your brother in
the ,ii!ag'" rejoined. Il think Id
recognize i'm from the picture"
"Im gree obliged to you for
your kir u - replied my compan-
| ion. "Te' .;lmes to hasten out. for
I've lon- hy n waiting for him!"
Tie village was only few miles
-. =. and | soon arrived there. My
:. ppng place was a small hotel
yhich overlooked the head of the
bay. AS | sat outside smoking in the
cool of the evening the landlord
joined me for the customary chat.
well" he began, "how fur did you
git to-day?'
told him and then related my ex-
perience, touching lightly on the ed
mans story.
so he stopped you, did he?" said
the landlord, with Il chuckle, "and
told YOU bout brother James? Well,
you amt the fust, nor bout thou
sand, that old large Montague has
| told the same story to-"
What do you mean" | asked.
This is the how of it," answered
the landlord, fitting his chair into a
more comfortable position. 81 was a
lad at the time, but can remember
it all right. Him an his brother come
out from England-that's oil right.
An then his brother got took sick
an went home when the old man
| died-that's all right. But now I'll
tell you what old large didn't tell
you. James Montague did come out
here again, but he warn't alive when
he landed. He landed from a wreck
with hole busted in his skull"
Seeing my amazed look, the speaker
proceeded to explain.
"IIe come out to Halifax in Gu
nard steamer; she was called the
Scotia, guess-one of them big Ind-
die boats that used to run in the old
days. That was way back in the six
ties. Then he took passage in a
schooner for tAe village here. She
was called the Curlew. She got
round safe, an come up an near
reached the head of the bay, when a
big storm an high tide got her, an
she was wrecked ha'f a mile below
here an every soul drownded. Old
Jarge-hc was young large then-had
come into the village with couple of
hosseS fer himself an his brother to
ride out to the house. The fust he
seen of his brother James was when
A ,,n Inl ,,.ith b;u ha,I