Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-03-03

farmhouse enscOnced among the apple
trees at the further end.
During the short drive he said but
little, and when Silas asked him
question he -lesitated, faltered and
rubbed his chin before replying. When
Old Gray turned down the lane where
the robins were singing and the squir-
rels chippering, trace Of the old light
came back to the old bachelors eyes
and the faded, sunken cheeks glowed
little.
"Si,' he murmured, laying his thin
hand upon the others knee, ''let me
drive Old Gray home through the
lane"
The lines hung listlessly from his
hands as the old mare slowly walked
along the familiar place toward the
house, where Mandy stood in the door
way with glad smile of welcome
overspreading her kindly face. Then,
when the horse halted at the block, he
said, handing over the lines:
Il think I have been driving right
into Heaven, Si.''
'Why, Cousin Jim, am so glad to
see you again. 1t seems so like old
times to see you and Silas driving
home through the lane" And the
good woman came forward, with both
hands outstretched. Her eyes grew
moist when she saw how feeble the
old bachelor cousin was. She and
Silas had to almost lift him from the
buggy, and her strong arms supported
| h. fpo{ =, II
dra agging steps up the gravel walk and
into the cool, flower scented parlor. His
eyes roved about the quiet place and
he sighed:
Heaven. Heaven at last"
"YOu lie right down on the couch,
Cousin Jim, and take a nap. while I
get supper. I'll call you in time to
wash and freshen up. I'm going to
have some raised biscuits and honey
you always liked that
The tired man laid his head back and
murmured:
Dear Mandy! l am so glad to get
back home again. will rest for a
few moments. I am so tired-and SO
so happy to get home-homev' Mandy
went out and closed the parlOr door.
This must be Heaven-at last. 1t is
so still, so sweet, so nice. Tomorrow
I will go down to the mill dam; will
go to the old swimming hole under the
willows once more, where dear old ST
and used to swim. I will sit on the
stoop in the cool of the evening. and
I will be at home once more with the
good and true and unselfish ones.''
And thus he murmured as he drifted
| rest, finally, there in the cool, flower
scented parlor of the little farmhouse,
! afar from the noise and hustle Of the
city.
| The bees buzzed among the liiacs.
where the humming birds whirred; the
! apple blossoms bunted against the
| blinds and the fragrant petals fell
upon the sleeper's face-but he did not
stir. He was dreaming of the dear
old days of boyhood, days filed with
JOY and delight and sweetness.
Then the good angel Of the old mans
dreams came in chariot Of silver. and
| his ieyelids were touched with magic
wand. He rOved in green pastures.
where blue cloud-feeced skies bent;
and he wandered by crystal streams in
the cool shady woodlands where birds
made glad the fragrant breezes of the
summer day Of unending bliss.
And then-then it was no longer Il
dream. Oh. the glory Of it all! II
was blessed reality.
"Jimv'
There came no response from the old
man on the couch.
'Silas, come quick! All is not well
with poor jim
/ They approached the couch and
looked down upon the face. The tired
look had disappeared. There was a
smile instead. Cousin Jim was nc
longer ill-he was at rest, peacefully al
rest. And all was we'll with him.
!. The city relatives walled when his
will was read. The good and true
ones who had loved him to the end
the kindly ones who lived in the little
house at the end of the lane-Jim ha6
given all to them.-New York Times.