The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-10

sun is west of the roof tree. Wen stop
at the miller's on our way home and
get -"
Danny threw his arms about his grand
mothers neck, tears streaming from his
own eyes as he interrupted her: ''oh,
granny, the flock has been driven
away by the same mountain robbers. ]
hated TO tell you-oh, | hated to bring
the bad news 10 your ears when | saw
how much sou were already troubled"
At this woeful news Granny Groo be-
came very feeble dropping into her arm
chair and giving herself up TO terrible
weeping. "Oh. what shall become of us?
! am an old woman aud have worked so
hard and honestly. And my little lad bas
been bent under burdens OF labor too
youug--too young. Why should the wicked
men come and rob an old. old woman and
little lad?'
DO you remember Granny, that we
are to open the locket If any great from
be falls upon us-a trouble we cannot
live through without aid? Well, we've
lost everything today EXCEPT the house
over our heads and the fields, which will
not be ready for planting till spring. The
winter is before US. and we must needs
starve unless we find suceor from some
source. Shall we get the locket and open
IT.
But you are only ten and four years
OF age" said Granny. ''Six years must
pass before we can in conscience open the
locket have always declared 10 myself
that nothing short of dreadful sickness
to Won should force me to open 1t. AND
suppose we should now open IL and use
the treasure Whatever 1t may be--and
then the robbers should come again? All,
we'd be done for, lad. Even the locket
..-tt1 mi hn
Aud you would never come into your
great Inheritance on your twentieth BIRTH
day No. no. lad; let us not be tempted.
And Granny's eyes dimned with unshed
tears. for she was beginning to be her.
self again and was forcing back the tears
which She had let fall so easily awhile
before mo; we must work some way
and recover from our loss" Danny kissed
her withered cheek tenderly, but MUIR
INJURED in her ear: Dear Granny. we
cannot regain what we have lost. We
have not mouthful to cat aud no way OF
providing for food Our next years seed
has been stolen. Our sheep and COW are
now furnishing meat and milk to the
mountain robbers. We must fall Ill OF
hunger Then we must die and the treas
ure fall into the hands of strangers"
.Danny's sensible words had weight
with the old woman. She arose and went
to herzbed, which she removed from the
corner. Then, with the aid of deal
knife. she lifted the edge Of tagstone
and drew forth the pewter mug. Danny
cautiously closed and bolted the door
and drew ine window-shutter tight to
prevent any casual passerby from seeing
them In the cot. Old Granny Groo united
the locket, and touching spring. 1t few
open. small piece 81 paper was lying
Inside It, Unfolding this. Danny read the
following:
my son Danny is the thirteenth genera
tion of my blood. A kingdom and for
tune await him In land many leagues
from here But this he cannot have till
he is In his twentieth year Should want
| or sickness come to him before that tine
he will find buried under the big rock
near the spring a pot Of gold that will
keep hin, and his aged grandmother till
he comes into his kingdom. This locket
| and chain will be the link which will con
| meet him to the peculiar chain of cfrcum-
stances which will bring him into his own
| Inheritance. At the bottom OF this paper
| will be found directions to guide him to