Year: 1876

room, and say few words to friend
that has been very good to US all, espe-
cially to Mother and l."


And they went in, the old man leaning
on Joe's arm. After prayers, came the
good-nights, SO very hard to say, when
each had SO much 10 hear and tell. Will
declared he had half mind to give all
patients the slip for one night, and try
his old quarters with Joe and Joe
heartily wished he would, and asked if
the shed roof still came under the win
dow, SO he could steal ont and help him
self to melons as in the Old day "Bet-
ter stay, VIII, I have thousand things
to tell you


But Wills pretty wife looked sober,
and Mother knew they would talk all
night. No, they must all go home, and
all return, even the wee baby, to take
breakfast with Joe next morning it
should be q grand holiday for old and
young"


"All right, old fellow" said Sam, ''get
your pipes i'll good order for day of
talking. Goodnight, good night,
goodnight sounded on all sides of
happy Joe.


When the door had closed after them,
he took up his lamp, ''Come up for our
little talk, Mother, or [ shall not realize
that AN home again; but no, you
precious woman, you must not, you are
too old for that now"


GA woman is never too old to tend her
baby, Joey, if he is bearded men I
shall come, dear"


Once more in the old room, the man
realized the beauty of ''home' as no
one can, save those who have been
tossed about on the restless, changing
scenes OF life, among strange people, in
strange places. The little room looked
like the face of an old friend-even his
old slippers were in the old corner; his
picture were still hanging i'll the old
places, and the pencil sketch of sweet
Annie Lee still hung over the mirror.
where his hands had fastened it. He
looked from one thing to another, and
prepared to retire, saving to himself,
eff all is well with Annie, shall think
my home coming almost visit in Para
disc, and to think, these dear people did
not get all the presents [ sent them, and
not even one letter for years.. He had
just settled his head on the pillew, when
he heard his Mothers rap. 'sCome in,"
and in she came. in her wrapper, sitting
down on the side of his bed, as she al
ways had III the old days, and taking
his hand in hers, in the old gentle way.


For time. they enioyed a silence too
sacred for speech. At last, she said, as
she might have done had no years come
and gone between her last visit and the
present-'Has my boy anything to tell
mother to o-night2"


eyes, mother, something to tell, and
one question TO ask. I want to tell that
your wanderer has never done any one
act that would cause you to blush for
him; and, also, to say it was your love,
and the memory of our good night talks,
that served to keep me from evil have
returned, proud to hold your dear hand,
and feel deserving of your love-"


''Joey, my prayers ale answered;
man in years, q child at heart and now,
the question.


The man glanced toward the little
sketch, and his mother answered his un-
spoken thought,


''Annie is the same, dear; your sweet
heart when you left, yours still. She
has been a great comfort to us all; she
had such perfect faith and trust in you,
she knew you would come, and she was
sure the silence meant no evil. 1 have
sent for her to take breakfast with me, as
she often does, and you shall have the
pleasure of surprising her, as you didus;
her eyes, fancy, will be keener than
your little namcsake's."


''Thank you, mother darling" And
the good nights were fervent enough to
make up for the lost years.


Down stairs father Bray sat holding
Joe's picture in one hand, and candle
in the other, saying: "The same dear
boy; just the same; how very tender and
and merciful God has been to mother
and ["