Year: 1876

eyes, yes, Mr.. Josephs, mother;
tell him we always have room for
stranger at our table,


Indeed we have, sir you are hearti
iy welcome.
"Hannah,' said she, addressing hel
assistant, ''bring plate for the gentle
man )" and all Mother Bray hospitalit,
was reused when the stranger said i
| was long time since he had tasted home
made bread.


A very pleasant little tea party Of
| three, and very social one-for the
stranger asked many questions concern
ing the town, which host and hostess
were pleased to answer. at last he ask
ed !:


"Who has charge of the mill you were
speaking of"


Gregory, said the old man, zone ot
our town boys, and the chum of our Joe
just his age, too


Mother Bray put down the teaspoon
she had been balancing ON the top o.
her cup, during the conversation, and g
sigh escaped her.


The stranger looked at her instantly,
and Father Bray fastened to say


''Therc, mother dear, 1 didn't mean
to name him my tongue grows careless
as my hands grow clumsy"


Mother Bray rose at once, and the old
man led his guest back to the seats under
the maple, saying, as he went:


''Poor mother, she can't give up her
baby yet 7; my foolish speech will cost
her g. sleepless night. Do you smoke,
sir?"


81 confess to weakness on that
point"


''Then you'll have company soon, sir,
for the children come in at night, and
Willie is great smoker"


''Do your children visit you every
evening ?"


''Oh, yes it is one of our family GUS
toms. The boys take turns in looking
after the chores for us. and insist on my
coming to my chair as soon as supper is
done in winter they roll my chair close
to the window so [ can watch them COM
ing in"


One after another they entered the
gate and walked up the little path the
grandchildren running to ''kiss grandpa
first, and their elders hesitating as they
saw his guest.


The stranger moved away from the
old man after greeting his children, and
stood apparently looking at the land
scape, but in reality seeing nothing but
the hanny group


A moment or two later a fine looking
man came whistling toward the party,
and was introduced as ''my son Will
lianl."


81 have been saying to my guest.
Willie, that you would soon be here and
join him in smoke


''With all my heart" said Willie,
holding out his hand to the stranger.
GA foolish habit, sir, bat kind of So
lace only very busy men can appreciate.


The stranger drew from his pocket an
elegant cigar case and requested him to
try one Of them he had brought them
across the sea for his own use perhaps
he might fancy them.


In ten minutes the two men were chat
ting away like old friends, while Mother
Bray and the girls were holding an i'm
portant consultation concerning tomato
catsup, and grandpa was holding Mary's
baby.


"This is certainly the finest cigar I
ever smoked /; you have hit my taste ex-
actly."


''Ah," said the stranger, with a quiet
smile, ''I am glad you appreciate them;
wanderers like myself sometimes find
rare article %


''Speaking of wanderers said the
doctor, ''did father tell you of our stray
one? 1t is, next to mother, his hobby"


''He alluded to an absent one, but I
did not ask any questions, though I was
greatly interested. You know we rovers
have kind of Masonic friendship for
one another"


81 can imagine 1t, for our absent broth
er left us twelve years since to see some
thing Of the world; he possessed mania
for travel. At first, he thought only of
California, but q year was enough for
him then he went to China, and after
ward joined a scientific party, and went
to Brazil. We heard from him once or
twice after he left the party, and joined
some gentlemen as restless as himself
He had superior mind, was well read,
and one of the best brothers a man ever
had. Poor, dear Joe I would give a
half, yes, two-thirds of my income, to
hear something of him.


s'Did he never send home anything
from the places he visited p


eyes, only once; then box contain
ing a Chinese present for each of us, and
a picture of himself, poorly painted, but
showing us plainly an ugly scar on his
forehead, caused by aterrible fall. Ben s
youngest boy is named for him, and
father often holds him hour at time,
looking at the picture, and telling him
of dear uncle Joe, who was always such
good little boy.


''Do your parents still think of his re-
turn?" asked the stranger, who seemed
much moved by the simple tale.


''Father gave him up long ago, but
ether and the girls still think he will
come and little Ben comforts father