set
back, but he jes' teck a fresh holt en square hi'se'f erway en des roam
eroun' in glory, en he smile, en de grease jes' a-shinin' on hi' chin.

"But de brother wuz mad. He 'low dat he stay at home, en ack a puffeck
genermun, en dis hyar skalawag jes' play de devil ginerally, en den cum
back lack er skunk en dey tu'n de ole house upside down fer him. He chaw
de rag monstrous fer a spell, but de ole man fine'ly tell him ef he
doan' lack hit, he better go out en try de wurl hi'se'f, en de brother
look at de Prodegale, en kiner shiver en simmer down.

"Dat night when de Prodegale got inter de feather-bed, whar he done hid
a ham-bone under de piller, en hi' mammy tucked him in en kiss him good
night, he strotch hi'se'f en say, 'When I goes erway frum heah ergin, I
goes erway daid!' En he drap to sleep--de sweetes' sleep fo' many er
long time, en dream uv de little gal wid de blue eyes, who wuz still er
waitin' fer him.

"Young men, all I wan' ter say tuh yo' by de way uv windin' up is
dis--Ef yo' got a good home, er enny sort uv home, stay dar!"

And Shawn, sitting by the window, clasped his little Testament and
fervently said, "Amen!"

CHAPTER IX

Shawn had been at home for several days. One night when the waves were
rolling high on the stream, he sat in the office of the hotel, which
stood on the bank of the river. A cheerful log fire glowed in the old
fireplace. Pence Oiler, the ferryman, sat in the corner puffing at a cob
pipe. Suddenly, came the loud cry of "Hello!" When the door was opened,
a young man and woman came into the office. They had hurriedly gotten
out of a buggy and both seemed very much agitated, and the young man
quickly informed them that they were eloping from a neighboring county
and were being hotly pursued by an angry father and brother. Shawn's
gaze was fixed on the young woman, for never before had he seen such a
beautiful face, such lustrous, dark eyes, lit up by the flame of love,
seemed to shed a glow upon the dingy walls of the old room.

"Where can I find the ferryman?" asked the young man.

"I am the ferryman," said old Pence, "but you can't cross the river
to-night; the wind is too high."

"But I must cross," said the young man, as a wild glance shot from his
eye. "I'll give you ten dollars to set us over!"

"I'm feer'd to resk it," said Pence, but the beautiful girl went up to
him, and with a smile which seemed to melt into the very soul, softly
said, "I am not afrai