meeting Ben again to hear his
pieces read."

Jamie the Scotchman read, and while he did so Abiah, wrinkled and old,
looked often toward the stranger out of her dim eyes, while she listened
to her son's always popular story of The Old Auctioneer.

"That is a very good piece," said Abiah Franklin; "and now, stranger,
let me say that your voice sounds familiar, and I want you to tell me in
a good strong tone who you be. I didn't hear you give any name."

"Is it almost nine?" asked the stranger.

Jamie opened the door.

A bell smote the still air, a silverlike bell. It spoke nine times.

"I never heard that bell before," said the stranger.

Suddenly music flooded the air; it seemed descending; there were many
bells--and they were singing.

"The Old North chimes," said the Scotchman; "they have just been put up.
I wish Ben could hear them; I sort of carry him in my heart."

"Don't speak! It is beautiful," said the stranger. "Hear what they are
saying."

"O Jamie, Jamie, _father_ used to play that tune on his violin."

"_Father!_" The old woman started.

"Ben, Ben, how could you! Come here; my eyes are failing me, Ben, but my
heart will never fail me.--Jamie, prepare for him his old room, and
leave us to talk together!"

"I will go out to Mrs. Mecom's, and tell her that Benjamin has come
home."

"Yes, yes, go and call Jenny."

They talked together long: of Josiah, now gone; of Uncle Benjamin, long
dead; and of Parson Sewell, and the deacons of the South Church, who had
passed away.

The door opened. Jenny again stood before him. She led on a boy by the
hand, and said to her portly brother:

"This, Benjamin, is Benjamin."

They talked together until the tears came.

He heard the whir of the swallows' wings in the chimney.

"The swallows come back," he said, "but they will never come again. It
fills my heart with tenderness to hear these old home sounds."

"No, _they_ will never come back from the mosses and ferns under the
elms," said his mother. "The orioles come, the orchards bloom, and
summer lights up the hills, and the leaves fall, but they will know no
more changes or seasons. And I am going after their feet into the
silence, Ben; I have almost got through. You have been a true son in the
main, and Jenny has never stepped aside from the way. Always be good to
Jenny."

"Jenny, always be true to mother, and I will be as true to you."

"Brother, I shall always be true to my home."

CHA