40 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



said, " Mr. Browning, don't sit down till I make you ac- 

 quainted with one of your grandsons." The old gentle- 

 man looked astonished as Mr. Foot took my left hand and 

 presented me to him, saying, " This is Meshach Browning, 

 your grandson, sir." 



The old man at first seemed to be completely confused ; 

 but after recovering himself he said, " Is this Joshua's 

 son ? " I told him it was truly so. He then sat down ; 

 and, after wiping the tears from his eyes, and when his 

 feelings had become a little more composed, he said, "Well, 

 Mr. Foot, you will excuse me for this day ; for this youth 

 may have some trouble in finding the road to his mother's, 

 and I cannot miss being present at their meeting." 



" Certainly, sir ; I should like to witness it myself. But 

 young man, tell your mother that I wish her much joy on 

 account of her young son, and hope to see her as soon as 

 she is able to be out again." 



The old gentleman took his hat and started ofif. I fol- 

 lowed, answering many questions, and hearing of many 

 things that had taken place after I left Flintstone, till we 

 approached a farm ; when the old man, laying his hand 

 on the fence, said, " Meshach, this is the farm where your 

 mother lives ; we shall soon see her. Yonder she is 

 now." 



The old lady had gone out to get a bucket of water, 

 and was then near her own door, but did not notice us till 

 we stepped into the house. She took the old man's hand, 

 and, after asking how he was, said, " Who is this young 

 man with you, father ? " 



"Look at him, Nancy, and tell me if you think you 

 have ever seen him, or if you know any one he favors." 

 She seemed confused, and after some time replied that she 

 did not recollect ever having seen him before, nor did she 

 know any person whom he looked like. "Well," said the 

 old man, "does he not look like yourself?" 



