INTRODUCTION. 17 
solemn pines. He loved the horses that he rode and 
the great herd of cattle in his charge, and his com- 
rades, rough as bears and loving as brothers. So 
he carried the letter in his pocket with a sad heart 
for a day or two, when little Billie Barnson, who 
was riding beside him, turned to him and said: 
‘‘Joe, what in thunder is the matter with you? Has 
your girl gone back on you?’’ ‘‘No, Billie, that is 
not what is the matter,’’ and in a few words he laid 
bare his heart; he ought to leave the mountains, 
perhaps forever, and he dreaded to go. ‘‘Why, Joe, 
I’m ashamed of you.’’ ‘‘Ashamed, Billie? Why are 
you ashamed of me?’’ ‘‘Well, Joe, if I had had a 
father as good as yours has been [Billie had never 
known his father] and jin his old age he asked me to 
come home and help him, I’d go.’’ That decided it. 
‘‘T think you are right, Billie. I’m going.’’ ‘‘Well, 
I want to see you smile then.’’ ‘‘All right, Billie, 
T’ll go, and I’ll smile too,’’ replied the boy, and his 
heart grew light again as he began to turn his 
thoughts toward home once more, and the simple 
but satisfying joys of the homeland. 
The homecoming occurred just before Christmas 
time of the year 1889. It was a very joyous home- 
coming. The kind and rejoiced old father, the old 
mother happy to see her son, and the things made 
dear by old association, all these conspired to make 
full the cup of joy; and beside near by lived the 
sweetheart. So the boy was very happy for some 
days. After that he began to explore again the old 
farm. It was a good farm, of 196 acres, mostly 
