River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-04-29
SELLING TIE ENRM

well, why don't you sayit, husband know
You want 70 talk about selling the farm, for the
kHotp that we cannot pay it, Ihave thought of il
For the wheat has failed on the corner lot where
wheat never failed before
Ahd everything here's gone backward since VIII
To pay the mortgage and save the farm, the
knSIg iI vas b aoF you e,, an me-
The debts thar our thorghtless wInIe in the
hours OF his weakness. made:
anu VIII would have paid II fairly, you know II
If the ship had not gone down that night when no
N, OF er ship was nigh.
But; somehow. | didn't quit hoping, and ever
(But know ITO VIII was .IIye on earth. he'd
thought TIA, the mercifdl Father would, some
how. care for the lad.
cause he was all We hid.
But now am well nigh hopeless, since hope foi
For selling H me farm cans giving him up and
oh Ihomas how can we leave it, the home wt
nave always known >
We won Il away from the forest. ana made ii
First day that we kept house together was the day
Anu no other place il. the wide wide world viii
ever be half 50 dear.
Oi course, You RENE IN Der IT. Thumas-I need no.
For this IS the month ana this is the day-it was
Ana don't NJ you rem ember It, Thomas the winter
debts were paid ~
The crops were good that summer. ana every
lhlng worked ike 4 charm
And We felt 50 rich and contented to think we had
ana to think we must leave it, when here was
It seems as if it was breaking my heart but the
= fount of my tears is dry
There's man up there in the village that's want
ing 10 buy. You say.
Wei, Thomss. he'll have to have it; bat why does
But there It is to grieve you, for You have enough
= IL an Q, our petty troubles you have always
10 q sorry helpmeet since have 50 childish
ere, there go TO the village, let me have it ont
Poor Thomas he's growing feeble, he STEPS 50
There IS not much in his looks to-day Ike twenty
Sat ! know that his heart is youthful. as it was
i. In We HfSt were wed,
Ah1 hls love is as strong ever for me- and for
WIS Wits. our boy hat is dead.
r I'LL my baOy Willie, never shall see him
never .tr,, SHAH hear his footsteps as he comes
'HrOugh the open door.
1 ,,e are Sou dear little mother a. were always
Il seems e5l5 as Il would give the world hear it
knew when my boy was coming be it ever -
He was 81 always a whistIng Home smeet Home, -
as ne opened the garden gate.
And many and many moment. since the light
Have started up at = whistle like his. out there
on the road from town;
aarig and late 1t - 9'iiO"' III INC s4eHoe'
Have hell my breath at a footstep, that seemed
hope that he cannot US. wherever his soul
1t would grieve him to know the trouble that's
come 70 father and me.
Bat there Is the tree he planted, the day he was
twelve years old;
The sunlight is glinting through it, and turning
and often when Il was lonely. and no one near at
hand,
have talked to 1t, hours-as if it could under
Ana somstimes I used TO fancy whenever spoke
of my boy.
1t waving its leaves together, like cIapping Its
Itmay be that the man who will own It, that's
coming 10 buy II to-day,
Will he chopplng it down. or digging it up, aud
burning it out of the way.
And there are the pausies yOnder. and the roses
why. every hush on the dear old place is as dear
Anu now we must 90 and leave thcm-Dut there F..
they have z me from town;
haven't had time to smooth my hair, or even 10
change my gown
ting rate.
And the Strangers whistIing Home, Sweet
Home, as he comes up from the gate.
II go out into the Kitchen, now, Tor don't want
too look on his face
What right has he to be whlstling thar unless be
why, can That be Thomas coming he usually
There's something { me into his footstep like
twenty six years ago.
the man that he used to he
Before our Willie went out from home to die on
What. Thomas, Why are you smiling, and hold
And why Oont you tell me quiCkly-must we so
what's fhat ..'Yon bring me tidings. and tidings
1t cannot be very joyous, unless it is news of my
oh, Tlomasl You cannot mean it? Here. let me
look In your face, -
Now. tell me again, u is Willie that's wanting TO
Bstd Day, IN Chicago Inter ocean.