The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-08-16

hankering to know more of You. You look
like little brother o. mine that died when
he was little chap like you. Don't mind
me. I've done it myself. You're crying"
1t isn't like a man, know" said Tom,
who had never been alone in the world be-
fore. g TIM ashamed of il. But, you see, /
ran away from mother. She's been good to
me-too good; but she wanted nue. to &C
into the rag shop--dry goods, they call it.
and didn't like the idea, and something
happened that made me angry, and here
am. I'm thinking of poor mother. I--pm
sorry now. I-but it's no uses
"You can write to her, penitont-like, !"
said the man
"But won't be there, you see. SfAA
miss me at meals and at night. / think rv
been wrong. Anyhow, it's rough on poo
mother, SO good as she's been to me-"
"We're apt to be rough to the womer
that love us" said the man, speaking softly
in the dark What's your name, lad p,
"Tom Hudson said the boy.
The sailor gave start.
''You didn't speak of your father" said
he. Is your mother a widow :n
Despite Lsnse.f, the boy began to waer
again.
:" Hang it That's the worst of ii, he
said. I" My father-and precious scoun.
drel he must have been-ran of and left my
mother before was born. She's the smart
est woman that ever lived. She's kept us
both and made money. lady, mother is,
and good woman. take after my con-
founded father, 1 expect--to leave her,
after all, like that
your fathers name was Jack, guess, !"
said the sailor He lived at place called
Wharf Town.
g Yes. Did you know him 2" asked Tom.
+" Knew him well" said the man. "A
darned fool he was to leave your mother.
And she hasn't married ?"
She says she never would, because she
might not be a widow" said Tom. Law
gives her the right, but she wouldn't take it.
She's bad oifers--good ones-but I'm proud
to say she's very strict about duty Besides,
she's fond CT that rascal of father of mine
to this day. A pair of us--we deserve to be
hanged"
You do replied the old sailor g But
look here, lad, don't tell me there warn't
any particular reason for yanr going off
as you did. Didn't something happen OF
particular nature? Warn't nothing said or
done more than usual ?"
"Well, mother boxed my ears, said Tom.
81 thought So" said the sailor. Look
here, she boxed your fathers before he cut
his stick. There's that excuse for him.
However-wouldnt You iike to go home to
your mother again. and at least leave home
square and fair and decent?"
"Ah, it's too late now" said Tom. "Too
late"
No, lad, said the man, taking his hand
in his No, lad, not too late. You're
under age, and your father can break your
agreement with any captain. I'm your fa-
Their, Tom. I'm Jack Hudson didn't
know you were on the face of the earth,
Tom and I'd have gone back to Sally long
ago only what had done set her free, and
was afraid she'd take the advantage the
law gives her and marry, and I'd only upset
everything
And I'm going too If she wants me to stay,
I'll stay; if not, I'll be off again l don't
deserve forgiveness"
No, neither Of us do" said Tom.
"Neither of u.s."
Susan stood behind the counter Of the
store Since her sons departure Mrs. Hpd-
son had not showed her face. She was
heart-broken; she sat with her head on her
hands, and refused to see every one. Susan
told all the story to the customers, who sym
pathized and were indignant. Such moth.
er-such woman to be so used
"He's an ungrateful wretch !" said one
matron, as she walked away with the piece
of tape which had been her excuse for COM
ing in "Tom Hudson is an ungrateful
wretch r.
$50 he is, Mrs. MoreIy,- oaid a voice.
And she turned and saw Tom standing in
the door-Tom and sailor of some fve-
and-forty years, burly and broad-shouldersd,
but q handsome fellow, too.
"I meant It, Tom" she said, looked al
the sailor, turned pale, and ran away SILVER.
ing
"Was it a ghost, she said to herself, "oi
am crazy?"
Meanwhile a shrek from Susan had
brought Mrs. Hudson into the store. She
stood all pale with grief and illness, and
with her usual neat dress disordered, and
looked at her son. Then she opened hei
arms. Tom thought it was to take him il
them and rushed toward her, but she passed
him and threw them around his fathers
neck.
"Jack Jack !" she cried. T" / knew you'd
some back at last. I knew you'd never
leave your Sally for good and all-never,
never, never!"
Tom goes TO sea now. He is second mate
already, and he loves the life as most sailors
| do. 1t is Jack who stays home and is part
ner in the business.
"He's great deal more trouble than he
Is good, bless him !" says bis wife Sally
but he doesn't know 1t, and I sha'n't tell
him."
Tom comes home very often, but he is not
his mothers first object in life any more.
Jack is hat.-Mary Kyle Dallas.
QuIETIN0 THE INSANE.
4