Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-02-08
X - 2 ~ n.
Too. Late.

mere thought OF It should be caution
enough against breaking the laws Of du-
|sty and right cond net. But thousands
restraints rush into wrong doing without
thinking 81 the seIf-rep roaoh and punish
ment that are sure to come. The follow
ing contains q lesson to hot-headed
youth who are in danger of breaking
their mothers hearts BY disohe dience or
hasty, unfilial words: @s5s. RI +. 81. n 4
They were sitting in the Waiting-room
Of . depot together The dapper little
man who looked as though he might be
q commercial traveller, anG the great
rough fellow whose cowhide boots
shaggy garments and broad, brown Mex
lean hat told that he was fresh from
some semi-civilized region otthe west.
The Westerner sat looking out of the
window upon the. dreary confusion OF
tracks, switches, frogs and snorting
freight engines. Just at that moment
he seemed like man without friend
in the world, and out of pure sympathy
the commercial traveller attempted to
strike up conversation.
"Got long to waltz" he asked, in q
friendly tone. t'"@.*T}l ...t's'.. '=.:
. 81. an hour" was the short
"GOlng 1ar! ~, - r. -, =,
"Nigh onto hundred miles back in
the kentry." -. 80
eyes. where?" - ...t VIZ .'
stranger, Pm going home. Home"
go! Been away long?" " y t :.
Bout ten years" ,~.. %%,,.@
TEN years, md now you are going
home! Well, that's pleasant. 1 know
Pm only away about month at time,
yet when I come back, Z M as happy as
a costing in q sun-shower. Fact; you
wouldn't think Pm sentimental, yet
/ when I'm on my way home, the cars
never seem to go fast enough, and l.
can't think Of ANYTHING but home, home,
all the time Pm there. My! but I'd
like to be in your shoes for short time,
Just to feel how happy you must bel
Folks all well,'I suppose?"
stranger, Pm goicg back to my
mothers funeral. It's ten year, ten
long, long year, since saw her last, and
then went away saving never wanted
to see her again. I, did that to my
mother. But 1 was not much more than
Il boy then, and / didn't know what
was doing. 1t WAS my mother, but Pm
not to be blamed too harsh]y.
And after went away never sent
a letter Aome-not one, but / always
meant to-. She used to write me such
heart breaking letters that l, great rough
miner IS was, couldn't keep the tears
back. You see, didn't write because
/ was always a-a-thinking that would
strike rich, and thenI would 20 home
and just show the old folks what money
and ease was; but-but-but, stranger, I
put it off too long. I was going home
next week. 1 was going to surprise 'em,
and had enough rnorey to make their
old age comgortable: but. stranger, she
went home before I did"
And b twiped his horny, sunbrowned
band across his eyes. There was silence
for q lew minutes, then he continued
Don't think worse Of me for that,
stranger; may be q man grown, but
somehow / can't keep tears out Of my
eyes. They will come. You see, was
the youngest. was the baby, her boy
she used to call me and when grew up
! wanted to see the world, to see life.
But she wanted me to stay at home, and
was hot. headed and-and went away.
But / always dreamed of coming back,
and here, when was ready, it was too
late, too late. All, stranger! can't help
/ It," and the returning miner bowed bis
head on his hands and was silent.
But the other said nothing. There
Was lump in his throat that prevented,
and he looked toward the window I'M
der pretence Of wiping his foreh ad with
bis handkerchief: but it WAS only to con-
ceal the moisture that came unbidden in
his eyes.-Texas Siftings.