, 1886-08-11
THE OLD HOMES STORY.

Wnat are you BtanulnR IOr' lCb tlme YOU
were gone long ago." And 1 wonder, too,
what am l standing for. All m old
friends have fallen, and j, alone. am left.
Yes. they are fine residences about me;
I have handsome neighbors-too hand
some for such as 1; / feel out of place
among them. To be sure, they are all
very kind, but the old have few feelings
in common with the younger generation,
and live mostly In recollections. l am
over 90 years of age, so II Lily boards
crack n you hear strange noises, re-
member l am old and easily shaken, and
have had the palsy for many a day.
Across the street, where that mansion
now rests, once stood my Oldest friend, the
house In which the man who built me was
born. How proud he was when l was I'm
ished. He would walk around me, look
ing into every nook and corner, to be sure
everything was in readiness for the fair
girl-wife he was to bring in n few days
The day they were married the whole
village turned out to see them He
wa a handsome, sturdy fellow, and she
the sweetest girl in the town. They
were very happy together here, and, as
time passed on there came two little boys
to brighten the home. William, the
older, was the image OF his father in looks,
but OF a milder disposition. while John,
the younger boy. had his mothers sweet,
face, but, In distinct contrast to his
brother, was overlooking with love of
fun and adventures. and early earned the
name OF "Wild jack 1t was not so bad
when he was n little fellow, for people
laughed and called him mischievous, but
as he grew older 1t increased, and COM
plants came pouring in about him to his
father. You know the old saying. "Give
a dog a bad name and it will hang himi"
Well, 30 1t proved here. for anything that
was done, anywhere for miles around,
they said "Wild Jack must nave done it. >
l know he was not guilty Of one hall the
charges laid against him His mother
trusted him, and to her he would always
tell the truth, but his father hat no conf
dence in his word and would never hear
him in his own defense. Very often I
have heard Jack say he would leave the
farm, but his mother always persuaded
him to stay.
She was continually trying to make him
contented with his home. In those days
the best room in every farm house had a
bed in 1t made up so very high that they
had to use steps to get into 1t, and on this
bed was always the handsomest quilt the
women folks could make One day Jack
came home from a neighbours with glow
ing description of a new quilt he had seen
called the "Wild loose Chase" made out
of red and white cotton. He was s0 much
taken with 1t that his mother promised to
make him one, and she exchanged eggs
and butter, and Jack saved all his pocket
money (Which wasn't much, for then, as
now, money was a very scarce article on a
FARM and between them got together
enough material for a quilt. Jack seemed
to be mucn more contented, and it would
really do you good TO watch them in the
long winter evening, he cutting out the
pieces and she ftting them deity to-
gether. the quilt was nearly competed,
1t required but one more row to finish 1t,
when one fine spring day Jack came In
flushed and excited: Mother, l can't
stand 1t any longer; I'm going away"
She led him to n chair. What is 1t,
Jack; what has happened nowf"
Deacon Brown found two OF his hens
choked in a snare, and told father he
didn't know Of anyone but me who would
do 1t. didn't do IL, mother, and l said /
didn't. but they wouldn't believe Inc, and
father said he would pay for the hens, for
he had no doubt but | did do 1t. don't
want to be treated that a so I'm going
away told father l was going, and he
said he wouldn't miss me much, for l
wasn't much good on a farm. VIII tried
to stand up for me, but father wouldn't
let him speak. I'm all the time getting
you and VIII INTO trouble when you take
my part, and 1t will be better for all of us
II / leave the farm"
"Well, jack said his mother, perhaps
you are right, and l will not try to stop
YOU
II told father l would never come back"
said Jack.
But you dom mean 1t, Jack, you will
come back" said his mother.
II did mean it then, but / don't now, for
/ will come back to see you, mother"
Jack answered.
In a few days he started away and her
last words were: "Remember, Jack, will
wait for you to come back"
At the turn of the road he stopped and
looked back to where she stood, and the
wind told me he wavered and said: ave
a good mind to go back, just for mothers
sake, but father would say / couldn't get
along without him, so. here goesl" and
waving his cap he shouted, Goodbye,
mother" and turned the corner.
After that she went about her duties
the same AZ ever; nothing was neglected,
but l noticed that she passed the window
that looked out on the road oftener than
usual and gaz.d longingly up the road.
The unfinished quilt, and everything be-
longing TO him, even to the old hat with
the piece out of the crown, was packed
carefully away. Every afternoon, winter
n summer she sat with her sewing at
that one window, and the lamp was never
lighted In that room until II was so dark
she could not distinguish any object on
the road. o and then they heard from
him, but never a word OF coming back,
and In the village it was rumored that in
the city Wild Jack was wilder than ever.
They thought she did not know il, but l
know better, for when she was alone |
have heard her say; Jack, l won't be-
lieve it; | know you better; you will tell
me all when you come back"
Years came and went and found her
still at the window. william married and
settled In another town, and the father
spoke OF selling the farm and moving to
where William lived. After hat she lost
all hope aud faded quickly. Each day
she grew weaker and soon could not leave
her bed. They moved It to the window,
so she could still keep her faithful watch,
and, one day, they found her with her
face still toward the road, waiting in a
land where she would not heed the time
in passing.
As she lay in her coffin. looking calm
and peaceful. n bearded man came hastily
up the road and into the room where
she lay, and dropping his head on the
coffin sobbed; Mother, motherl Oh,
mother"
Yes, Jack had come back, and / could
not help thinking. rs he smoothed the
snowy white hair from the old worn face,
II he had only come sooner, how much
that touch would have com forted her.
After the funeral he went away. taking
with h,m MY The unfinished quilt, for he