The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-11-20
No Room for Old Mother.

OOlnS norm, nldudH
'No, ma'am."
"Going south, then?
81 don't know, ma'am."
"Why, there are only two ways to
CO."
II don't know. / was never on
the cars, Pun waiting for the train
to go to john"
"John? There is no town called
John. Where is it?"
''Oh! Johns my son. He's out
in Kansas on claim"
"I'm going right to Kansas my
self. You intend to visit?"
mo, ms'am."
She said it with sigh so heart
burdened the stranger was touched.
"John sick ?"
mo"
The eYasive tone, the look of pain
in the furrowed face, were noticed
by the stylish lady as the gray head
bowed upon the toimarked hand.
She wanted to hear her story to help
her.
Excuse me-John in trouble 2"
"NO, no-Tn in trouble. Trouble
my old heart never thought to see."
1.-The train does not come for some
time. Here, rest your head upon my
cloak"
"You are kind. IF my own were
so l shouldn't be in trouble to-
night"
"What is your trouble? Maybe l
can help you"
"It's hard to tell 1t to strangers,
but my old heart is too full to keep 1t
back. When was left widow with
three children. thought it was more
than could bear; but it wasn't bad
as this"
The stranger waited till she recov-
cred her voice to go on.
81 had only the cottage and my
willing hands. toiled early and late
all the years till John could help me.
They were married not long ago.
Married rich as the world goes. John
sold the cottage, sent me to the city
to live with them and he went West
to begin for himself. He said we had
provided for the girls and they would
provide for me now"
Her voice was chOked with emo
ton, The stranger waited in sill
ence.
II went to them in the city. !
went to Mary's first. She lived in
a great house with servants to wait
on her; a house many times larger
than the little co!tage-but | soon
found there wasn't room enough for
me-"
The tears stock in the lines on her
cheeks. The ticket agent came out
softly, stirred the fire, and then went
back, After pause she continued /:
~ went to Martha's--went with a
pain in my heart | never felt before.
1 was willing to do anything 50 ts
not to be borden. But that wasa't
it. l found they were ashamed Of
my bent old body and my withered
face-ashamed of my rough wrln-
killed. hands-made so toiling for
them"
The tears came thick and fast now,
The strangers hand rested carelessly
on the gray head.
cat last they told me I must live
at boarding house. and they'd keep
me there. l couldn't say anything
back. My heart was too full of pain.
/ wrote to John what they were 60
ing to do. He wrote right back. a
hong, kind letter for me to come right
to him. / always had home while
he had roof, he said. To come right
there and stay as long as / lived.
That his mother should never go out
to strangers. So Pm going to John.
He's got only his rough hands and
his great warm heart-and there's
room for his old motherhood bless
him"
The stranger brushed tear from
her cheek and awaited her conclu-
sion.
"Some day when am gone where
I'll never trouble them again, Mary
and Martha will think of it all.
Some day when the hands that toll
ed for them are folded ard still !;
when the eyes that watched over
them through many weary night
are closed forever; when the little
old body bent with the burdens it
bore for them, is put away where it
can never shame them
The agent drew his hand quickly
before his eyes, and went out, rs if
to look for tine train. The strangers
jeweIed fingers stroked the gray locks,
while the tears of sorrow and the
taarS IF cu.nnafhy fall touothaY Tho