Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-09-25
NO ROOM FOR MOTHER.
The Pathetic Story of An Old Heart That
Had to Unburden Itself.
Going north. malampn

Ihe fatheiic story OF An Old Heart Tha
Had to Unburden Itself
Going north, madam"
mo. ma am,
Going south, thcn?"
"l don't know, ma am"
"Why, there are only two ways tc
go"
81 didn't know was never ON the
ears. I'm waiting for the train to g
to John"
John? There is no town called
John. Where is it?"
"Ohl Johns my son. Hes out in
Kansas on q claim.
81 am going right to Kansas myself.
You intend to vsit?'
''No, ma'am,"
She said it with a sigh so heartburn
dened the stranger was touched
John sick?'
"No."
The cyasive tone. the look of pain
in the furrowcd face were noticed by
the stylish lady as the gray head bowed
upon the toil-marked hand She
wanted to hear her story; to help her
'ENcuse me John in troublepn
mo, no-lm in trouble. Trouble
my old heart never thought to see. -
''Thc train does not come for some
time. Here, rest your head upon my
cloak.
You are kind. If my own were so
| shouldn't be in trouble tonight. y
Nv hat is your trouble? May be |
can help you,
Its hard to tell it to strangers, but
my old heart is too full to keep it back.
When | was left widow with the
three children thought ii was more
than ! could bear; but it wasn't bad RS
this
The stranger waited till she recov-
cred her voice to 20 on.
Il had only the cottage and my will
ing hands. toiled early and late all
the years till John could help me.
Then we kept the girls at school, John
and me. They We're 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 10. me now
Her voice chokcd with emotion. The
stranger waited in silence
81 went to them in the city. went
to Mary's first. She lived in great
house, with servants to wait on her; II
house many times larger than the little
soon found there wasn't
room enough for me "
The tears stood in the lines on her
checks. The ticket agent came out
softly, stirred the fire and went back. !
After a pause she continues
IL went TO Martha's went with n
pain in my heart never felt before. | |
was willing to do any thing so as not |
to be burden But that WASH it. | |
found they were ashamed of my bent
old body and withered face ashamed
Of my rough, wrinkled hands made 50
-oiling for them"
The tears came thick and fast now.
The strangers hand rested caressngly
III the gray head
AT last they told me | must live at
! boarding house and they'd keep me
here. | couldn't say any thing back.
Wy heart was too full ofpain wrote
o John what they were going to do.
lie wrote back, long, kind letter for
ne to come right to him. always had
home while he had roof he said.
TO come right there and stay as long
IS | lived. That his mother should
leVer 90 out to strangers. So I'm go
ng to John. He's got only his rough
lands and his great warm heart-but
here 5 room for his old mother-God
'less-him-
The stranger brushed tear from her
air cheek and awaited the conclusion.
'Some day when | am gone where
II never trouble them again Mary and
lartha will think of it ALL Some day
'hcn the hands that toiled for them
re folded and still; when the eyes
hat watched over them through many
weary night are closed forever; when
he little old body, bent with the bur- 5
ems it bore for them, is put away
here it never can shame them |
The agent drew his hand quickly |
efore his eyes, and went out, as if TO I
'ok for the train. The Strangers !
,wcled fingers stroked the gray locks,
lille The tears of sorrow and the tears I
sympathy fell together, The weary b
cart was unburdencd Soothed by a q
'uch of sympathy the troubled soul
Ielded to the longings of rest, and she t
IL fast asleep. htiadelphia Times. c