The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-10-29
NO ROOM FOR MOTHER.
Driven From the Homes OF Her Wealthy
eughJers in Old Age.

t3tttstiIGis IN OiA @A6os
O. Going North, madam"
90 30 ina am
Going South, then2"
/ don't know, ma'am."
d" Why, there are only two ways to
..I didn't know. I was never on the
cars. I'm waiting for the train TO go to
John
John? There is no town called John.
Who're is it,
" Oh! Johns my son. Hes out in
- am going right to Kansas, myself.
You intend 10 visit?'
d" No, ma am
She said it with sigh so heart-bur-
dened, the stranger was touched.
John Sicky'
" no.
The evasive tone, the looL of pain in
he furrowed face was noticed by the
stylish lady as the gray hea4 bowed upon
the tOil-maTked hand. She wanted to
hear her story to help her.
'' Excuse me-Johu ia troublo?'
" No, Ho-Im in trouble. Trouble
my old heart never thought to see"
90 The train does not come for some
time. Here, rest your head upon my
cloak"
g You are kind. If my own were so
Ishouldn't be in trouble tonight"
. What is your trouble? Maybe I can
help you"
It's hard to tell it to strangers,
but my old heart is too full to keep it
Jacs.
When was left a widow with the
three children, I thought it was more
han 1 could bear! but it wasn't as bad
as this"
The stranger waited till she recovered
her voice to go on.
'' had only the cottage and my will
ing hands. l tuiled early and late all
the years till John could help me. Then
we kept the girls at school, John and
me. They were married not long ago
married rich, as the world goes. John
so the cottage sent me to the city to
live with them, and he went West to
begin for himself He said we had pro-
vided for the girls and they would pro-
vide Tor me now.
Her voice choked W tn emotion. The
stranger wa ted in silence.
90 l went to them in the city. I went
to Marys first. She lived in a great
house, with servants to wait on her-a
house many times larger than the little
/ cottage; bu, I soon found there wasn't
room enough for me.
The tears stood in the lines on her
checks. The ticket agent came Out soft
ly, stirred the fire and went back. After
u pause she continued.
Il went to Aiartha's-wentw with pain
in my heart 1 never felt before. l was
willing TO do anything so as not to be a
b rden But that wasn't it. / found
that thpv were ashamed of my bent old
body and my w.tH.Tld lace; a-hamei OF
my rough, wTiukled hands, made so
tCiiIuE Tor them
Thu tears came thick and fast now
The st au-er'= hand rested caressiugly
on the gray head.
Sc A. last they told me that I mus
sI| d. #s.| q
me there. I couldn't say anything bacR
my heart was too full OF pain. I wrote
To Johu what they were going to do. H.
wrote ri hJ back, a long kind letter, fCl
me to come r.-ht to him.
90 I always aaj home while he had q
roof, La sat.-Jo come right there anC
stay as long as I lived tHuu ms mother
SHOULD never 20 out TO strangers. -
IN going TO John. He's 90. only his
Toa hands and his great warm heart
but there's room for his old mother
God bless-him-"
Tho stranger brushed a tear from
her fair cheek and awaited the
conclusion.
Some day, hen I am gone where
III never troub es them again, Mary
and Martha viii think of it all. Som,
day, wuel the hands that toilet fOl
them are folded and -tilI. when the ewes
that wat he'd over them through many d
weary night are tiO=s- lDECE GE- MUsT
the little old body ett with the uur
dens il bore foy them, is put away where
1t can never name them
Tho gent drew his hand quickly be
fore his eyes, and went out, aS if to l0Uh
for the train. The strangers ieWeue-
myers slrOked the gray locks, while Tie
tears OF sorrow and the tears of sympa
thy fell together.
The weary heart was unburdened
Soothed by touch of sympathy the
troubled soul yielded to the longins fol
rest, and she fell asleep.
The agent went noiselessly about his
duties that he might not wake her. As
the fair stranger watched she saw
smile on the careworn face The lips
moved. She bent down to hear.
I'm doing it for Mary and Martha
They'll take care OF me some time"
she was dreaming of the days in the
little cottage-Of the fond hopes wuict
inspired her, long before she learned
with broken heart, that some day sh,
would turn. homeless in the world, tC
so TO JOHN Chicago Courant.