Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-11-25


ssITs was mn Of LIE. and sass
and. instead Of guiding him -.
trees which could not call. IS
biz ,, as il weres 50 eighty rE.<
brake tho letters and disan,,@'
We wanted him TO be old and 80
and his young spirit could NOT IS
dued. | see It all now. Thers l.
no companions for kim, GO
times, as Lucy says, and go:
about the old farm worth ~
for"
No answer but smothersi -
There. Jerry, amt bIamIrs
more than loo myself. Weweres
and the boy was wrone. too Il
only knew where TO find him e. s.
make IL all right be.ore we de
rant he has Ionged to return
pride and fear have kept him {.
He can't know how We long for
| for he never knew how much We 1,
him; we never told hiinp'
ooh, Esther"
well, father, won't say any 4,
All these thoughts have Been crs
ed down in my heart so long m
had to speak, and ] think It'll F.
good, after al"
She drew nearer and laid her
on bis shoulder. while tears 81
down her wrinkied cheeks, and
/ they sat far into the night.
The next day among the lanili-,
the neighborlng farn-houses. 81
was but one topic OF conyersats3
The invitation 20 spend ThanksQig|
with Jeremiah Winters
| The eventual day came it last ( II
18th a dozen boys and girls, madeZ
raiters ring gish their dad sb5a2
Down stairs the best room sias f]6
with the hum OF elderly voices re,o,.S
| ing "old times" while in the sIstl'1
room the young people wera eas
apples and counting the seeds. n
much Jest and laughter, sly qie.,
| and bushes.
In the kitchen g long tabs waslai
ed with good things. while Aunt Ed
with plenty Of help, was coraplss5
the preparations for dinner.
Uncle Jerry ezeitedly vent &
rotjm 10 room, trying to appear F
/ this sort OF thing was OF common
earrence in his house. For the 4
time 10 her life, his wife had ilsserl
| her right to entertain her friends. Fl
now he felt glad that she had -
yered. He was surprised 70 find n
pleasant neighbours he chad.
II was night, and the merry NAL
was at its height. The walls eehs
laughter and song. and from ey,
window lights cleaned far out q
the darkness.
From the village depot, five nj
away, a traveler Was walking ~
| the lonely read rs il eager to Ioin f.
| Joyous party; but when at length/
came in sight of the many lights.
stopped in amazement Nearer
nearer he came, till through the
shaded windows lie saw the sriea1
scene within. With glad smile
i his face he turned away, and, stad
ing in the deep shadow of q pine,
watched long and patiently.
i At last, after host OF thanks Il
| pleasant afarewefls." all was Il
and only three sat IN the deserj
rooms.
| A hush fell over them, and I'll
looked thoughtfuily into the licked
fire. Lucy, climbing on her uncs
knee, thanked him so prettily for {
days pleasure that lie bent and kiz
her. Then, holding out his hand 4
| mis- wife, he said:
This little lady has thanked q
but we both ought to thank you.
has been "A pleasant day TO me-
This was . great deal for this n
to say, and they were silent again, q
each one happy through making b
ers glad.
Then the door opened and a sfrS
ger entered. He was tall and heaq<
bearded; but a mothers esswill kn|
her own, and, with cry which :
pressed the yearnlng OF years, 4
BOY" SHE was folded in his strong 2
brace, while about them both n
ciasped the fathers trembling arm4
No one knew how long they SAT- 1
gether-the long separated fanlI
once more united. Lucy, with u
open eyes, enjoyed to the utnt6
the browning excitement, ND
pleased with the tall cousin OF wiid
she had never heard.
ooh, John, why did you stay aal
so long," yenturei the mother.
II came back once, five years q
and saw you and father through q
! window. BIT, knowing | deserved
welcome, | feared TO enter. To-n4
should have entered at al eyed
but when / saw you with your fried
about you, and. later. sitting here wl
clasped hands, felt sure ola welco1
sure that you had forgiven the ps
and felt only pity for your waywal
son. Now | mean to cancel the SUI
ing OF tie past by making the fatu
happy"
NOW, Uncle Jerry, | told You
Thanksgiving can amount TO q ere
deal somstinesrP ard the merry lanl
which followed was not less hearty
cause it broke through tears OF Joy.
a: