Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-25
THE OLD HOMES STORY.

Yes, am old. and gray, and tutt,r!ng,
and my days | feel Hre very few now
Every storm that come, this way. as il
whistles through my paneless windows
and out Of my broken roof cries: Come
what are You standing for, it's time you
werr gone long ago" And wonder, too
what am | standing for All my OLD
friends have fallen, and |, alone am left
Yes, they are fine residences about me
| have handsome nrighburs hand
some for such as |, | feel out of place
among them To be sure they are all
very Kind, hut the old have few feelings
in common with the younger generation.
and live mostly in reColleCtiOnS. / am
over ~ years of age, SO If Lily boards
crack and you hear strange noises, re
member am old and easily shaken, and
have had the palsy for many a day.
Across the street. where that mansion
now rest. once stood my oldest friend, the
house in which the man who built me WAS
born How proud he was when | was fin
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 a few days
/ The day they were married the whole
village turned out To see them. He
/ was a handsome, sturdy fellow. and she
/ the sweetest girl i'll the town. They
were very happy together here, and, as
! time THSSed ON there came two little boys
/ to brighten the home. William, the
( oder, was the image Of his father in looks
out Of a milder disposition. while John,
the younger boz, 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" Ii was not so bad
when he was a little fellow. for people
laughed and called him mischievOus but
us he grew older It increased, and com
plants came pouring in about him to hi
father. You know the old saying. Give
dog a bad name and it will hang him.
Well, So il proved here for ANYTHING that
was done, anywhere for miles around,
they said Wild Jack must have done it."
know he was not guilty of one half the
charges laid against him His mother
trusted him, and TO her he would always
tell the truth, but his father had no conf
dcnce in his word and would never hear
him in his own defense Very often !
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
bed i'll it made up 50 very high that they
had To use steps To get into it, 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 Goose Chase, made out
Of red and white cotton. He was so much
taken with it 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 very scarce article on "a
farm and between them got togethe-
enough material for a quilt Jack seemed
TO be much more COntented, and it would
really do you good 10 watch them in the
long winter evening. he cutting out the
pieces and she fitting them deity to
gether. the quilt was nearly completed,
1t required but one more row to finish it, |
when one fine spring day Jack came in
flushed and excited: Mother, l can't
stand it any longer; I'm going away"
She led him to chair What is it, !
Jack: what has happened now"
deacon Brown found two of his hens .
ci.Oked in a snare, and told father he !
didn't know of anyone but me who would /,
30 it. didn't do il, mother, and said /
iidn't. but they wouldn't believe me, and /
father said he would pay for the hens, fUl ,
he had no doubt but did do it. don't .
rant to be treated that way, so I'm going |
away. l told father | was going, and he
said he wouldn't miss me much, for .
wasn't much good on a farm. Will 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 it will be better for all of Us
if leave the farm"
Well, Jack" said his mother, perhaps
you are right, and | will not try TO stop
you"
Il told father would never come back"
said Jack
But you don't mean it, Jack, you will
come back" said his mother.
81 did mean it then, but don't now, for
l will come back to see you, mother"
Jack answered.
In few days he started away, and her
last words We're: Remember, Jack, Twill
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: "Tve
a good mind to go back, just for mothers
sake, but father would say l couldn't get
along without him, so, here goes" and
waving his cap he shouted, "Good-b bye,
and turned the corner.
After that she went about her duties
the same as ever; nothing was neglected
but noticed that she passed the window
hot f.NnL 4 h.. ,,I ,gs h,,,-
usual and Gazed lOngingly up the road
The unfinished quilt, and everything be
lOn4iag to him, even to the old hat with
the piece out of the crown, was packed
away. Every afternoon, winter
and summer, she sat with her sewing at
that one window, and the lamp was never
lighted in that room until it was SO dark
she could not distinguish any object on
the road. Now and then they heard from
him, but never a word of coming back
and in the village it was rumored that in
he city Wild Jack was wilder than ever
They thought she did not know it, but
know better, for when she was alone
have heard her say: Jack, | won't be-
ieve il; 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 that she lost
all hope and faded quickly. Each day
she grew weaker and soon could not leave
ler bed They moved ii TO the window, ,
so she could still keep her faithful watch, ,
md, one day, they found her with her
lace still toward the road, waiting in
and where she would not heed the time :
Ii passing.
As she lay in her coffin, looking calm
aud peaceful, bearded man came hastily
Up the road and into the room where
the lay. and dropping his head on the