Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-10-09
No Room for Old Mother

"Why, there are only two ways to
60"
IT didn't know. was never on
the cars. Pm waiting for the train
to go to john"
"John? There is no town called
John. Where is it?'
ooh, Johns my son. He's out in
Kansas, on a claim"
81 am going right to Kansas my
self. You intend to visit?"
"No, ma'am."
She said it with sign SO heart
burdened the stranger was touched.
"John sick?"
"No."
The evasive tone, the look of pain
in the furrOwed 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. .... ..
"EXcuse me. John in trouble?"
"No, no; Pm in trouble. Trouble
my old heart never thought to see."
'The train does not come for some
time. Here, rest your head on my
cloak"
"You are very kind. If my own
were so shouldn't be in trouble to-
night"
"What is your trouble? Maybe 1
can help YOU"
cts hard to tell it to strangers, but
my old heart is too full to keep it
back. When 1 was left widow
with the three children, 1 thought it
was more than I could bear; but it
wasn't bad as this"
The stranger waited till she re-
covered her voice to 60 on.
81 had only the cottage and my
willing hands. I toiled 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 sold the
cottage, sent me to the city to live
with them, and he went West to
begin for himself. He said he had
provided for the girls, and they would
provide for me now"
Her voice choked with emotion,
The stranger waited in silence.
"I went to them in the city. ]
went to Mary's first. She lived in q
great house with servants to wait on
her-a house many times larger than
the little cottage; but 1 soon found
there wasn't room enough for me-
The tears stood in the lines on hel
cheeks. The ticket agent came Out
softly, stirred the fire, and went back
After pause she continued:
~ went to Martha's-went with {
pain in my heart / never felt before
1 was willing to do anything so a
not to be a burden. But that wasn'
it. / found they were ashamed o
my bent old body and withered fac,
ashamed of my rough, wrinkleC
hands, made so toiling for them
The tears came thick and fast now
The strangers hand rested caressingl.
on the gray head.
cat last they told me 1 must liv
at clearinghouse, and they'd keel
me there. l couldn't say anything
back; my heart was too full of pain
1 wrote to John what they were &c
ing to do. He wrote right back,
long, kind letter, for me to com
right to him. l always had a HON
while he had a roof, he said. T
come right there and stay q
long as l lived; that his mothe
should never go out to strangers. S
Pm going to John. He's got onl
his rough hands and his great, war;
heart, but there's room for his oil
mother, God bless him"
The stranger brushed tear fror
her fair cheek, and waited the COZ
clusion.
"Some day when am gone whel
I'll never trouble them again, Mar
and Martha will think Oft all. Som
day when the hands that toiled If
them are folded and still; when tt
eyes that watched over them throug
many weary night are closed 70
ever; when the little, old body, bel
with the burdens it bore for them,
put away where it can never shan
them"
The agent drew his hand quick
before his eyes and went out as if
look for the train. The stranger
jeweled fingers stroked the gray lock
while the tears of sorrow and Il
Aoo,.. II