Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-07-24
MOTHER AND SON.

He was cabinet-maker, who worked
all day in beautiful sheets of rosewood
and black walnut She was a book
folder. They had become acquainted on
that stormy autumn night when the
wind turned her umbrella inside out,
and she had to run half block after her
flying dinner basket.
1t was lucky that he was on hand to
ADJUST the umbrella and re.apture the
dinner-sssket from whooping gang of
street-arabs.
And then they met once or twice at
church, and at the Bibe-class of Sun
day afternoon, and old Mrs. Tyson, the
minister's wife, asked them both to tea.
She had been young herself, and she
understood the signs and symptoms.
So they were married, and hired a neat
littlefat, furnishing it as best they could.
"Isn't it nice?" said Emmy. "Oh,
Ralph, don't you wish we had some one
to visit us?"
eff it would be company for you, my
DEAR" said Ralph Crystal, smiling.
''But there's no one that l know of, I"
unused Emmy, "except some PARKWAY
cousins in Dakota. A ID I never knew
much about them. Oh, Ralph, haven't
you any relations?"
His face clouded over.
81 don't know whether I have or not, "
said he. ooh, Emmy, God help me,
I've left ny past behind ms"
He had sunk into chair, with his
head in his hands. She went softly be-
hind him and laid her cheeks against his
forehead.
''Tell me, Ralph" said she-"what is
it? Why have you never spoken to me
about it before?"
Because" he ansNe cred, II didn't
want to appear like savage. Although
l don't think I've claim to be called
anything else."
''What is it, Ralraw she repeated.
81 ran away from home When / was
sixteen, Emmy" he replied, modify.
"Father was strict and cross with me.
don't say he was right, but now as I
look back to it, know tina; 1 also was
wrong.
81 ran away from home, and I came
to the city to fight my way for myself.
And when had earned enough to make
a little home, came back to get my
mother out of the atm sphere that wasn't
natural to her any more than it was to
me.
II was a fool to suppose that time was
going to stand still for my convenience.
When l got back to Hickory Falls,
father was dead and the folks had moved
away-no one knew where. Oh, Emmy,
can't tell you how felt when l heard
it,"
''Eut Ralph" soothed the young wife,
y viii find her. No one could ever
he lost"
I've tried, Emmy-rve tried my
Re t. aad it is of no use, he sighed.
Emmy was silent foi second or two.
1--WE always wanted a mother" she
murmured, half to herself, 'and Ralph's
mother would beall the same as my own "
After that, she secretly devoted her
self to the tasl' of restoring to her hus-
band the dear old mother whom he had
loved and lost.
She studied Mrs. Crystals photograph,
whose stiffness Of detail and costume
could not obscure the sweetness of the
specialized eyes and the gentle wistfuI
lines Of the mouth
She visited al the Old Ladies' Homes
in the neghborhood; she asked questions
here, there and everywhere. Whenever
she heard of solitary old woman any.
where, she made pilgrimage to see her
and ascertain her history.
She even ventured-of course without
liaiph's knowledge-to insert a timid
title advertisement among the "Per-
sonals' Of the daily paper, but nothing
ever ca ne Of it.
"Rut shall find her yeti" she kept
repeating to herself--'I am sure tina.
SHALL"
ofcoursc, all this had its Disadvantage
Two or three old lalies in dyed silk
gowns, poke hats and cheap cotton gloves
arrived, bag and baggage, at the little
ia, and could hardly be made to com
prehend that one elderly parsonage