Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-05

due Inside of week and not cont to
meet it with-iust $500. She supposed
they would be turned out of house
and home, but in my miud I supposed
they wouldn't. At last 8 O'Clock came,
and father SAID: Jim, go out to the barn
and see if Kit is all right. Bring in an
armful of old shingles that are just inside
the door and fill up the water pail. Then
we'll go off to bed and get up early and
go a-fishing.
IT didn't say word, but went out to
the barn, bedded down the horse, broke
up an armful of shingles, pumped pail
of water, filled the woodbox, aud then we
all went to bed.
"Father called me at 4 80 in the morn
ing, and while he was getting a cup of
coffee I skipped over TO the depot cross
lots and got my best bass rod. Father
took nothing but trolling line and spoon
hook. He roWed the boat with his troll
ing line in his mouth, while / stood in the
stern with silver sinner rugged on. Now,
John, never saw man catch fish like
he did. To make long story short, he
caught four bass and five pickeral and I
never got q bite.
sat noon we went ashore and father
weEt home, while l went to the postoffice.
got letter from Chicago with check
for 81, 900 in it. With some trouble l got
it cashed, getting paid in S. and so bills,
making quite q roll. | the got roast
Joint of beef and a lot of deIicacies and
had them sent home. After that I went
visiting among my old schoolmates for
two hours and went home. The joint was
in the oven. Mother had put on her only
silk dress, and father had donned his
Sunday go to meeting clothes, none too
good, either, This is where [ played a
joke on the old folks. Mother was in the
kitchen watching the roast. Father was
out to the barn and had clear coast.
[ dumped the sugar out of the old blue
bowl, put the thousand dollars in it and
placed the cover on again. At last sup
per was ready. Father asked a blessing
over it, and he actually trembled when he
stuck his knike in the rost.
"'We haven't had piece OF meat like
this in five years, Jim,' he said; and
mother put in with. And We haven't had
any coffee in year, only when we went
a-visitin'.
"Then she poured out the coffee and
lifted the cover of the sugar bowl, asking
as she did SO: How many spoons, jim
my?
"Then she struck something that wasn't
sugar. She picked up the bowl and peer
en- into it. AHA, Master Jimmy, playin'
your old tricks on your mamma, Ell?
Well, boys will be boys
"Then she gasped for breath. She saw
it was money. She looked at me, then at
father, and with trembling fingers drew
the great roll of bills out.
cha! ha! ha! l can see father now as
he stood there then on tiptoe, with his
knife in Que hand, fork in the other and
his eyes fairly bulg1ng out of his head.
But it was too much for mother. She
raised her eyes to heaven and said slowly:
Put your trust in the Lord, for he will
PROVIDE
"Then she tainted away. Well, John,
there's not much more to tell. We threw
water in her face and brought her to, and
we demolished that dinner, mother ell the
time saying, My boy Jimmy! My boy
Ji-my!
81 stayed home month. l fixed up
the place, paid off all debts, had a good
time and came back again to New York.
| am going to send $50 home every week.
L tell you John, it's mighty nice to have a
home."
John was looking steadily at the head of
his cane. When he spoke he took Jim by
the hand and said: "Jim, old friend what
you have told me has affected me greatly.
haven't heard from my home way up
in Maine for ten years. I'm going home
to-morroW."-New York Sun.