St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-02
THE OLD ROOFTREE.

evening to portly, finely dressed man
in the corridor of the st. James. The
gentleman stopped, shook hands with
his friend, and replied, "I've been home
to see my old father and mother, the
first time in sixteen years, and tell you,
old man, wouldn't have missed that
visit for all my fortune"
Kinder good to visit your boyhood
home, eh?"
"You bet. Sit down. l was just
about the old folks, and feel
talkative. If you have few moments
to spare, sit down, light cigar and
listen to story of a rich man who had
almost forgotten his father and
mother"
They sat down, and the man told his
story.
"How l came to visit my home hap
pened in curious way. Six weeks ago
l went down to Fire island fishing. l
had a lunch put up at Cook d Nash's,
and you can imagine my establishment
when opened the hamper to find
package of crackers wrapped up in
piece of newspaper. That newspaper
was the little patent inside country
weekly published at my home in Wis
consin. read every word of it, adver-
tisements and all. There was George
Kellogg, who was SchOOlmate of mine,
advertising hams and salt pork, and an
other boy was postmaster. By George!
it made me hOmeSick, and / determined
then and there to go home, and go home
l did.
In the first place Unjust tell you how
l came to New York. ! had tiff with
my father and left home. l finally
INV. Narl-
pocket. | got a job running freight
am now partner. My haste to get rich
drove the thoughts of my parents from
me, and when | did think of them the
hard words that my father last
spoke to me ranked in my
bosom. Well, | went home. l didn't
see much change in Chicago, but
the magnificent new depot i'll Milwaukee
thought was an improvement on the
old shed that they used to have. 1t was
only thirty miles from Milwaukee to my
home, and tell you, John, hat train
seemed to creep. | was actually worse
than a school boy going home for vaca-
ton. At last we neared the town. Fa-
miliar sights met my eyes, and darn 1t
all! they filled with tears. There was
Bill Lyman'S red barn, just the
same; but, great Scott! what were
all of the other houses? We rode
nearly mile before coming to the
depot, through houses where only occa-
sionally | saw one that was familiar.
The town had grown to ten times its
size when Iknew it. The train stopped
and | jumped Off Not face in Sight
that | knew, and / started down the
platform to go home. In the Office door
stood the station agent. l walked up
and said: 'Howdy, Mr.. COllins?' -
HE stared at me and replied, You've
gothic best of nae, SIR
81 told him who | was and what had
been doing in New York. and he didn't
make any bones in talking to me. Said
he: It's about time you came home.
You in New York rich, and your father
scratching gravel to get bare living
II tell yon, John, it knocked me all
in heap. / thought my father had
enough to live upon comfortably. Then
a notion struck me. Before going home
[ telegraphed to Chicago to one of our
correspondents there to send me 81 ,000by
first mail. Then | went into Mr.. Collins
back office, got my trunk in there and
put OIL an old hand-me-down suit that /
used for fishing and hunting. My plug
hat | replaced by soft hat. took my
valise in my hand and went home.
Somehow the place didn't look right.
The currant bushes had been dug up
from the front yard and the fence was
gone. All the old locust trees had been
cut down and young naples were
planted. The house looked smaller
somehow, too. But l went up to the
front door and rang the bell. Mother
came to the door and said: 1--WE don't
wish to buy anything to-day, slr.'
ut didn't take me minute to survey
her from head to foot. Neatly dressed,
John, but a patch and a darn here and
there, her hair streaked with gray, her
face thin, drawn and wrinkled. Yet
over her eyeglasses shOne those good,
honest benevolent eyes. stood staring
at her and then she began to stare at
and with great sob she threw herself
upon me. and nervOusly clasped me
about the neck, Historically crying:
It's Jimmy, it's Jimmy
"Then l cried, too, John. just broke
down and cried like baby. She got
me into the house, hugging and kissing
me, and then she went to the back door
and shouted 'Georger
Father came in in moment. and
from the kitchen asked, What you
want, Car'line?'
Then he came in. He knew me in a
moment. He stuck out his hand and
grasped mine, and said sternly, We'll,
young man. do you propose to behave
yourself now"
''He tried to put on brave front, but
he broke down. There we three sat,
like whipped school children, all whimp-
ering. At last supper time came and
mother went out to prepare it. l went
into the kitchen with her.
Where do you live, Jimmy" she
asked.
"'ln New York. I replied.
"'What you workin' at now, Jimmy?'
"'I'm working in dry goods store
"'Then | suppose you don't live very
high, for | hear tell o. them city clerks
what don't get enough money to keep
body and soul together. So I'll just tell
you, Jimmy, we got nothin' but roast
SparerbS for supper. We amt got any
money now, Jimmy, We're poorer nor
Job S turkey
81 told her that I would be delighted
with the spareribs, and to tell the truth,
John, / haven't eaten meal in New
York that tasted as well as those crisp
roasted spareribs did. / spent the even
ing playing checkers with faith er, while
mother sat by telling me all about their
lilSlOIIullSS, IIOlH Olu WllIUc MOOIcY
getting drowned in the pond to faith ar's
signing note for a friend and
having to mortgage the place
to pay it. The mortgage was
due inside of week and not cent to
meet it with-iust $500. She supposed
they would be turned out of house and
home. but in my mind l supposed they
wouldn't. At last 9 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 in
side the door and fill up the water pail.
Then We'll 60 off to bed and get up
early and go a-fshing.'
Il didn't say word, but I went out
to the barn, bedded down the horse,
broke up an armful of shingles. pumped
pail of water, filled the woodbOx, and
then we all went to bed.'
"Father called at 4 80 in the morning,
and while he was getting cup of
coffee | skipped over to the depot cross
lots and got my best bass rod. Father
took nothing but trolling line and spoon
To ha