Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-05-18
HIS VISIT TO THE OLD HOME.

HIS VISIT TO THE OLD HOME.
1naholl whore costly marble cleaned amid tn
gnsght glare,
Whore the rich man OF tho city passed wit
proud, important air.
Where tho bankers and tho brokers whllcd thol
leisure hours away
And discussed the world OF finance and tn
topics OF tho day.
In deep cmbrasurod window, by table rchl.
spread,
Sat porly broker eating, while from time {,
time he read
From the daily papers columns OF tho "stoclis'
and "bulls" and "bcnrs,"
And he sighed in weary sorrow for his many
business caros.
Soon he hailed n merchant friend who was
slowly passing by!
"Hi, there, Jim--I say, old fellow-Jlm-1 say,
there, Jim-hi vii
Whoro'vc you been these many weeks pasti
Tvc not seen you here to town
You've been rusticating surely, for you're look
ing strong and brown"
ayes" said James, "sit down, old fellow, and
I'll tell you of the joy
ora visit TO Wisconsin, where lived when but
n boy,
j had quiet quarrel with father some twenty
years ago,
And left my home and mother, as / thought,
forever more.
"Soon turned up in this city, like most runa.
ways-quito poor:
And secured place crrand boy In n whole
sale dry goods store,
And by gnawing and by scraping, like some old
penurious mouse,
I've grown rich and have plenty, and am part
ncr In the house.
And i almost had forgotten that my parents
were not dead,
For 1 seldom thought OF mother, md the homo
where was bred,
But thought I'd like some fishing, down on
Fire Island bay,
So / told my friends In business I was on for
just day.
'But the wrapper round my dinner was n little
weekly paper,
Which is published in rlio home place, called
the UorkmdH'S Paper,
And familiar names there printed make me sick
for home, no doubt,
For thought, IN visit mother and the home
place while I'm out
So tool; the train that evening" and ere many
hours were past,
twas ut the modest station OF the dear old
And familiar sights around me, that hadn't
seen for years,
Stirred my heart with deep emotions, and flllod
my eyes with toars.
"The busy station.master was man whom l
once knew,
So quickly stepped before him, saidI: col.
Inns, how dye dor
lie looked nj mo in wonder and he said: I'm
very sure,
Though / can't quite recognize you, that I've
seen YOU here before
told him who was, and then we had quite
chat
We talked about the old place-of this thing
md that.
asked him about the old folks, and said hes
Jim, indeed,
You didn't come bit too soon; the old folks
are in need
81 tell you, John, thut knocked me Just nearly
of my feet,
To think OF father and mother, maybe, suffering
for food to cnt-
SO 1 wired TO Chicago for thousanddollnr
check,
And struck for homo across the lots Us IL I'd
break my neck.
Things didn't look right, somehow, when /
reached the place ut last:
The dear old home was going TO wreck and ruin
fast,
But walked right to the door, and loudly rang
the bell
Mother answered the summons-she wasn't
looking well.
81 could see many patch and darn in her neat
and tidy dress,
And strong emotions rose, John, couldn't well
repross-
Those dear old honest eyes of hers caused mino
to grow quite dim.
She fell upon my neck and sobbed-Tts Jim
my own son Jimr
broke down, too, and cried, though 1 hadn't
wept for years;
A lump seemed rising in my throat, my eyes
ran DER with tears.
Father came in ere very long and we oil broke
down ngain
And mothers tears fell thick and fast like
heavens holy rain
"I ate my supper home that night, twas
naught but bread and meat
didn't mind that, my heart was full-too full
by far to eat
Mother told me OF their troubles, as we loitered
DER the bread,
From the mortgage on the homestead, down to |
finding Brindle dead.
This mortgage on their house and lot would
soon be due, she said,
And they'd have to leave the place Mt once un- |
less the cash was paid.
But while she told her troubles she looked |
across and smiled
And said that she was happy now because |
she'd found her child
Il got my cash by mail next day, and bought
lot 10 eat
or delicncics by the pound-a joint of tender |
meat,
Twas good to SEQ their dear old eyes, when all |
this came TO hand;
And father said that joint OF meat was some |
thing truly grand,
His voice really tremblcd, as he asked simple |
grace,
And single tear rolled slowly down his honest,
wrinkled face.
So while mother poured the cofec md father
carved the iowl,
slipped the thousand dollars in the old blue
sugar bowl.
'Mother smiled across the table, as she poured
the coffee out,
She said she hadn't drop for year or near
about
She dipped into the sugar, but suddenly she
stopped,
And pccping down into the bowl-thc spoon
was quickly dropped
They both gazed on the roll of bills and their
honest eyes grow dim,
Mother whispered low beneath her breath:
Bless God for my son Jim
staid home most month, old boy, and paid off
every debt,
I'll send them something every week, they'll
have enough, you bet
The broker grasped James by the hand, and
said In accents low:
'You've touched this hard old heart of mine by
what you've said, you know
haven't heard from my old home for fifteen
years or more
But I'm going to take the train for there to-
morrow morning, sure!'
g. COHWdy BAKER, Ia atlanta Constitution.
- S-
THE COWBOYS SCHOOL.