The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-08
UNDER THE OLD RooFTREE.
A TRUE STORY.
From The Ne,o York Post.


in a curious way. Six weeks ago | went
down to Fire Island fishing. 1 had a
lunch, and you can imagine my astonish-
ment when l opened the hamper to find a
package of crackers wrapped up in piece
of newspaper. That newspaper was the
little country weekly published at my home
in Wisconsin. I read every word in it,
advertisements and ALL There was George
Kellogg, who was a schoolmate Of mine,
advertising hams and saltpork, and another
bow was postmaster By George it made
me homcsick, and / determined then and
there to 30 home, and 20 home | did.
s'ln the first place l must tell you how
| came to New York. had a tiff with
nv father and left home finally turned
up in New York with dollar in my peck
ct. | got job running freight elevator
in the very house in which | am now a
partner My haste to get rich drove the
thoughts of my parents from me, and when
| did think of them the hard words that
nv father last spoke to me ranked in my
bosom. Well, | went home. l didn t see
much change in Chicago, but the magnifi-
cent new depot in 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 L
tell you, John, that train seemed to creep.
| was actually worse than school boy go
ing home for vacation. At last we neared
the town. Familiar sights met my eyes
and, darn it 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, though houses
where only occasionally saw one that was
familiar. The town had grown to ten
times its size when [ knew it. The train
stopped and l jumped off Not face in
sight that l knew, and | started down the
platform to 90 home In the office door
stood the station agent l walked up and
said: 'Howdy, Mr.. CollinsY
'He stared at me and replied, You've
got the best of me, sir.
Il told him who | was and what l 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 you, John, it knocked me all in
heap. I thought my father had enough
to live upon comfortably. Then notion
struck me. Before going home l tele-
graphed to Chicago to one of our cores
pondents there to send me 81 900 by first
mail. Then went into Mr.. Collins 5 back
office, got my trunk in there, and put on
an old hand-me-down suit that l use for
fishing AID hunting. My plug hat l re-
placed by a 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 some
how, too But l went up to the front door
and rang the bell Mother came to the
door and said: I'VE don't want anything
to-day, sir.
at didn't take me a minute to survey
her from head to foot. Neatly dressed,
John, but patch and darn here and
there her hair streaked with gray, her face
thin, drawn and wrinkled. Yet over her
eyeglasses shone those good, honest, benev-
client eyes. | stood staring at her and then
she began to stare at me. | saw the blood
rush up to her face and with a 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 George!
Father came in in moment and from
the kitchen asked What you want,
Car'line?
eThen he came in. He knew me in
moment. He stuck out his hand and
grasped mine, and said, stern!y: well,
young man, do you propose to behave your
self now?'
ale tried to put on brave front, but
he broke down. There we three sat, like
whipped children, all whimpering. At last
supper time came and mother went to
prepare it. went into the kitchen with
her.
"'Where do you live, Jimmy p she
asked.
"In New York l replied
"'What are you working at now, jim
my"
"'I'm working in dry goods store"
"'Then l suppose you don't live very
high, for | hear tell of them city clerks
what don't get enough money to keep body
and soul together. So I'll just tell you,
Jimmy, we got nothing but roast spare
ribs for supper. We amt got any money,
Jimmy. We're poorer nor Jobs turkey.
~ told her l would be delighted with
the spareribs, and to tell the truth, John,
l haven't eaten a meal in New York that
tasted as well as those crisp roasted spare
ribs did. l spent the evening playing
checkers with father, while mother sat by
telling me all about their misfortunes, from
old white Mooley getting drowned in the
pond to fathers signing note for friend
and having to mortgage the place to pay it.
The mortgage was due inside of week and
not a cent to meet it with-just $500.
She supposed they would be turned out of
house and home, but in my mind 1 sup
posed they wouldn't. A 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 fishing.
II didn't say word, but | went out to
the barn, bedded down the horse, broke up
an armful of shingles, pumped pail of
water, filed the woodbox, and then we all
went to bed.
Father called me at 4:30 in the morn
ing, and while he was getting cup of cof-
fee 1 skipped over to the depot cross lots
and got my best bass rod. Father took
nothing but a trolling line and spoon hook.
He rowed the boat with his trolling line in
his mouth, while stood in the stern with
silver sinner rugged on. Now, John, l
never saw a man catch fish like he did.