The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-05-18
HIS VISIT TO THE OLD HOME.

HIS VISIT TO THE OLD HOME.
In a hall where costly marble cleaned amid the
gaslight glare,
Where the rich man Of the city passed with
proud. important air.
Where the bankers and the brokers whiled Their
leisure hours away
And discussed the world of finance and the
topics Of the day.
In a deep embrasured window, by q table richly
spread.
Sat portly broker eating while from tine to
time he read
From the daily papers columns OF the stocks
and bulls and bears
And he sighed in weary sorrow for his many
business cares.
Soon he hailed Q merchant friend, who was
slowly passing by:
Mi, there. JIM say, old fellow-Jim-I say.
there, Jim-hi vi:
Where've you been these many weeks past!
I've not seen you here to town.
You've been rusticating. surely, for you're look.
ing strong and brown"
''Yes." said James, sit down, old fellow, and
I'll tell you Of the Joy
or a visit to Wisconsin, where lived when but
boy,
HAD quiet quarrel with father some twenty
years ago,
And left ms home and mother, as thought
lOreter more.
"Soon turned up in this city, like most runa-
ways-quite poor:
And secured place as errand-boy IN o whole
sale dry goods store,
And by gnawiny and by scraping like some old
penurious mouse. e
I've grown rich and have plenty, and am part
ner in the house
And I almost had forgotten that my parents
were not dead,
For seldom thought OF mother, and the home
where was bred.
but thought I'd like some fishing, down on
Fire Island bay,
So told my friends in business I was OF for
just day.
'GBut the wrapper round my dinner was . little
weekly paper,
Which is published in the home place, called
the Worl1aan'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 took the train that evening, and ere many
hours were past,
Twas at the modest station Of the dear old
town at last,
And familiar sights around me, that hadn't
seen for years,
Stirred my heart with deep emotions. and filled
my eyes with tears.
"The busy station-master was a man whom I
once knew,
So quickly stepped before him, said 1: Col
Inns how dye do:
He looked at me in wonder, and he said: Tn
very sure,
Though I can't quite recognize you. that I've
seen you here before
told him who was, and then we had quite Q
We talked about thespld place-of this thing
and that.
asked him about the old folks, and said he:
Jim, indeed,
You didn't come a bit too soon; the old folks
are in need
81 tell you, John. that knocked me Just nearly
of my feet
To think Of father and mother, maybe, suffering
for food to eat
So 1 wired to Chicago for q thousand dollar
check,
And struck for home across the lots as If I'd
break my neck.
Things didn't look right, somehow, when
reached the place at last;
The dear old home was going to wreck and ruin
fast
But walked right to the door, and loudly rang
Mother answered the summons-she wasn't
looking well.
81 could see many patch and darn in herneat
and tidy dress,
And strong emotions rose, John, couldn't well
repress-
Those dear old honest eyes Of hers caused mine
to grow quite dim
She fell upon my neck and sobbed-Tt's Jim
my own son Jim"
broke down. too and cried, though 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 all broke
down again,
And mothers tears fell thick and fast like
heavens holy rain
81 ate my supper home that night twas
naught but bread and meat
Ididn'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 at 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.
sI got my cash by mall next day. and bought q
lot to eat
Of delicacies by the pound-a joint OF tender
meat
Twas good to see 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 trembled, as he asked simple
grace,
And q single tear rolled slowly down his honest
wrinkled face.
Co while Ynofber pourad the cofee and father
carved the jowl.
! slipped the thousand dollars in the old blue
sugar bowl.
the coffee out
She said she hadn't drop for a year or near
about
She dipped into the sugar. but suddenly she
stopped.
And peeping down into the bowl-the spoon
was quickly dropped.
They both gazed on the roll Of bills, and their
honest eyes grew dim,
Mother whispered low beneath her breath:
Bless God for my son JIM
1staid home most . month, old boy, and paid on
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"
&C. Con,coy Baker. In Atlantic CcRsttuti0n.
THE COWBOYS SCHOOL