The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-06-09

"He stared at me and replied:
You've got the best of me, SIR
81 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 hO: It's about time you came
home. You in New York rich, and
your father scratching gravel to get
bare living
81 tell you, John, it knocked me all
in heap. l thought my father had
enough to live upon comfortably. Then
notion struck me. Before going home
telegraphed to Chicago to one of our
correspondents there to send me $1,000
by first mail. Then I went into Mr..
Collins back office, got my trunk in
there, and put on an old hand-me-down
suit that use for fishing and hunting.
My pug hat replaced 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
maple trees were planted. The house
looked smaller somehow, too. But
went up to the front door and rang the
bell. Mother came to the door and
said: we don't wish to buy anything
today, SIR
''It didn' take mo 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, benevolent eyes. Istood star
ing at her and then she began to stare
at me- saw the blood rush to her face,
and with great sob she threw herself
upon me, and nervousIy clasped me
about the neck, Historically crying: It's
Jimmy, it's JimmyP
'Then cried, too, John. l just
broke down and cried like a baby. She
got me into the house, hugging and
kissing me, and then she went to the
back door and shouted, 'Georgep
'Father came in in a moment, and
from the kitchen, asked, What do you
want, Car'line2
Then he came in. He knew me in
moment. He struck out his hand and
grasped mine, and said sternly: well
young man, do you propose to behave
yourself nowp
''He tried to put on brave front,
but he broke down. There we three
sat like whipped school children, all
whimpering. At last supper time came
and mother went out to prepare it. l
went into the kitchen with her.
"Where do you live, JimmyT she
asked.
" In New York. 1 replied.
"'What arc you workin' at now,
JimmyP
m workin' in dry goods store
"'Then l 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've got nothin' but
roast spareribs for supper. We ain t got
any money now, Jimmy. We're poorer
nor Jobs turkey
81 told her l would be delighted with
the sparcribs, and to tell the truth
John, haven't eaten a meal in New
York that tasted as we'll as those crisp
roasted spareribs 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 a note for friend and having
to mortgage the place to pay it. The
mortgage was due inside Of a week and
not cent to meet it wlth-just $500.
She supposed they would be turned out
Of house and home, bat in my mind
supposed they wouldn't. At last
o'clock came and father said: Jim, 90
out to the barn and see II Kits all
right. Bring in an armful Of oil
shingles that arc just Inside tha door
and an up the water pail. Thea Wen
90 oil 10 bed and get up early and go
a-hshing.
an 49, 80