St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-19
HIS VISIT TO THE OLD HOME.

5o|'IS IL BtdEtI
Where the rich man of the city nassed with
proud important air
"here the bankers and the brokers whiled thei,
leisure hours away
ana discussed the world Of finance and the
topics Of the day.
Al deep embrasured window, by table richly
spread.
sat portly broker eating, while from time to
time he read
from the daily papers columns of the stocks
and bulls" and bears"
ana ne sighed in weary sorrow for his many
business cares.
soon he hailed merchant friend who was
slowly passing by:
Ill there, JIM say, old fellow-Jim-I say,
there, Jim-hi vi!
"hereVe you been these many weeks past?
We not seen you here to town.
You've been rustcatng, surely, for you're look
ing strong and brown.
yes said James, sit down, old fellow and
I'll tell you of the Joy
vi visit to Wisconsin, where I lived when but
boy,
had quiet quarrel sith father some twenty
years ago
And left my home and mother, as 1 thought
forever more.
soon turned up in this city like most runa-
wayS-quite poor:
ana secured place as errand-boy in a whole
sale dry goods store,
And by gnawing and by scraping like some old
penurious mouse
1 We grown rich and have plenty and am mart
ner in the house
AND l almost had forgotten that nv 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 off for
Just a day.
but the wrapper round my dinner was little
weekly paper,
Which is published in the home place. called
the Horkmdn's PuDer
AND familiar names there printed make me sick
for home. no doubt.
For thought III visit mother and the home
place while I'm out
So took the train that evening, and ere many
hours were past
was 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 flied
my eyes with tears.
''The busy station-master was man whom I
once knew
So quickly stepped before him, said I: Col
Inns, how dye do:'
He looked at me in wonder, and he said: I'm
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 a
chat
We talked about the old place-of this thing
and that.
i asked him about the old folks and said he:
Jim, indeed,
You didn't come bit too soon; the old folks
are in need
Il tell you, John, that knocked me just nearly
off my feet.
To think OF father and mother, maybe, suffering
for food to eat
So I wired to Chicago for thousand dollar
check
And struck for home across the lots as If I'd
break my neck
Things didn't look right, somehow, when I
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
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 |
repress-
Those dear old honest eyes of hers caused mine |
to grow quite dim.
She fell upon my neck and sobbed-It's Jim |
my own son jim
/ broke down, too, and cried though hadn't |
wept for years;
A lump seemed rising in my throat nv ewes |
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.
az ate NV SINNER homo that n;oh+ ,+,roe
naught but bread and meat,
i 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 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.
st got my cash by mail next day. and bought
lot to eat ~
Of deicacies 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 t-embled, as he asked a simple
grace,
And single tear rolled slowly down his honest,
wrinkled face.
So while mother poured. the coffee, and father
carved the jowl,
] slipped the thousand dollars in the old blue
sugar bowl.
SMOTHER 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 peeping down into the bow1-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
I staid home most o month, old boy and paid of
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:
avon We touched this hard old heart of mine by
what you've said, you know,
7 haven't heard from my old home for fifteen |