Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-06
The Old Folks at Home.

A few years ago was visiting in a remote coun-
try place, situated in the heart of old New Eng
lands hills 1t was such a quiet, primitive spot
that one going there from the noisy cities OF the
outside world could easily imagine that he had
been dropped into graveyard, and an unusually
Tranquil one at that. The mail for the little vii
lage was received only once a week. This impor-
tant event occurred one day during my stay there,
and at the house where was stopping the family's
mail consisted OF the county newspaper and let
Ter. such a sensation as that letter created! The
family consisted or the gray -haired parents, both
over seventy years, and an elderly maiden daugh-
ter. When the mall was handed In by neighbOr,
who had been to the pOst-office,. the family was
"Whom is the letter from, Maria? Is 1t from
Henry?" asked the mother, eagerly, addressing
the daughter.
ayes, it's Henry's handwriting" said Maria,
"but II was posted in California. / do wonder II
Henry has gone TO Californian
"Do read 1t quick, Mar1a," said the mother at
mas been months since we heard from HIM, and
time"
most Intense interest the parents listened as the
daughter read II was a good, long, "newsy"
California town. The letter ended by begging
forgiveness for the writer's long silence, making
one S excuse after another Tor IT, OIL the
In The Old home! For months the par.
ents had waited and watched, enduring
boys sickness or death so far away among sJrang-
ers. The sou In The meantime was leading busy
life OFTEN, thoughts or the old hOm, OF father
mother and sister, would come to mind, and he
would mentally calculate: ''Well, must write
home. Will, right away; next Sunday, sure"
But when sunday came something else would en-.
gross his mind, and so 1t was procrastinated week
AFTER week. just the hour to write never came
and the home friends were kept in the most
anxious suspense about him.
There is many household waiting Just as anx-
ously for letters from absent ones as the one lust
pictured Aged parents, whose days OF activity
are over, watch eagerly for the familiar writing Of
sons and daughters. They think and dream Of
them as "the children" they used 10 care for For
SO long were their lives SO closely linked together
that even though the boys and girls have become
men and women, and perhaps separated by many
miles from the old home, the parents loving inter-
est never abdtes. know OF a prominent business
man whose time Is exceedingly valuable vet
weekly he writes TO his aged, widowed mother lie
regards this as sacred DUTY and pleasure. He
rightly Claims that this attention is her due and
small recompense IL u.s. loo, Tor The love ana care
she has bestowed on him. heard his mot her saw
once nat the happlest feature OF her life Was re-
Celvlng THESE weekly letters. There was some.
timing pleasant TO look forward TO continuously
and the sweet assurance that she was so lovingly
remembered Was constant balm 10 her he art.
Inere caine 10 our IA NE one night young man
seeking work. He was wandrrer one of those
restl IS youths, who is dissatisfied with his home
and MS lot generally. He was feeding himself on
bitter diet from lies table, supplied In abund-
ant measure by his own waywardness. He mad
Just reached a painful crisis in his career-was
hundreds OF miles from home, among strangers
and without dollar We gave him einployment
and at his nrst leisure hour he came 10 me and re.
quested the use OF pen and paper to write to his
sand so you have a mother, have your" in
AYE, have a mother ma'am, and the best
mother on earth she is, too," he replied.
"And do you write TO her orten?" questioned.
'Iudeed do: Whatever else may or may not
do never neglect writing to my mother Sine is
one OF the kind who worries so when she DOESN'T
hear from her children. And SO write to her
always, and always put as bright side out as 1
can. sometimes / have To stretch the truth in
ORDER TO md anything bright TO say. And i
always Imagine that see her as she takes her
glasses down from the clock shelf, and sits In her
low chair at the west window and reads my letter
And I'd wager my last shirt that the very words
she says When she finishes are-I'm so glad win.
lam Is all right. why, ma'am, her hair is as
white as snow, and 1t amt IN the nature OF things
Tor her 10 I'VE great while longer, and always
wan TO feel that never neglected my mother.|
once knew an old coupe no had several FASH
ionabe sons and daognteE-, who lived In the CITY.
The parents chung TO the old farm with a tenaciiy
that Is born only OF strong love and precious mem
ories. Ihey were plain, Oid-fashiOned couple-
plain OF speech, Dress and manner Whenever
their sons wanted rest from work they knew the
latch-string or the old home was open TO them
and they usually availed themselves OF the wei.
come, since mother" always did her best for their
comfort, ana there were no board bills TO SETTLE
heat, and have a season OF freedom Tor the third
generation, the old farmhouse was their rendez-
vous. But during the long winters the old father
and mother were seemingly forgotten Weeks
would pass by, and rarely would letter come
from their children. How much some loving
cheerful letter would have frightened up the old
nome! And the aged parents would have felt
that there was some appreciation OF the sOlictude
and sacrifices that they had suffered in the years
gone by for their children's sake.
There Is something pathetlcin the loneliness and
desoiateness OF Old age; and those In the flush and
excitement OF youth are apt TO forget how deDend-
ent the aged are. From them the rervOr ami am
Dition OF youth are gone. Years have expended
the vital lorc.s the arm that was once Strong,
and Tue hand that was delt must now lie Idle Il
| IL through others that their enjoyment largely
comes And every son and laughter no is 81 ga
rated from aged parents should regard it as iuty
both sacred and binding TO cheer up the loving old
hearts with frequent letters.