The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-21
UNDER THE ROOF TREE.

"Hello, Jim! Where have you been lately?"
shouted q broker the other evening to portly,
fnely-dressed man in the corridor of the st.
James. The gentleman stopped, shook hands
with his friend, and replied: I've Leen homo
to see my old father and mother. the first time
in sixteen years. and l tell you, old man. 1
wouldn't have missed that visit for all my for
tune"
'Kindor good to visit your boyhood home,
oh ?'
"You bet Sit down. / was just thinking
about the old folks, and feel laxative. If you
have few moments to spare sit down, lighta
cigar, and listen to story of n rich man who
had almost forgotten his father and mother"
They sat down and the man told his story.
elbow came to visit my home happened in
a curious way, Six weeks ago went down to
Fire island fishing. ! had lunch put up at
Crook & Nash's, and you can imagine my
establishment when I opened the hamper to
find package of crackers wrapped up in
piece of newspaper. That newspaper was tho
little patent inside country weekly published
at my home in Wisconsin. read every word
i'll 1t. advertisements and all. There was
George kellogg, who was q schoolmate of
mine, advertising hams and salt pork, and an
other boy was postmaster. BY George. it
made me home-sck and l determined then
and there to go home and go home l did.
''In the first place 1 must tell you how
came to New York. l had n tiff with my
father and left home. ] finally turned up in
New York with dollar in my pocket l got
a job running a freight elevator in the very
house i'll which | am now partner. My
haste to get rich drove the thoughts of my
parents from me, and when | did think of
them the hard words that my father last spoke
to me ranked in my bosom. We'll, ] went
home. l didn't see much change in Chicago,
but the magnificent new depot in Milwaukee
thC,, ali
Shed that they used to have. 1t was only
thirty miles from Milwaukee to my home, and
| tell you, John, that train seemed to creep.
/ was actually worse than school boy
we neared the town. Familiar
sights met my eyes, and, darn it all,
they filled with tears. There was Bill Ly-
mans red barn, just the same; but great
Scott! what were all of the other houses? We
rode nearly mile before coming to the depot,
through houses where only occasionally saw
ono that was familiar. The town had grown
to ten times its size when / knew it. The
train stopped and jumped off. Not face in
sight that l knew, and / started down the
platform to go home, In the office door stood
the station agent. I walked up and said:
'Howdy, Mr.. Collins?'
"1e stared at me and replied, You've got
the best of me, SIR
81 told him who was and what had been
doing in New York, and he didn't make any
bones Ia talking to me. Said he: cts about
time y6u came hcme. You in New York rich,
and yonr father scratching gravel to get bare
living.
~ tell You, John. it knocked me all in n
heap. thought my father had enough to
live upon comfortably Then notion struck
me. Before going home j telegraphed TO
Chicago to one of our correspondents there to
send me 1000 by first mail. Then | 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 plug
hat l replaced by soft hat, took my vaise in
my hand, and went home. Somehow the
place didn't look right. The cuTant 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
at didn't take me 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 thoso
good, honest. benevolent eyes. Istood staring
at her and then she began to stare at me. |
saw the blood rush to her face, end with q
great sob she threw herself upon me, and nerV-
ouSly GlaSped me about the neck, Historically
crying: Ips Jimmy, it's Jimmyi"
Then ! cried, too, John. just broke down
and cried like baby. She got me into the
house, hugging and kissing me, and then she
"Father came in in moment, and from the
kitchen asked, what do you want, Carline9
"Ihen he came in. He knew me in mo-
ment. lie stuck ont his hand and grasped
mine, and said sternly, We'll, young man, do
you propose to behave yourself now?'
lie tried to put on bravo front, but he
broke down. There we three sat like whipped
school children, all whimpering At last sup
per time came and mother went out TO prepare
it. / went into the kitchen with her.
"'Wh here do Won live. ,JjmmyV she asked
In New York. ] replied.
"'What arc you wOrfin' at now, Jimmy?'
"1'm workin' in a dry goods store
""rhen 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 to-
gether. SO III just tell you, Jimmy, weye
got nothin but roast spareribs for supper. We
amt got any money now, Jimmy We're
poorer nor Jobs turkey
81 told her would be delighted with the
Tparerbs, and to tell the truth, John, / haven't
eaten a meal in Now York that tasted rs well
as those crisp roasted spareribs did. spent
tho evening playing checkers with father,
willis mother sat by telling me all about
their msfortunes from old white Mooley
getting drowned IN the pond to fathers sign
ing note for friend and having to mortgage
TIN, place TO pay it, The mortgage was due
inside Of week and not cent to meet it
with-just $500 She supposed they would be
turned out OF house and home, but ia my mind
supposed they wouldn't. AZ last nine
O'CLOCK caine ana iather SAID: Jim, 90 out TO
the barn and see IL Kit is all right. Bring
in an armful Of old shingles that are just in
side the door and fill up the water pail. Then
wen 20 off to bed and get up early and 90
a-Gshing.'
81 didn't say n word, but went out TO tho
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 mo at 80 in the morning,
and while ho was getting a cup Of coffee /
skipped over 20 the depot cross lots and got
my best brass rod. Father took nothing but
trolling line and spoon hook He rowed the
boat with his trolling line in his mouth whilo
j stood in the stern with q silver sinner rugged
on. Now, John, never saw man catch fish
like he did. To make long story short, he
caught four bass aud five pickcrel and l never
got bite
AT noon wo went aiiore and father went
homo, while went to the uustuicc. / got y
letter from Chicago with check for RI,OtO in
1t. With some trouble got It caslcd, getting
paid in 50 and $40 bills, making quite roll.
] then got a roast joint OF beef and lot
Of delicaoies and had thom sent home. After
that ] went visiting amongmy Old schoolmatos
for two hours and went home. The join. was
In tho oven. Mother had NIT ON her only silk