The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-24

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,
George
"Father came in in a minute and
from the kitchen asked, What do
you want, Car'line?'
"Then he came in. He knew me
in minute. He stuck ont his hand
and grasped mine and said sternly,
well. young man, do you propose to
behave yourself now?'
"He tried to put on a 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 pre-.
pare it, l went into the kitched with
her.
"Where do you live, Jimmy ?"she
asked.
"'In New York. l replied.
"'What are you workin' at now,
Jimmy?"
"'1'm workin' in a dry goods
store.'
"'Then / suppose you don't live
very high, for l hear tell them city
clerks don't get enough to keep body
and soul together. So Hi just tell
you, Jimmy, we've got n0thin' but
roast spareribs for supper, We amt
got any money now. Jimmy. We're
poorer than jobs turkey
II told her that | would be de.
lighted with the spareribs, and, to
tell the truth, John, l haven't eaten
meal in New York that tasted as
we'll as those crisp roasted spareribs
did. | spent the evening playing
checkers with father, while mother
sat by telling me all about their mis-.
fortunes, from old white MOOey get
| ting drowned in the pond to fathers
signing a note for friend and hay
ing to mortgage the place to pay it.
The mortgage was due inside of "A
week and not cent to meet it with
just $500. She supposed they would
be turned out OF house and home. but
in my mind [ supposed they would
not. AT last 8 o'clock came, and fa-
ther said: "Jim 60 out TO the barn
and see if Kit is all right, Bring in
an armful of shingles that are just be-
hind the door and fill up the water
pail, Then We'll go to bed and get
up early and go a-ishing,'
81 didn't say a word, but I went
out to the barn, bedded down the
horse, broke up an armful Ofshingles,
pumped pail of water, filled the
woodbox, and then we all went to
bed.
"Father called me at half-past four
in the morning, and while he was
getting cup of coffee | skipped oyer
to the depot across lots and got my
best brass rod. Father took nothing
but trolling line and spoon hook
He rowed the boat with the trolling
line in his mouth, while | stood in
the stern with silver sinner rugged
on. Now, John, [ never saw a man
catch fish like he did. He caught
four bass and five pickerel and l
never got a bite.
"At noon we went ashore, and fa-
ther went home. while l went to the
postoffice. l got letter from Chica-
go with check for 81 900 in it. | got
it cashed, with some trouble, getting
paid in FIVE and ten dollar bills, max
ing quite roll. l then got roast
joint of beef and lots of delicacies and
had them sent home. After that |
went visiting among my old school.
mates for two hours and went home
The joint was in the oven. Mother
had put on her only silk dress and
father had donned his Sunday-go. tC
netting clothes, none too good
either. This is where / played a joke
on the old folks. Mother was in the
Kitchen watching the roast, father
was out in the barn, and | had cleal
coast. dumped the sugar out of the
old blue bowl, put a thousand dollars
in it and placed the cover on again
AT last supper was ready. Father
asked blessing over it, and he ac
.tually trembled when he stuck his
knife in the roast.
"'We haven't had a piece of mea
like this in five years, Jim,' he said
and mother put in with. And we
haven't had any coffee in year, on
, ly when we went Yisitin','
: "Then she poured out the coffee
and lifted the cover of the suga
: bowl, asking as she did, How many
: spoons, Jimmy?'
} "Then she struck something tina
wasn't sugar. She picked up tht
= bowl and peered into it, AHA
! ATn,tnr YNIn sY1 -,