The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-26
THE OLD HOMESTEAD

HE OLD HOMESTEAD.
"EelIo. Jim! Where have you been
lately?" shouted broker the other
evening to portly, tinely-dressed
man in the corridor of the ct. James.
The gentleman stopped. shook hands
with his friend, and replied: '1'ye
been home to see my old father and
mother, the first time in sixteen years,
and tell you old man, I wouldn't have
missed the visit for all my fortune"
Kinder good to visit your boyhood
home. eha'
You bet. Sit down 1 was just
thinking about the old folks and feel
talkatiye. If you have a few moments
to spare, sit down, light a cigar, and
listen to a story of rich man who had
almost forgotten his father and moth
er."
They sat down and the man told his
story,
How l came to visit my home hap
pened in a curious way. Six weeks
ago 1 went down to Fire island fish
ing. l had lunch put up at Crook &
Nash's. and you can imagine my as
tonishment when opened the hamper
to find package of crackers wrapped
up in q piece of newspaper That
newspaper was the little patent inside
country weekly published at my home
in Wisconsin. read every word of it,
advertisements and all. There was
George Kellogg, who was a schoolmate
of mine, advertising hams and salt
pork. and another was postmaster.
By George! it made me homesick, and
l determined then and there 10 go
home. and go home Ibid.
'In the first place l must tell you
how came to New York. had tiff
with my father and left home.
finally turned mp in New York with Il
dollar in my pocket. l got a Job run
ming a freight elevator In the very
house in which am now partner. Nv
haste to get rich drove the thouhgts
of my parents from me, and when 1
did think of them the hard words that
my father las. spoke to me ranked in
my bosom. Well, l went home. I
didn't see much change in Chicago, but
the magnificent new depot in Milwau-
kee / thought was au improvement
on the old she'd that they used to have.
1t was only thirty miles from Milwau-
kee to my home, and tell you, John,
that train seemed to creep. was
actually worse than Il school-boy going
home for a vacation. At last we neared
the town. Familiar sights met my
eyes, and, darn it all, they filled with
tears. There was Bill Lyman's red
barn, Just the same. but, great Scott!
rode nearly 4 mile before coming
to the depot. through houses where
only occasionally ] saw one that was
familiar The town had grown to ten
times its size when knew It. The
train stopped and ! jumped of. Not
a face in sight that | knew. and
started down the platform to go home.
In the Office door stood the station
agent. l walked aud said: 'Howdy,
Mr.. Collins?'
''He stared at me and replied, You
have got the best of me, sir.
Il told him who ] was and what
had been doing iu New York. and he
didn't make any bones in talkingt to me.
Said he: It's about time you came
home. You in New York rich. and
your father scratching gravel to get Il
bare living
Il tell you, John, it knocked me all
in heap. thought that 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 1000 By first mail. Then l
went into Mr. Collins back Office,
got my trunk in there, and put on an
old hand me down suit that used for
fishing and hunting. My plug hat l
replaced by soft hat, took my valise
in my hand, aud went home. Some
how 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 naples were planted.
The house looked smaller somehow,
too. But l went up to the front door
and rang the bell. Mother came to
the door and said: We don't wish to
buy anything to-day sir
at didn't take 4 minute to survey her
from head to foot. Neatly dressed,
John, but patch and a 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. l stood star
ing at her and then she began staring
at me. / saw the blood rush to her
face. and then with a great sob she
threw herself upon me and nervousiy
elasped me around the neck, hysteri-
eally crying: It's Jimmy! it's Jimmy!
Then cried, too, John. / just
broke down and cried like baby.
She got me into the house, hugging
and kissing me, and then she went to
the back door and shouted 'Georget
Father came in 4 moment and from
the kitchen asked, What do you want,
Gardiner
ssThen he came in. He knew me in
a moment. He stuck out his hand and
Srasped mine, and said, sternly, Well,
young man, do you propose to behave
yourself now?'
'.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. went into the kitchen with her.
'''Where do you live, Jimmy? she
asked.
'sIn New York replied.
w udG dlC Dpu WI ming az dS"i
Jimmy
I'm working in dry goods store.
''Then suppose you don't live very
high; for / hear tell of them city clerk:
what don't get enough money to keeI
body and soul together So I'll JUS
tell you, Jimmy, we got nothing bu
roast spareribs for supper. We ain
got any money now, Jimmy. We're
poorer nor Jobs turkey
81 told her that would be delighted
with the spareribs. and to tell thu
truth, joan. haven't eaten a meal il
New York that tasted as well as thos,
crisp roasted spareribs did. spen
the evening playing checkers will
| father, while mot er sat hy telling ms
all about their misfortuncs, from OLE
white Mooley getting drowned in tn
pond to fathers signing a note for
friend and having to mortgage tn
place to pay it. The mortgage wa
due inside of week and not cent t
meet it with--just $500. She suppose,
thew would be turned out of house anC