The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-31

the back door, and shouted:
 "sGeorgep
 "Father came in in moment, and from the kitchen, asked:
 "What do you want, Car'line?
 "Then he came in. He knew me in & moment. He stuck out his hand and grasped 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. Then 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.
 "'ln New York replied.
 "tWhat you workin' at, Jimmy"
 "'Pm working in a dry goods store. ,
 "'Then l 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 together. So I'll just tell you, Jimmy, we got noth- in but roast spare ribs for supper. We ain't got any money, now, Jimmy. We're poorer nor Jobs turkey
 al told her that would be delig hted with the roast spare-ribs, and to tell the truth, haven't eaten meal in New York that tasted as well as those crisp roasted spare-ribs. spent the evening playing checkers with father, while mother sat by telling me all about their misfortunes. from old white Mooley getting drowned in the pond to fathers having signed note for friend and having to mortage the place to pay it. The mortgage was due inside of a week and not cent to meet it with; just $500. She sup posed they would be turned out of house and home, but in my mind supposed they wouldn't. At last nine o'clock came, and father said:
 "'Jim, go out to the barn and see if Kit is all right. Bring in an armful of old shingles that are just inside the door, and fill up the water pail. Then we'll go off to bed and get up early and go a. fishing
 "I didn't say word, but went out to the barn, bedded down the horse, broke up an armful of shingles pumped a pail of water, filled the wood box, and then we all went to bed.
 "Father called me at half- past four in the morning, and while he was get ting a cup of coffee skipped over to the depot cross lots and got my best bass rod. Father took nothing but & trolling line and spoon hook. He TO wed the boat with the trolling line in his mouth, while I stood in the stern with silver sinner rigged on. Now, John, I never saw man catch fish like he did. To make long story short, he caught four bass and five pickerel and never got bite.
 "At noon we went ashore and father went home, while went to the post office. I got letter from Chicago with a check for $l ,000 iR it. With some trouble got it cashed, getting paid in $5 and $10 bills, making quite a roll. then got joint roast of beef and lot of delicacies and had them sent home. The joint was in the oven. Mother had put on her own silk dress and father had donned his Sunday -go- to-meeting clothes, none too good, either. This is where played joke on the old folks. Mother was in the kitchen watching the roast Father was out in the barn and 1 had clear coast. I dumped the sugar out of the old blue bowl, put the thousand dol lars in it and placed the cover on again. At last supper was ready. Father asked a blessing over it, and he actually trembled when he stuck his knife in the roast.
 "'We haven't had a piece of meat like this in five years, Jim,' he said ; and mother put in with And we haven't had any coffee in a year only when we went visiting.'
 "Then she poured out the coffee and lifted the cover of the sugar bowl, asking as she did SO: "How many spoons, Jimmy?'
 "Then she struck something that wasn't sugar. She picked up the bowl and peered into it.
 "'Aha, Master Jimmy; playin' your old tricks on your nanny, eh? Well, boys will be boys
 "Then she gasped for breath. She saw it was money. She looked at me, then at father, and then with trem- bling fingers drew the great roll of bills out.
 "Ha ha hal can see father now as he stood there then on tiptoe, with his knife in one hand, forG in the other and his eyes fairly bulgiDg out of his head. But it was too much for mother. She raised her eyes to heaven and said slowly:
 "'Put your trust in the Lord, for He will provide
 "Then she tainted away. Well, John, there's not much more to tell. We threw water in her face >and hrrunhf har fn and fhan xua doy1o1