The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-16

the work done and want you to do 1t.
Your sprained arm is merely an ex-
cuse TO be idle. II this stable is not
cleaned when / return tonight 1 will
give you cause to regret it; and l pos
itively forbid your allowing Moses to
touch it."
He sprang on his horse and rode of
at q gallop, needless that his SON had
sunk upon a heap OF laths, and had
covered his face with his hands to con-
ceal the tears that started to his eyes.
Mrs. Darrow had been standing by
the kitchen window W, and heard all that
had passed. She now came to where
Ralph lay, and bent lovingly over him.
ut would not be possible for you to
use your arm, 1 know, my son." she
said. at would be OF no use to try"
'.Oh, mother, it gives me pain to
move it ever so little. But what can I
do? You know how terrible fathe will
whip me If the work isn't done, and he
won't believe I'm not able to do ii"
Don't worry about it now, Ralph.
We will try to find some way Oit of it.
1 want you to go TO Greenfie i'd at ter
some groceries l need, and when you
return w will talk about tho stable"
Talking won't do any good, I'm
afraid, mother" replied Ralph, as he
rose, and went to put the harness on
Dolly. "And I must take the whip
ping, 1 suppose.
He drove to the kitchen door on his
return from the village two hours
later, and lifted from the light wagon
the basket of groceries he had brought.
"Where is mother?" he asked OF his
little sister Jennie, who was skipping
rope in the back yard.
II don't know-she's been gone
ever so long" answered the little girl.
II guess she's in the stable hunting
eggs"
AS old Dolly's hoofs struck the
stones of the paving at the entrance TO
the barnyard, the doors of the stable
were thrown open. and Ralph saw his
mother standing inside, a shovel in
her hand.
Back so soon, Ralph" she said,
cheerily.
But Ralph did not answer. He
sprang from the wagon, gave hurried
look about the stable, and then, with
strange, choking sensation in his throat,
threw himself upon pile OF hay by
the barn stairs, anti burst into tears.
Ralph! Ralph! my dear boy!" and
his mother bent over him, her own
tears falling fast.
ooh, motheI mother! Why, wly
did you do it?" he cried, when he could
speak.
because l love you. my son, and
would save you from a punishment you
do not deserve. 1t was not SO very
much to do, my dear; l am not SO tired
as you suppose. "
mot very much Oh, mother, it was
a hundred times too much to do for
me-" and then Ralph sat up and with
arms about his mothers neck, uttered
In broken words that apology he had
longed but been too proud to make.
And what a load was off his mind
when it was done, and his mothers
tender kiss of forgiveness was on his
cheek! You may be sure that as long
as he had home beneath his fathers
roof, Ralph never again neglected q
duty to his mother.
1t has been over forty years since
this incident happened which I have
related, but in telling it to me only a
few days ago, Ralph-grown gray and
wrinkled could not restrain his
emotion as he spoke of the long dead
mother to whom he owed the only love
and tenderness his childhood ever
knew.-Florence B. Hallowell, in
Chicago Standard.