The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-11-22

I was mighty proud of. But they'd come
home an make speeches on my quare talk
| thet hurt me sore.
$50 it wore on till ther worry got erway
with me- an l threated right out ter Peters
| wife as would run off an work somewhere
| by ther days work. But she snapped out as
I'd better try runnin' erway eff wanted ter git
myself shut up in ther insane house fur added
| old women. Then Peter an her talked SO
much erbout doin' me thet way eff complain
ed any more that jest held my peace I was
jest waitin' my time, an when they was all
gone frum ther farm ter doin's l run off
with few traps an started fur ther west an
Jack !" and as she closed her simple recital
she leaned back and wept softly.
Silas Carrick fumbled nervously in his pock-
ct for his big, blue cotton handkerchief, which
he vigorously used. When Mrs. Tompkins
had ceased her crying Silas asked:
is?"
''No, but reckon I'll find him, (" she answer
ed hopefully. 1.-THE same Father above that
set bright, shinin' star ter guide them three
men cross the desert in the fur east still watch
es over this strayin' sheep, an will sure lead
"Well, mother ef yer'n let me be goin' ter
help yer find jack" said Silas.
She carried his big, toll worn hand to her
face and pressed her lips to it. And so the
promise was accepted and sealed.
Silas Carrick was like son TO the lone old
woman. When they arrived at Denver he
placed her under the care of a good woman,
who had been a neghbor of his in Illinois.
Silas had been in Colorado before and knew
went, making diligent inquiries about Jack
Tompkins. But they could give him no infor-
nation. So the days heightened into weeks,
and nothing had been learned of Jack. How
ever, faithful Slas did not relnquish the
search.
1t wanted two days to Thanksgiving, and
the snow was falling softly over the beautiful
city of the plains. An aged woman, with hair
like the snOwfakes, stood at a window, look
at the crowds passing ceaselessly. THAR pow
erful kind ter me here" she said to herself.
"But it's diffrunt frum bein with q bodys
own. Them folks out in town seems mighty
happy an gay, an thar's sight of EN- passin'
erbout, but my Lord thou knowest ther
loneliness O. my ole heart. Help me ter find
my Jack"
As if in immediate answer to her prayer the
door opened, and Silas Carrick stood, flushed
and excited, before her.
"Yer kin rejoice, motherl I've jest hurd
frum a cowboy whar yer Jack is" he said.
''Ther Lord, he be good His mercy en-
dures allus," she cried. '"Tell me erbout my
Jack"
"Ther cowboy said as Jack has a farm or
ranch o. his own over in Cedar Gulch, an he's
doin' fust rate. But, mother" and he took
her hand kindly, don't be skeered when
tell yer. Jack be laid up in his cabin in the
gulch. His pony threw him, but he's gittin'
better now."
"My pore boy Take me ter him, silas,"
she implored.
1t was Thanksgiving day, and the sun BEAM
ed down upon Cedar Gulch pleasantly, its
light striking little cabin that nestled on the
bank of clear mountain stream.
Jack Tompkins was able to hobble to the
little fireplace for the first time since he had
been laid up by what had been almost a fatal
accident for him.
"An' this be Thanksgivin' day among civil
lized folks" he said to his hired man. well,
Ben. be spendin it fur diffrunt frum what l
aimed. l lowed ter go back ter Pennsylvany
an take Thanksgivin' an Christmas with my
ole mother. i hain't seen her fur goin' on
sixteen year, l reckon. An pore mother
Pete writes as she be helpless with ther rheu-
matis. Ben hate myself fur gittin' on thet
drunk an ridin' my pony like mad, an gittin
throwed over them rocks. I'm too mean ter
! live, an don't feel mite thankful nur nuth-
| in fur sparin' my ornery life. If I'd behaved
myself an staid sober / could gin mother
force know it'd be plumb Thanksgivin' ter
mother to see her Jack, ag'in."
Eyes, an | low, Jack, you'd gin right
! smart o. thanks ter be tuck up an sot right
down by yer nanny this minute, remarked
| Ben.
''Thet would" and Jack bowed his head
| thoughtfully.
Ben went out of the cabin for more wood to
| pile on the fireplace but before he had gath
cred up stick some one called out:
| "Hellop"
Ben turned and saw span of mules hitched
| to light wagon, in which sat big, robust
man and a little old woman, with veil tied
| over her face.
as this hyer ther cabin O. Jack Tompkins?"
| the man asked.
ut is, stranger" returned Ben.
| "Be yer Jack?"
mo; Jacks in ther cabin by ther fire. He's
| been sorter used up fur SPELL"
Ben approached the wagon, and Silas Car
rick sprang out to whisper in his ear:
Say pardner, thet little ole woman have
brung, an weepin' soft tears O. joy back o
her veil, be Jacks mother, come all the way
frum Pennsylvany ter hold Thanksgivin with
, her boy"
Jack was Just talkin' erbout her ter me-"
replied Ben in a husky voice. Hes real down
''Wall, he'll have cause for thanksgivin'
now" answered Silas. "Here. mother, let
me help yer out" and he took her in his
strong arms and lifted her carefully to the
ground. Then supporting the trembling form
to the door he said, TACK in thar mother; yer
goright on in." Heopened the door ofthe cabin
! for her, kindly helped her in, then closed 1t
behind her. "Yo'n me be goin' ter stay out
hyer, pardner," he said to Ben, It'll that meet
in's over between me"
At that moment there were two simultaneous
cries of joy, and the men outside knew that
the aged runaway was clasped to Jacks breast.
They walked quickly away and began to un-
| hitch the team.
About an hour later Ben and Silas entered
the cabin, where they found Jack and his
mother sitting side by side near the fireplace,
| he holding her dear old hands in his big ones,
while her motherly face beamed with perfect
ffhis is my Jack" she said proudly, by way
of introduction, to Silas.
Eyer my own brother, Silas Carrick," he
cried, grasping Silas' hand; ''after all yer've
| done fur my mother couldn't never call yer
aught else. Besides, I'm in need of an own
brother | hain't got none, he said, with
| supreme contempt that utterly ignored the re-
lationship of Peter Tompkins.
| As Silas Carrick returned the pressure OF
Jacks hand and looked into the clear blue
eyes, that revealed a kindly nature he felt
| satisfied that the mother would never lack for
| love and truest attention from her Jack.
| "A feller never gifts too old ter need mother,
| he said "an' | KANT begin ter speak my
| obligations ter Providence fur bein' so good in
| bringin mother safe ter me- l want ter just
| git Peter Tompkins out O. my head an think
only O. good things an good folks, as'n help
| me ter be the better man IN amin ter make
| o. myself. | was awful down spirited like, but
now my Thanksgivin's runnin overP'
AN so be mine" cried Jacks mother.
1.-THE Lord has restored me ter complete
/ happiness after all my trouble, with my Jack
| on this blessed Thanksgivin'." "A. ii. Gibson,
in New York Observer.