The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-07-04

SIR
III didn't take me a minute TO
survey her from head to foot.
Neatly dressed, John, but a patch
and a darn here and there, her hair
streaked with gray, her lace thin,
drawn and wrinkled. Yet over
her eyeglasses shone those good,
honest, benevolent eyes. | stood
staring at her, and then she began
to stare at me. | saw the blood
rush to her face and with a great
sob she threw herself upon me and
nervou>ly clasped me about the
neck, Historically crying: It's
Jimmy lis Jimmy =
'Then | cried, 100, John. | just
broke down and cried like a baby.
She gol me into The house, hugging
and kissing me, and then she went
TO the back door and shouted
'George ?
"Father came in in a moment
and from the kitchen asked: What
do YOU want, Car'lne ~
'Then he came in. He knew me
in a moment. He stuck out his
hand and gras2ed mine, and said,
sternly: Well, young man, do you
propose 10 behave yourself now z
"He triad 10 puton brave front,
but he broke down. There we
three sal, like whipped school chill
dren, all whimpering Al last sup
per Time came and mother went
out TO prepare it. | went into the
kitchen with her.
''Where do YOU live JimnyH she
asked.
"In New York" | replied.
'What you workin' at now, jim
my9
Pm working in dry good store
"Then | suppose you don't live
very high, for | hear tell q them
city clerks what don't get enough
money to Keep body and soul to-
gether. So I'll just tell you, jim.
my, we gol notlin' but roast spare.
ribs for supper. We ain't got any
money now, Jimmy. We're poor
er than Jobs turkey
Il told her that | would be de-
lighted with the spareribS, and to
tell the truth, John, | haven't eat
en- Il meal in New York that tasted
as well as hose crisp roasted spare
ribs did. spent the evening play
ing checkers with father, while
mother sat by telling me about
their miSfortrnes, from old white
Mooley getting drowned IN 'the
pond 10 fathers signing note fora
friend and haYing to mort gage the
place to payil. The mortgage was
due inside Of Il week and not
cent to meet it wilh-just $780,
She supposed they would he turned
out OF house and home, but in my
mind | supposed they wouldn't.
At last 8 o'clock came, and father
said: Jim, go out to the barn and
see if Kit is all tight. Bring in an
armlul of old shingles that are just
inside the door and fill up the water
pail. Then Wei go off to bed and
get up early and go a-ishing.'
81 didn't say a word, but | went |
out to the barn, bedded down the |
horse, broke up an armful Of shin
giles, pumped a pail of water, filed |
The woodboX, and then We all went
10 bed.
"Father called me at 4:30 in the
morning, and while he was getting
4 cup of coffee | skipped over 10
he depot cross lots and got my
best bass rod. Father look moth
ng but II trolling line and spoon
nook. He rowed he boat with his
rolling line in his mouth, while |
stood in the stern with a silver
sinner rugged ON. Now, John, |
lever saw a man catch fish like he
lid. To make a long story snort,
ne caught four bass and five pick
,rel and | never got bite.
"At noon we went ashore aud
went home, while | went TO
he puslollice. | got "A letter from
)hicago with a check for $1,000 in
I. With some trouble | got il
.ashed, getting paid in s. and $40 |
,ills, making quite a roll then
rot a roast joint of beef and lot
# delicacIes and had them sent
lome. Alter that | went visiting
Imong my old schoolmales for two
hours aud went home. The joint
vas IN The oven. Mother had put
IN her only silk dress, and father
lonned his Sunday 90 to meeting /
.loihes, none too good either. This
: where played a joke ON The old
olkS. Mother was in the kitchen
the roast. Father was
,ut TO the barn, and had a clear
.oaSt. / dumped The sugar out of
he old blue bowl, put The thous-
md dollars in it aud placed the
over on again. At last supper
vas ready. Father asked n bless
ng over it, and he actually irem-
,led when he stuck his knife in The
'Oasi.
ave haven't had piece of meat
ike this in five years, JIM he said;
md mother pct in with, And we
haven't had any coffee in a year,
,nly when we went n visiiin'.'
"Then she poured out the coffee
NIL lifled the cover OF The sugar 4
bowl, asking as she did so: How
many spoons, Jimmy Z
Then she struck something that /
wasn't sugar. She picked az The
lowl and peered into H.: Aha.