The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1890-12-25

Is hard know \ .,-.,,s =. 3 " ~
'Can you writea letter, Missp" = 81
The bridge and Its great panorama had
long since vanished from my physical
senses; the village homo swiftly fol-
lowed now. came out Of my dream-
life with painful shock which left me
for moment speechless looked at
the man dumfounded. Heseerncd what
in my Limited experience, .asWestern
miner ought 80 s}pol, like. A broad
brimmed sf0uch h3a coarse trousers Inc
side Of .beay boc. sllsf far coat gsva'
| him the ap1earanee o. q Erjayix besi,
lTsne... y ~ - @sssssF 3: 1sff 80 Yg''1ss
ool-books. HIS face, however. was
kind, pleasant, and wore respectful
expression. He was man probably
not moro than thirty-fye years of age,
"Can l write letter." interrogated,
mechanically, still gazing at him
blankly.
That's about the size OF 1t, Miss" he
asscnted, with a slight relaxation Of his
sad look. "You see, Miss, I've just
come on from Leadvillc, where I've been
for about ten years. Ivo made lots OF
money out there in the mines and I've
come back to settle down. I've got to
stay in the city for week or two on
some business, and so thought I'd just
get some one to write letter for me to
my old mother"
"rll write your letter." l said,
promptly. The "old mother" had
settled the matter with me.
"But," said |, thoughtlcssly, "why do
not you writo it yourself? Your mother,
l am sure, would value it more if writ
ten by YOU"
Guess / couldn't do it, Miss" he
said, with panied look. 'r.n learn
ing to write, but I'm afraid the old
mother couldn't read my writing now"
He had picked up my pencil, and was
scribbling on piece Of paper. Gould
you read that?' he asked, handing it to
me.
managed to decipher "mother," but
that was all l could make out.
"You used your left hand" said l;
"why do not you learn to write with
your right, instead?' Thoughtlessly
the question was put. and 1t produced
deeper pain on his face.
"Oh know how to write with that "
said he, hesitatingly.
noticed his Increasing perplcxity,
and also the fact that he did not with
draw his right arm from his coat
pocket.
''Then why doyou not use that handP'
l urged, still blunderingly.
"Well, Miss, you see left that hand
out in Leadvillc. An Explosion took /
off,"
lie had put the pencil down, anc
looked quite discouraged at his efforts
1 longed to make amends for the pain
had though tlessly occasioned; so ] wen
to the little typewriter, saying: Il viii
write your letter on this"
"But what is that?" he asked, with
t puzzled look, laying his hand on tn,
machine.
t explained by showing him shee
of the typewriting. He looked it owe
l auizzcally and handed it back to mt
| with negative shake of the head, say
( ing: Not any for me, Miss. The pool
5 old mother wouldn't like it. Shc't
t think it was newspaper work. l wan
3 her to have a real, genuine, hand-wri
, letter; something more sociable like
: you know"
| L
D tired and wanted to get away from thu
Office. OF course could write his lette
3 with pen and ink; but it was only a Ques
s ton whether l should humor him o
not. decided in his favor. had beer
| musing. ! had long-absent frien'
o also out in the Western country some
= where. He had left a mother-and mt
l years ago. We were very dear to eac
1 other once, buta light cloud separate
Q us; and yet loved him still Perhap
I we might yet meet under more joyou
i circums tarces. Who knowsP
t The stranger noticed my hesitation
8 momentary though it was, and yer
tured: .Mother would be SO pleased
Y have"
"Ycs, of course" interrupted, full
r decided. l seized a pen, and, placing
l sheet of paper before me, said wa
s all ready to proceed.
4 II want it to 60 something like this,
r he began, thoughtfully: "'DeaI oil
mother,
~ want it writ kind and tender like
just like Id talk to her If she va
here"
YES" / assented, holding my pc
poised.
"But to tell it all to stranger"
"Yes, / understand; but how can
write it for you unless you do?" urged
Thon added: "You can speak freely
; me. have mother, too; a good wa
from here, and can imagine l am wri
ing to her."
That's so," he replied, Frightening
while something almost like a hlus
overspread his bronzed face.
= "Then I'll go ahead. Say to he
Your boy, who left you ten years ag,
: on whose head you laid your dear har
and gave your parting blessing, al
told him to remember You always, an
that-that God would take care of him
if"--
waited patiently for him to finii
the sentence, without looking up, till
ID heard suppressed sob. Then ! saw. tn
IS strong man choked with emotion, al
" his eyes glistening with the fiercely +
ID pressed tears
W beg pardon, Miss; always feel
IA little babyish when / think of her
s. on, now. Say: If in every time
as temptation. he would take look at
old mothers picture, and think how g
ID was praying for him. Your boy will
ae with you again in about week, nev
st to leave you again while you live.'"
ed I finished, and he simply said; "Sil