River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-12-18

such as I had seen pictured IN my
school books His face, however, was
kind. pleasant, and wore respectful
expression He was a man probably
not more than thirty-dve years OF age
Could ! write letter? Well! Could
a human machine rotate and move in its
well-worn grooves? Could a type
writer record human speech?
Can l write letter." Intercepted,
mechanically. still gazing at him
blankly.
That's about the size OF il. Miss" he
| assented, with a slight relaxation of his
I sad look you see, Miss. I've just
come on from Leadville, where I've been
/ for about ten Years I've 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"
III write your letter." l said,
promptly. The odd mother had
settled the matter with me. My weari-
ness seemed TO have gone with the
faded pictures.
/ But" said l, thougbtlessly. ''why do
not you write it yourself? Your mother.
/ ! am sure, would value it more if writ
/ ten By you"
.Guess / couldn't do it, Miss" he
said. with panied look. I'm 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.
l managed to decipher mother" hut
that was all 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 it produced a
deeper pain on his face
.'Oh, know how TO write with that
said he. hesitatingly.
! noticed his increasing perplexity,
and also the fact that he did not with
draw his right arm from his coat
pocket.
Then why do you not use that hand?''
urged, still blunderingly.
''Wei'. Miss. YOU see left that hand
out III LeadvilIe. An explosion took ii
of"
lie had put the pencil down. and
looked quite discouraged at his efforts.
longed TO make amends for the pain
had thoughtlessly occ tsioned; So | went
To the little typewriter, saying: i will
write your letter on this"
But what is that?" he asked, with a
puzzled look, laying his hand on the
machine.
Iexplained by showing him a sheet
Of the typewriting. lie looked it over
lgIizz.calIy and handed it back to me
WI a negative shake Of the head, say
ing: Not any for me. Miss. The poor
old mother wouldn't like it. She'd
think it was newspaper work. want
her 10 have a real, genuine, hand-wrlt
letter; something more sOciable like,
you know"
/ hesitated for an instant / was
tired and wanted to get away from the
office. OF course could write his letter
with pen and ink: but it was only a aues-
tiOn whether | should hutnor him or
NOT ] decided in ais favor. | had been
mus.ng. / hsd a lOng-abscnt friend
also. out in the Western country some
where lie had lcfCi a mOther-and me
years ago. We were very dear to each
other once, but light cloud separated
u; ard yet 1 loved him still. Perhaps
We might yet meet aler more joyous
circumstances Who znows?
The stranger noticed my hesitation,
mOmeutary though it twas. and ven
tured: Mother would be SO pleased &c
have"
YES. of course" interrupted. fully
decided. l seized pen. and, placing a
sheet of paper before me, said / was
all ready TO proceed.
Il want it T" ,r-- >.nething like this,
he began. thoughtfully: dear old
mother"
| melted. as traced those words OF
the sheet. They were the key to my
heart, and they had unlocked it. lie
seemed wrestling with some problem
and / tried 10 encourage him to proceed
with the dictatiOn.
i want it writ kind and tender like
/ just like I'd talk to her if she wa;
. here
Yes" 1 assented, holding my per
poised.
But TO tell il all to a stranger"
Yes, l understand; but how can
write it for you unless you do?" urged.
Then / added: You can speak freely tC
me. l have mother, too; good way
from here, and can imagine / am writ
ing to her
That's so" he replied. Frightening,
while something almost like a blush
oversFread his bronzed face.
l ssFhnn T7lH
Your boy, who left you ten years ago.
on whose head you laid your dear hand
and gave YOUR parting blessing, ana
told him 70 remember you always, and
that-that God would take care of him
If -
waited patiently for him to finish
the sentence, without looking up, till
heard a suppressed sob. Then saw thi,
strong man choked with emotion, and
mis- eyes plistening with the fiercely re
| pressed tears.
, Beg pardon, Miss; l always feel
% little babyish when think of Ter. &c
on, now. Say; III in every time o.
? temptation. ne would take look at hi:
, old mothers picture, and think how sh,
p was praying for him. Your boy will b,
, with you again in about a week, neve
to leave you again while you live"
5 finished. and he simply said: ''Sigr
, it John Miss"
{ usas disappointed. had thought t,
know bis fun name at least a vague
; prescnt,mcnt had been taking posses
sion Of me that this was a crisis in mi
2 life ! ridiculed the idea. and tried Z,
Z shake il OIL Ii had grown quite darl
| outside. ! had lighted the gas NJ,
strange visitor was intently readin.
e the letter. John" was also the nam,
+ of my old lover. But. then. there are
= 81 many Johns" in this word. | wa
e looking out upon the great panoram.
a again in all the glory of its electri
] lights. Bells and whistles were agaiI
sounding. this time for a respite from
S toll; and thousands of tired toilers wer,
: streaming over the bridge. | was OF
! again. in spirit, TO my own home, hear
ing the tender tones of mother,
voice. John was reading his lette
aloud for the third or fourth time, ant