Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-11-12
STORY OF A LETTER.
It Won a Mother Back to Health
and Happiness. a..
"Of work SO early?'

and Happiness.
of work SO early?" t... ..s-.e-
James stopped imposing a boy who,
like himself, was one of the workers
on large ranch. Caleb's stumpy fig
ure.was bending over large table in
Thorough back porch and his face was
drawn into "a. puclzer which told that
his task was no easy one.
Yes, it's early l know, but it's mail
day to-morrow-and thought I'd send
letter.
Folks back east?" asked James. .
'Well, haven't got many folks
Amt so well off as you are. It's my
stepmother, but she's a good woman
and likes to hear from me and I think
l ought to-
No one ever thought of taking Caleb
for an exemplar in anything: He was
slow and clumsy in his movements and
never dreamed of presuming to make
suggestion of duty to anyone. But it
had come to be observed that Caleb
was to be relied on.
:. IF you look for him where he be-
longs he is sure to be there" his en-,
rloyer had been heard to say. And
some of the boys had noticed that Ca
1eb's quiet: II think ought to" always
referred to something he was sure to do.
Sc James had intended calling upon
Caleb for assistance in the turning of
water into the 'irrigating ditch upon
which the crops so largely depended,
but he now turned away and went by
himself, with a weight at his heart and
a shadow upon his brow If asked the;
reason for it he m ght have been slow
to admit to anyone else that it was
called there by Il consciousness of neg
lect of duty. but the fact was very.
plain to himself. ,.1.: e.. N 49,
"Just stepmother. If Caleb thinks
it's matter of ought to- write to her
about every mail day wonder what
he'd do if he had mother and father
and sister. Heigho! I didn't expect
to be gone three years when got mad
and quit
In the early springtime James had
been seized with Il spasm of remorse at
his long, cruel neglect of those who
loved him, to whom he was so much
and to whom lie realized he owed it to
be such comfort.
iii write. And some day I'll go
back and do my best by EN-
- He did write, his letter carrying all
the joy which may be imagined into
the old farmhouse. Father and mother
had answered, the sight of their poor
cramped handwriting bringing tears
to the eyes of the wandering son. And
Susan had written:
Father says he'll never miss driving
in to the post Office on the days that
letter could get here after your mail
day. And mother stands at the gate
watching for hi to come back"
It had reached his heart and spurred
him up to writing quite regularly for
awhile. Then the intervals between
his letters had grown longer, and now
for weeks he had not written.
Passing later again near Caleb's
rough library he paused with half
smile. The sun-tanned, freckled face
was now, in the throes of an effort to
accomplish a fne-looking address to
his letter. drawn into series of knots
and wrinkles astonishing to behold.
All of a sudden they relaxed into a
smile of pride and delight as he held
up and conte mpl ated the scraggy re-
suit of his efforts.
I'D rather rlow all day. he said,
meeting James gaze with beaming
eye, Yes, I would. I always feel as
though I'd tackled big job and got
the better of it when I've wrote let
ter. ! feel as light as a feather. When
used to let it slip sometimes 1 felt as
though l had a stone to carry. I feel
F. that way now when writin' times
comm. But I've found the best way
to get rid of that feelin's just to get
right at it and do it. Think that's
the way with most things when you
think you oughtto. don't you?" =
Eyes, do,' said James, as he went
on toward the stables ''And when
you knoeo you ought to- as ] do" he
added to himself. ~ 4 =.
Caleb followed him with shout be-
tokening his unburdened condition of
mind, and leading out one Of the shay
gy ponies used in herding the CATTLE:
was soon galloping the four miles to
the point at which the weekly mail
was gathered. Scant and irregular it
was, and who can tell how many
anxious hearts watched for it's news of
loved ones, or waited in the WEAKNESS
Of hope deferred for tidings which did
not come. =" ..;:.- -,rE
-. The full moon arose over the wide
expanse of rolling mountainous seen
cry as the riders form was lost in the
distance. James leaned against a
rough cart and gazed mechanically
about him. 800 - ft't.f ~: 1T
81 wish had written too didn't
mean to get into loose ways about it
again-as sure as I live I didn't.
Mother watching at: the gate,> Susy
said. l s'pose it's the same old gate =
the one used to swing on when was
little and get scolded for it. Next
Tuesday'll be the day mother'll be
watching" ts,j :.
In the hush of the glorious light his
thoughts wandered over years gone by
Far back, almost to infancy, did his
memory stray, bringing up scenes
vague and misty, incidents only dilnly
recalled; yet in all his mothers face
gentle and tender, seemed to stand out
distinctly. Sometimes it bent over him
in sickness, sometimes he saw it as in
church, with the grave expression put
on for the day. Sometimes it bore
smile Of sympathy with some of his
small delights, again, perhaps frown
or a grieved look over his shortcom-
ings.
eyes, and remember exactly how
she looked when she whipped me, and
how she would come to me ten minutes
afterwards crying and begging me
never to make her do it again: Poor
MOTHER" with a remorseful smile, 'sshe
didn't give it to me half hard enough"
II wonder how she looks now" The
thought came with sharp pang. It
had never before occurred to him to
wonder whether his mother had