Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-12-26

- IN
SO
New Year and what day it was to
them
Far away in another home an old
man and woman made ready for the
glad New Year, also. There was the
biggest and latest turkey in the whole
brood roasted the incest of pumpkin
pies baked, aud vet the faces about
the board so plentifully loaded were
sad ones.
Il keep hoping Nat will return, {"
said the mother, The did love my
pumpkin pies so we'll He'll surely
remember his old home now; he must
know how we want him back"
The father sighed. and just then
there came a knock upon the door, but
when opened it pny revealed very
tall and lank individual who awk-
wardly entered, taking oil his hat for
the real reason that the low doorway
would not admit him otherwise.
How do you dop' he said, bashful-
ly
Quite we'll stranger" said the
farmer, have a seat, won't YOU, it's
as cold and bustery New Years day
as | ever remember
Yes said the tall stranger, but
it's good deal like last year amt itP"
The mother turned her head, the old
man took off his spectacles and wiped
them carefully.
No last New Years day was warm
and pleasant remember because
the boys were outdoors so much
Your boysPn
My boy aud some neighbors, We
only have one son" mournfully,
Only one where is hep
I'VE don't know, he left us on New
Years day we've never seen him
since
WAS his name NatP'
Yes. Ohl yes. Do you bring us
word of him our only childPn
You must not got excited" said
the tall individual in gentle tones,
perhaps | bring You little word OF
him. | come from the mines. While
working there this fall aud summer a
boy joined u.s. bright, handsome
young fellow that everybody liked
He said his name was Nat Goodyear"
Our son. our own dear Nat but
where--P'
Wait A dreadful snow storm
came aud shut us all up in the noun
tains without food or fuel. A little
band was formed TO try to reach the
lower country and get help. Your
boy was one of the three. Ii was MI
most certain deaJn to go. just as Ger
tain TO remain, One night, when be
ginning the journey. the boy requested
his two friends, If either lived aud he
did not. to carry or send his small
fortune TO his old father and mother
with his love-
"And you have brought us that. "
sobbed tho mother, You have come
to tell us that our boy, our darling
child, is deadn
'Hushl don't weep! A Drawer lad II
would be hard to find. The way was
toruous, severe, an accident happened
to one of the three. and he died and
the other two buried him tenderly IN
the snow. Don't cry the one that
died was not your son. No, indee d
he lived to 20 on, when even tie other
fell exhausted by the way, to 20 on
until help was reached, aud Is party
quickly made up with generous nup-
plies TO fight their way mp the mCGn-
tain and save the score of lives await
ing them They have reached there
L. l,fl g. 1.
farther West, no doubt the New Years
dinner is already in progress. Thank
God that it is sol / bring this as a
peace Offering from your son. it con
tains about one thousand dollars and
will clear the mortgage on the old
place.
But Nat, our boy, we want him."
said the father,
Then tJe door Jew open with n
baug--a well-rememb ered bang-and
Nat, taller and browner, but Nat still
entered aud took them 10 his arms. his
strong young arms as if forevermore
he would shelter them.
1--WE come backl We had a fight
for 1t and for our lives as we'll; but |
coaxed Jim TO come, too that he might
spend New Years day with me In the
dear old bome-for. mother dear, I've
told about your famous pumpkin pies "
And far away upon snowy noun
tain side men were getting ready to
partaKe O a dinner so plentiful that It
scarcely seemed possible that it could
be real and as they talked and thanked
the kind Father VINO had saved them.
they spoke. with tender reverence. the
names Of the three who had gone out
Of their midst, only as brave men can,
10 succor or perish by the way.-Ab5'e
Q. NJ hecUer.
Floating ArkansnM MiIIa.