The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-12-17
She Saw Him OF.

Down in Texas, several years ago, q
middle aged man was convicted of horse
stealing in a regular court and sent TO
the pententary for long term. He
was duly sentenced and the sheriff fixed
aday upon which he should be taken TO
the State prison. The day arrived and
the official, with string of convicts
handcuffed together, was at the station
waiting for the train.
While the group sat in the depot a
little old woman in black, with face in
which the fingers of sorrow had pinched
great burrows, appeared at the door. She
looked at the string of prisoners intently
then light of recognition came into her
face. She stepped over to the group Of
unlortunates and laid her hand on the
arm Of big, coarse fellow with heavy.
red mustache. The man turned anG
looked at the little woman.
"Mother!" he exclaimed. That was all.
Big tears came into hir eyes. They did
not stay there, but crowded one another
out to chase down the rough face, red
now with shame. They ran into the big
mustache and off at the ends of it. Then
he recovered himself. The little woman
was not cying-people sometimes get
beyond that.
what e-you-doing-here? the
big man sobbed.
Il came, my son, said the little woman
with the burrows in her face, ito see you
of.
Toto see me off," The man was
dazed.
"Yes, Henry. When you were such
little boy that you had never been out of
the home yard aloneI went to the gate
with you the first day you ever went to
the store by yourself. watched You
the three block of the distance until youl
chubby feet carried you into the little
country store that your father kept.
Then when you were and started fol
school, | went to the gate with you again
and told you how to act in the school
room. You went away on a visit when
you were TO- and went to the depot
with you and your uncle, then. And
| kissed you goodby before the cars
started"
How the tears were flowing from that
big mans eyes!
"Yes, and the little woman sighed a
hit. "Then you got to be is and wanted
to go of to st. Louis. 1t was hard to
part with you, but we did it-your father
and land went to the little depot with
YOU again and kissed you again. You
remember, don't you?"
The other prisoners were interested,
now, and the sheriff himself was taking
in every word.
Then you were married, Henry. |
went to see you bound by law and God
to that sweet dear Mary who is now
Don't-don't-don't, almost shrieked
the big man.
Yes" the little woman went on, un.
heedingly, "and now you are going
away again, and must kiss you. The
train is coming, Henry; kiss your ole
mother"
The sheriff bad not moved. Ordinarily
}e would have told the man to hurry on.
Bat he waited now The big man
bowed and tried to hide his manaclsJ
hands.
Mss me, Henry" the old lady re-
lated The head moved lower, and lhc
t. red mustache almost covered thC
little face with the burrows in it. Then
fho gang started for the train
As The cars began to move out the lit
tie woman stood on the platform SIZE
caught glimpse Of her big son thruu !
he car window. She waved litV.t
1iack hor cred handkerchief at him.
&c odby, Henry, she called out fee
: by. and then, through force of the habit
nrmed when she sent her little son tC
,cnool, she murmured:
"B5-be good boy"
Oneof that gang Of prisoners told mi
aftcrward that the little scene in the de
pot was a greater punishment to eacl
man there than his respective term o
0 imprisonment Detroit Free Press.