The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-02-06

One year more! How Jem said
it over and over 10 himself! Then
he would send for his mother, and
they would be so happy.
The wife of Mr.. Hart, the gentle.
man who sent Jem west, and with
whom Mrs. Malher made her home,
failed in health and died, and Mr..
Hart decided to 60 abroad. To
break up his home. He rec
commended the little woman TO
other friends, but just ther came
such a heart hungry letter from
her one lamb, her boy Jem, that
she decided TO 60 to him. Mr.. Hart
hardly approved, but he saw the
mothers aching heart showing
through her eyes, and placing 500
in her hand and procuring ticket
for her, he saw her safely aboard
the train for the west. Mrs. Mather
had carefully saved every penny
OF hers earnings since Jem's alb
sence, so she felt quite rich in a
small way, and oh, 50 rich with
happiness TO think she should soon
clasp her boy to her heart 4!
As for Jem, whose every thought
and wish was for his little mother,
he was jubilant. He, too, had
saved, and felt sure they would
"get on" somehow until another
year, and then they would never
want again. So he wrote her a
gay letter ending with the prom
lse, Il will not fail to meet you at
the train" He did not dream of
anything to prevent him. The
shops closed at 6 o'clock, and The
train was not due until s. Plenty
of time, was his thought, as he
bEsied bimself putting the finish
ing touches 10 The two small rooms
he had procured for their future
home. Everything was very sim
pie, even meager, but very clean,
and some of the boys at the shop
had made Jem a few presents in
the shape of rocking char for
his mother, several pots of flowers
and few cheap chromos. They
added not a little 10 the brightness
and comfort of his home, and
when he closed he door and turned
The key 10 go TO work in tie morn
ing it was not without little feel,
ing of pride.
They were all in the world to
each other, this fond mother and
her loving, dutiiul son.
And now this order had come.
"NO man to leave the shops until
this machine is finished" Je.n's
heart gave a bound and he gulped
down a dry sob. "If it had been
any other night" thought Jem, "or
| could in any way let mother
know" but that seemed impossi-
BILE. So he conided 10 his friend
Joe his quandary, though for that
matter every man in the shops was
interested and knew of Mrs. Ma
theirs coming, and nearly all We're
wondering what Jem would do
when the order was given.
Jem's steady habits, and kind,
oblIglug ways, had won the hearts
of most of the workmen, and his
love for his mother had touched
them all deeply.
"l'll have To manage it some
how" said Jem to himself, with
troubled eyes. at will never do
to disappOint mother now. Dear |
little mother, what would she
thinkg'
The "boss," Tom Greenwich, was
a hard master, and Jem knew all
appeal TO HIM would he useless.
Jem was an obedient lad, too, and !
il The "boss" had told him person.
ally he must remain with the 9th
ers, although the order said "men,"
Jem would have remained.
ut won't take more than half an
hour to 60 to the train, meet her
and explain" Jem said to Joe,
"and I'll make it up before |
leave"
The great drops of perspiraiion
dropped from the boys face. He
tOiled as never before.
"Fliteen minutes for lunch,' lhun-
dered Dick Allen, the foreman,
Just as the clock struck 6.
The men ceased their work in
stanlly, sitting down upon what
ever was handlest, not waiting 10
"wash up"-there was no time.
Jem alone continued his work.
saw HIM. "Hurry up,
there" he said, roughly.
IL do not care for lunch," he
SAID, respectfully, bending lower TO
his task.
The boss, well pleased, passed
on and out of the shop, reiterating
his order as he went.
you'll kill yourself working
like that an goin' 'thout eatIn', the
way you've been doin' so much"
Joe Walton spoke blunily, but
he meant well and was kind at
best friend Jem had IN
The shops. He lent Jem helping
hand.
Jem smiled his thanks.
'Slill thinkin' of goln7" asked
Joe, obviously. |
Jem liIied a flushed, surprised
face and eyes.
Certainly" he answered, with
calm emphasis.
"Whst If you lose yer placer
"Pll try and manage il so | wont.
You see I'm working over time