Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-11-05

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, ''she
didn't give it to me half hard enough"
81 wonder how she looks now The
thought came with sharp pang. 1t
had never before occurred to him to
wonder whether his mother had
changed in these years in which he had
not seen her. The line of thought once
struck seemed to lead on without his
own vo]ition. 1t must be that the an
guish of his abrupt leave-taking, the
anxiety for his welfare and the long
ing for sight of him during this weary
time had written deep lines upon the
patient face.
There's Caleb back" James Sprang
up as if in glad escape from the heavy
| thoughts as the distant beat of hoofs
smote upon his ear. ''She is only his
stepmother, and yet he walks up to the
business like soldier, hating it as he
does. Caleb has the making of soldier
| in him. I believe"
James was many years older before
| he could fully recognize the fact that
\ there is nothing more heroic than the
| persistent standing by the duties, small
| or great, of every day life.
| Hello Caleb he cried, you've
made quick trip"
"Yes.'' said Caleb, still with the
beaming face belonging with the fin
ished letter. ''Shag hasn't been at
work to-day, and he's as full of jump
as if-as if-he'd got a letter off him
self"
! James could not help joining in the
boys gleeful laugh.
| 81 wish 1 felt as you do, Caleb" he
said.
eli tell you WHAT said Caleb.
with the air of one telling a great Sc
| eret, 81 don't believe there's anything
makes you feel half so good as doing
something you think you ought to do. !"
Not going to turn imp" he asked, re-
turning from the stable, after giving
his little nag faithful care.
mo, I'm going to write a letter"
''1m glad 'tisn't me-" with an ex-
pressive shake of his head. I'm tired
enough to sleep for a week"
Mother was not watching at the gate
on the Tuesday on which letter might
be expected from James. Indeed, there
sometimes crept over father and Susan
a cold chill of fear that she might
never stand there or anywhere else
again.
For the feet which had taken so
many steps in loving ministering, which
had SO patiently held to the round of
small duties laid out by Him who or
ders all our ways, were at last taking a
rest. She had been suffering with a
low fever, and the doctor shook his
head with a discouraged face as day
followed day, to be heightened into
week following week, and still the
pulse grew weaker and the faded eye
| DINNER.
eff there was anything to rouse her, -
:. the old doctor had said, sorely per-
picked at the utter lack of result to all
his applied remedies. There isn't sc
much the matter with her-only a lack
of vitality. Nothing seems to touch it. -
He sat with helpless, baffled look
During the latter weeks Susan ha6
stolen out on Tuesday for a little sea
, son of wistful watching for the longed
for letter which had never come. But
to-day she sat still, weighed down by
the burden of dread of what might be
: scarcely hearing the slow rumble OF
the wagon as father drove along the
lane. A few moments later he ap
peared at the door and held up letter
before Susan's eyes. She forgot hel
caution in a glad spring towards him.
, ga letter! A letter from james,
She controlled her voice to wills
per, but mother had been stirred from
her half-stupor, and had opened he1
; eyes. The doctor was watching her.
!, ''Read it, he said, motioning Susar
to the seat at her mothers side.
DEAR MOTHER: I've been thinking tonigh
how long it is since left home. never though
! it would be SO long. really didn't when 1 go
E into pet and OF. And If I've won
, dered once why I did it I've wondered
, thousand times for haven't in all these
three years seen any place that was quite up t.
home. And if I was to stay three times three
) I'd never find anybody like you and father ant
, Susy.
There's another thing I've been wondering
and that's whether you want to see such
good-fo nothing as me there again"
A little sob came from mother, anC
5 Susan paused in alarm.
$50 on motioned the doctor.
But I'm most sure you do and I'm coming
I home, mother. 1t won't be so very long befor,
you see me- I've learned a lot OF lessons sine,
left and the one I've learned the best is tina
any boy who goes around the world hunting TO
q better place than home is q simpleton. 81
, I'm coming to be your boy again. And il 20,
don't ma that can De comfort TO you 4n(
father and Susy, why, all you can do is to sent
me away again"
: ''Her fever'll be up again. said Susy
1 bending over her mother in q flutter Of
S Joy and anxiety.
But there was a smile on mother.
S face and light of hope and peace il
? her eyes which had long been wanting
t there.
S ''Thank God.' she whispered. IN,
j boys coming home"
And when James very soon followed
t his letter he held his breath at learn
4 ing how very near he had come to find
e ing a desolate home. and thankfully re
joiced in the blessed privilege of win
: ming his mother back to health ant
f happiness
There are many boys who put off thu
home-letters and Homecoming unit
81 too late.-Sydney Dayre, in n. Y. Oh
/ server.
Don't Be q Lobster.
II A lobster when left high and DIR,
! among the rocks has not sense and en-