The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-12-11
STORY OF A LETTER.
It Won a Mother Back to Health
and Happiness.
"Off work so early?"

James stopped in passing boy who.
like himself, was one of the workers
on a large ranch. Caleb's stumpy fig
ure was bending over a large table in
the rough back porch and his face was
drawn into pucker which told that
his task was no easy one.
''Ycs. it's early / know, but it's mail
day to-morrow-and / thought I'd send
a 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 good woman
and likes to hear from me and / 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 prcsuming to make a
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
leb's quiet: II think ought to-" always
referred to something he was sure to do.
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 n weight at his heart and
n 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 4 consciousness of neg
lect of duty, but the fact was very
plain to himself.
Just a stepmother. If Caleb thinks
it's matter OF ought to- write TO her
about every mail day 1 wonder what
he'd do if he had a mother and father
and a sister Heighol didn't expect
to be gone three years when got mad
and quit"
In the early springtime James had
been seized with spasm of remorse at
his long, cruel neglect of those who
loved him, to whom he was so much
and to whom he realized he owed it to
be such comfort.
'I'l 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 him 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 hot written.
Passing later again near Caleb's
rough library he paused with half a
smile. The sun-tanned, freclSled face
was now, in the throes of an effort to
accomplish n fine-looking address to
his letter, drawn into n series of knots
and wrinkles astonishing to behold.
All of sudden they relaxed into a
smile of pride and delight as he held
up and contempt ated the scraggy re-
suit of his efforts.
I'D rather rlow all day." he said,
meeting James gaze with beaming
eye Yes, / would. / 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 feather. When
/ used to let it slip sometimes / felt as
though i had a stone to carry. i feel
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 ought to. don't you?"
Yes, do" said James, as he went
on toward the stables. "And when
you knop you ought to, as I do" he
added to himself
Caleb followed him with a shout be-
his unburdened condition of
mind and leading out one of the shag-
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 il
was, and who can tell how many
anxious hearts watched for its news of
loved ones, or waited in the WEAKNESS
Of hope deferred for tidings which did
not come.
The full moon arose over the wide
expanse of rolling mountainous seem
cry as the riders form was lost in the
distance. James leaned against
rough cart and gazed mechanically
about him.
81 wish had written too. didn't
mean to get into loose ways about it
,gain-as sure as / live / didn't
Mother watching at the gate, S:sy
said. ] s'po5e its the same old gate
the one ! used TO swing on when 1 was
little and get scolded for it Next
be the day mother'll be
In. L - q L.
thoughts wandered over years gone by.
Ear hue al, 70 ,.<. L