The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-01-07
STORY OF A LETTER.
1t wen Mother Back to Health
and Happiness

1t WeH Mother Back to Health
and Happiness
"Off work SO early?''
James stopped in passing boy who,
like himself. was one Of the workers
on large ranch. Caleb's stumpy fig
@nre was bending over large table in
the rough back porch and his face was
drawn into a quicker which told that
his task was no easy one.
Yes, it's early know, but it's mail
day to-morrow-and / thought I'd send
a letter"
Folks back east?" asked jones.
Well, haven't got many folks.
Amt SO well off as you are. It's my
stepmother, bnt she's good woman
and likes to hear from me and I 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 presuming to make a
suggestion Of duty to anyone. But 1t
had come to be observed that Caleb
was to be relied on.
longs he is sure to be there" his en-
floyer had been heard to say. And
some of the boys had noticed that Ca
Ieb's quiet: II think fought 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 aud went by
himself, with a weight at his heart and
shadow upon his brow. If asked the
reason for IL he might have been slow
to admit to anyone else that it was
called there by consciousness of neg
lect of duty, but the fact was very
plain to himself
'sJust stepmother If Caleb thinks
it's matter of ought to- write to her
about every mail day i wonder what
he'd do if he had mother and father
and sister. Heighol didn't expect
TO be gone three years when got mad
and quit"
In the early springtime James had
been seized with a 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'm write. And some day I'll go
back and do my best by 'em."
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-tothe post Office on the days that a
letter could get here after your mail
day. And mother stands at the gate
watching for him to come back"
It had reached hiszheart and spurred
HIM up to writing quite regularly for
awhile. Then the intervals between
his letters had grown longer. and now
- for weeks he.shad not written.
Passing later again near Caleb's
rough library he paused with half
vemiie. The sun-tanned, freckled face
was now, in the throes of an effort to
accomplish a. fine Looking address to
: his letter, drawn into series of knots
and wrinkles astonishing to behold.
All of a sudden they relaxed into a
smile OF pride and delight as he heid
up and contemplated the scraggy re-
suit of his efforts.
'I'd rather plow all day. he said,
meeting James gaze with q 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 q feather. When
] used to let it slip sometimes felt as
though ! had stone to carry. 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 knoao you ought to, as / do" he
added to himself.
Caleb followed him with shout be-
tokening 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
,9,was gathered. Scant and irregular it
'~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 seen
cry as the riders form was lost in the
distance. James leaned against a
rough cart and gazed mechanically
abopt him.
Il wish had written too. didn't
tmean TO get into loose ways about 1t
againas sure as live ! didn't.
Mother watching at the gate, Susy
said s'pose it's the same old gate =
TIE one used to swing on when was
little and get scolded for IT Next
Tuesday'll be the day mother'n be
Watching"
In the hush of the glorious light his
thoughts wandered over years gone by.
Far back, almost to infancy, did his
memory stray, bringing up scenes
ne and misty, incidents only dimly
died; yet in all his mothers face,
& ntle and tender, seemed to stand out
stinctly. Sometimes IT bent over him
81 sickness, sometimes he saw II as IN
church, with the grave expression PUT
on for the day. Sometimes It bore =