Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-12-21

But somehow she could not forget 1t
much, though she did try. Her eyes
grew bright but that look hat came
when father died went away,
and her face grew thin and by and bye
she could not go about any more.
They took her TO the hospital. and
the Sisters said she vas SO patient and
good that il wasn't any trouble to take
care of her.
/ used TO go and see her every day,
and she grew thinner and thinner and
weaker and weaker. and she used to
talk TO me and hold my hand in hers,
that was so thin and hot.
One morning they sent for me early.
Ther was a light in her eyes just as
If the morning that was just a beaming
in the east, was a kindlin' in them too.
She kissed me and she a MY poor
little Jack, he a good boy; be q good
and true man just such as your father
wanted you to be and when ! see him
l will tell him You have always been
good and j am sure you will always
be honest and true. Then she kissed
me again and pretty loon mother was
gone, too. and | was all alone. Nobody
left. Nobody.
They said mother died of consamp-
ton, but i know she died because her
heart was broke, she couldn't live on
that way any longer no how.
When they buried her somebody
brought lots of lovely white flowers
and laid on her coffin. Wasn't / glad?
But they weren't no whittier not a bit
than mothers whole life had been.
| tell you Ben, the whole world seem
ed empty then. Nobody nowhere for
me and I inst wished | was dead, az
Then | began 10 think what father
aud mother had said: Re a true man."
The world looked awful black, but
playing the coward and wanting to
creep out before / had a call to go
wasn't what they wanted me TO do.
So, / said there was something TO live
for. To do what they wanted Inc to do.
So l am going to rustic. Expect it
will be rough shedding. but III do my
very best, and / don't believe il win
be for nothing; any way, III try. But
il does seem KINDER hard when 1 thin g..
, tomorrow is Christmas, and such lots
of bows End girls have so many to love
them. / don't care so much for the
pretty things, but it makes me think OF
the difference, you see.
A gentleman had halted a little way
eff. He caught something of what
Jack was saying, and became interested.
He listened, then he came up, and hand
ing Jack a card. said: After you have
eaten your turkey tomorrow, come 10
that address, won't you? ] would like
TO see you by daylight and talk a little
with you. VIII you conner
Yes, sir!' answered Jack prompt
ly, Il amt very pretty, but / can stand
the daylight. IN come, sir"
Jack went. 1t was a beautiful home
in an a~ristocratic quarter and its lux
urious appointments he thought must
look like the palace of king.
MI. Phillips, the man whose card he
had taken, assured him that he thought
he did not lose anything by being seen
in the daylight, and that If he would
be true TO the convictions he heard
him express the night before, he thought
he could help him carry oil the wishes
of the good father and mother whose
memory he was GLAD 10 know he rev.
erenced.
And he did, and in the sweet motherly
heart of Mrs. Phillips he found a warm
corner which no children Of her own
had come TO fill.
The years are rolling past and though
when Christmas comes the holy memorA
les of the bitter past sweep over his
soul, Jack knows there is something to
live for. something in heaven, and
something On earth knows that there
are strong, earnest, tender hearts in
his beautiful home, that care for him
special"