The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
THE HOMECOMING.
By G. T. FERRIS.

Copyright, 1899 By American Press Assooia-
toni
When the congregation sang the grand
chorus OF Praise God from whom all bless
lngs flow" at the close Of the Thanksgiving
.ervice. Farmer Ashford felt that he had
yerv much TO be thankful for. He was
"warm" in this worlds goods, and big
farm. sleek herds. fat granaries and money
at interest made him notable among the
rural folk Of Fairfield. Yet even his whole
some piety could not withhold deep sigh
As his eye scanned the empty places in the
family pew There were his son viii and
bis handsome wife. who had come home
for the great feast Of the year.
VIII had been prosperous in Boston and
was all that fathers heart could wish
upright, highly honored rs man and mer-
chant aud on the road 70 riches. There was
bis adopted daughter Kate, distant rela-
tive by blood, who made him and his wife
almost forget that they had buried all their
own girls But the partner of his joys and
sorrows for 45 years was at home feeble
from a terrible attack of illness, half blind
and almost bedridden. This Thanksgiving
day would be the first time she would have
sat al the table for six months. The deep
sore place, however was the thought OF
Tom. the son, who had been away for 10
years. a wandereT on the face OF the earth.
viii. " said the farmer as they logged
home. do you know it's morn five years
gone since we've had a line from your
brother. though try 10 think he is still
livin. Tom, though wild an unsteady, had
a warm heart an pears to me be would
k.vritten TO his mother, who's been pinin
for him so long. ! tell ye, WIZ, twas less
diet fever which left your mother so poor
lg than her heart sickness for Tom, dear
soul Oh, why did he ever leave a good
homeW
VIII had the cheerful optimism which
so often goes with an easy life, and then,
TOO. he was anxious TO comfort the old
man:
Don't feel that way about it, father
Tom viii turn up all right yet, and he'll
burst in on you some day as lively as
cricket There never was a fellow better
able 10 take care Of himself than Tom, II
be was q little wayward. He always did
like TO do the most odd and unexpected
things. Why. do you know, there was the
captain o. one Of our ships who was swept
overheard Ia q gale and thought to be lost
for seven years He was picked up at sea-
and the ship which rescued him was
wrecked IN the south Pacific. The things
DE went through before be got home would
almost make your hair stand up. And the
romance was he returned just in time to
stophis wife marrying another man-pretty
nearly an Eu0ch Arden business"
We'll wellm said the farmer, 81 wish
we could make mother think as you do"
shaking bis gray head sadly. Thanks
Riyin always opens up the old wound
fresher'n ever. sometimes almost hate to
have the plate an the cheer all set there
with nuthin but empty air in 'em, but she
viii have 10 so.n
Kate had listened 10 these words with a
ihrobbing heart She scarcely attended to
the lively chatter Of her companion on the
back seat. She could have told them some
thing which she fancied might have shed a
little light on Toms sudden departure
from home long ago but she was not quite
sure, and she had always recoiled, too, with
a maideniy shame from speaking Of such
guesswork.
Tom had been the Benjamin OF the fam
ily, born 10 years after win, and when he
was growing up 10 manhood the elder