Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-05-15


Where do you live, Jimmy? she
asked.
In New York, I replied.
What are you working at now, Jim
my?
am working in dry goods store.
Then I suppose you don't live very
high, for I hear tell o'them city clerks
what don't get enough money to keep
body and soul together. So I'll just
tell you, Jimmy, we got nothing but
roast spareribs for supper. We amt
got any money now Jimmy. We are
poorer nor Jobs turkey.
said I would be delighted with the
spareribs, and, to tell the truth. John,
I haven't eaten a meal in New York
that tasted as good as those crisp
roast spareribs did.
spent the evening playing check
ers with father, while mother sat by
telling me all about their misfortunes,
from old white Mooley getting drown
ed in the pond, to fathers signing
note for friend and having to mort
gage the place to pay it.
The mortgage was due inside Of a
week and not cent to pay it WITH
Just $500. She supposed they would
be turned out of house and home, but
in my mind I supposed they wouldn't.
At last O'Clock came and father said:
jim, go to the barn and see if Kit is
all right. Bring in an armful of
shingles, that are just inside the door,
and fill up the water pail. Then We'll
go off TO bed and get up early and go
fishing.
I didn't say word, but I went out
to the barn, bedded down the horse,
broke up an armful Of old shingles,
pumped pailful of water, filed the
woodbox and then we all went to bed.
Father called me at 4:30 in the
morning, and while he was getting
breakfast skipped over to the depot
cross lots and got my best bass rod.
Father took nothing but trolling
line and a spoon hook. He rowed the
boat with the trolling line in his
mouth, while I stood in the stern with
a silver sinner rugged on. Now, John,
[ never saw man catch fish as he
did. To make long story short four
bass and five pickerel, and I never
got bite.
At noon we went ashore and father
went home, while l went to the post
Office. I got a letter from Chicago
with a check for $1,000 in it. With
some trouble [ got it cashed, getting
paid in five dollar and ten dollar bills,
making quite a roll. I then got
roast joint of beef and a lot of delica-
cies, and had them sent home. After
that [ went visiting among my old
schoolmates for two hours and went
home. The Joint was in the oven.
Mother had put on her only silk
dress and father had donned his Sun
day go meeting clothes, none to
good, either. This is where [ played
joke on the old folks. Mother was
in the kitchen watching the roast. /
Father was out in the barn and | had
clear coast. l dumped the sugar out
of the old blue bowl, put the thousand
dollars in it and placed the cover on
again. At last supper was ready. |
Father asked blessing over it, and
he actually trembled when he stuck
his knife in the roast.
We haven't had piece of meat like
that in five years, Jim, and mother
put in with: We haven't had any cof-
fee in a year, only when we went a
visitin'.
Then she poured out the coffee and
lifted the cover of the sugar bowl,
asking as he did so: How many spoon
fuls, Jimmy.
Then she struck something that was
not sugar. She picked up the bowl |
and peered into it. Aha, Master jim
my, playing your old tricks on your
nanny, eh? Well boys will be boys.
Then she gasped for breath. She
saw it was money She looked at me,
than at father, then with trembling
fingers drew the great roll of bills
out.
Ha! ha! ha! [ can see father now as
he stood there on tiptoe, with his knife
in one hand, fork in the other, and his
eyes bullying out of his head. But it
was too much for mother. She raised |
her eyes toward heaven and slowly
said: Put your trust in the Lord, for
He will provide.
Then she tainted away. Well John,
there's not much more to tell. We
threw water in her face and brought I
her to, and then we demolished that
dinner, mother all the time saying:
My boy Jimmy! My poor Jimmy!