The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-11-03
"Well, mother. 1t does seem TO me.

NANN re III.
And again the old lady went to hcr
room in silence and with burr "
ci'cl;s. Wacn they called her 10 s.'p-
per sc said She was no; hungry. IA.
as Lucy ana George w,~c In dire lis-
rratc and sent u bed surpericss. Ma-
IL and her husband ate alone.
Mother always did have such disa-
greeable temper-stubborn and sulky.
II she had been milder with father
they would have lived more like other
people" said Matilda, indifercntly,
when explaining the cause Of her moth
er's absence.
IL wouldn't keer so much" the old
lady was sobbing to herself upstairs,
'if only pap he'd sent me some little
word that he wanted TO see me Chill
dren's most alters ungrateful any ways,
specially them that's he'd the most
done fur 'em. an I've wor ked my life
ont for mine
But l wouldn't had 'em il il hadn't
been for love Of pap, an don't think
he'd ort to forgit me now!"
Down in the city the warm spring
days awoke q new restlessness in old
Mr. Paine. His daughter Jane was as
kind 20 him as kind daughter could
be. Her children were taught TO ad-
dress him respectfully and to wait on
his every wish because he was their
grandparent But the warm sunshine
called up visions of the country home
where the grass would be just deepen
ing into green again and the maple
boughs bursting with buds
He had always had q lettuce bed just
through at this time And the spring
longings recalled the days of youth and
the little children who had PLAYED
about him as he weeded and hoed In
his garden, and the busy mother often
taking time from her own work to help
him But she had always scolded so
much. he muttered defiantly TO himself.
and was ever so determined TO have
her own way. Then a twinge Of con-
science told him her way had generally
been the best, FOR she was clearer
sighted than he, and he picked up his
cane and hobbled away TO the park in
funny sort Of little dudgeon Then as
he sat in the park he though; of Henry
and tears came 70 his eyes in spite of
him
Hes mighty fond of his mother-an'
she was a good mother, too; Ill say
that for her anyways Henry was a
fine boy. He'd a-been the finest we got
IL he'd a-lived. for he seemed to hev
more sense an cood-heartedness, some
ways don't know as blame her.
after all, for bein' SO bound to hev him
go TO college
And, the barrier of stubborn reproach
once loosened, some way everything
began to look different, and when he
hobbled back TO the house the old gen.
tleman was very heart-sick to see the
wife he had treated so brusquely the
past many years
He went straight to his old satchel
and took out well-cared-fcr book. bu.
one Of an old binding and print 1t
was Latin grammar, and had been
his secret and most carefully preserved
treasure for over thirty years
As the mother had gone TO the grave
Of her most ardent ambitions. 50 he
now turned the pages Of his boys
book, one word of which he could not
understand. but could only regard with
awe Then re came 10 page on the
margin of which was much fine writing
II elegant script II was not hard for
him 20 read, little book learning as he
had
"Nother-dear mother Wife and
mother, mans trrest friends-guardiaa
angels in death Mo;her-sweethe2-
-wife-Edith.
he must a-beea in love with some
body himself" unused the old father.
but ne didn't to7git his mother neith-
e-. She was ny sweethear; onct!7
Before grandfather went 10 sleep
that night ne had formed fresh deter
mination
Jennie" he said to his daughter in
the morning, you know the Barkin
cottage up 10 the Crossings? Well, I'm
goin' up and see If ! can't rent IT.
They's nice garden patch with il, and
'tain't too late yet to put in garden
stuff, an'-an'-dor'ty ye .hink rnother'd
be willin' fur TO cool, fur me"
Yes, father; you know she always
sends you her respects" There were
tears in James eyes, despite the smile
on her lips
An I'm pretty sure / could make
enough with the garden fur her an me,
an You children could help ds dom,
| believe Henry would want Us TO live
this way; Go your
No, father"
That night, an hour or so after the
express thunde-ed past the station, !
| couple of miles from the crossing
Grandfather Paine walked up Matilda:
front yard and around TO the bacl; door
| where the old grandmother was put
| ting away the nights milk.
Grandmother gave a little glad CRY
and dropped the crock OF milk all owe;
the tabby cat, and threw her arm.
around his neck
II just couldn't stand it no longer
Mary, an lowed as you and me he,
run il this long we might stick togeth
er for the few years that's left 20 Us
An mother, I'm powerful sorry If
you like l allers did about Henry
goin'so college"