The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-10-14
Highest of all in Leavening Power-Latest s. Govt Report.
|@!A!,!!! B BsMdsz
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE
Going Back Home.

There were 10 or q dozen of us seated
about n rcdhot stove in a back country
store one fearfully cold December evening,
and the wag OF the party had just finished
a story that convulsedsn MS all with laughter,
when the store door was slowly pushed
open and n little, bent old woman came
hobbling in. She was poorly and thinly
dressed in calico, and her face and n
were blue with the Geld. She stood SILVER
ing by the door and looking at us appeal
.ngly as she faltered:
"Mayn'tI please come and git warm!"
In an instant every man was on his feet,
offering her his seat by the stove. She
came forward as quickly as she could, tuck
ing n lock Of white hair back beneath the
poor old fashioned bonnet.
"Thankee, thankee,' she murmured a.
she sank down and held her withered, trcrn
bling hands out toward the stove. "1t's
dreadful cold tonight. When u body fits
long in years they can't stand the cold like
young folks"
Not one of the party had ever seen the
old woman before. and all were filled with
wonder. Finally Judson, the storekeeper,
venturcd to inquire how she came to be out
on such n night.
I'm jest goin pack home,' y she explained.
81 couldn't stay away any longer, though ]
don't s'pose Joe and Mandy'll be tickled TIC
see me. Joe's my boy, and Mandy's his
wife. Joe W. allus good to his old nam,
though l must hev been powerful tiresome
to hev round sometimes. 1t was Mandy ms
got him to take me off to some kind of n
home where they said I'd be treated first
class. | don't mind the treatment, though
some of the folks there do yell and holler SO
| can't sleep nights, but Pm jest hungry
| fN,.., I'LL - 49,. H. - -
l run away, and Pm goin back"
The men looked ut each other signiti.
cantly, and one of them whispered in my
ear:
She's been in the asylum over in Rox-
daft"
What's your boys namet" asked Jud.
son.
"Hisnamc's joe"
"Yes, but Joe whati"
II forgit the last of it" shefaltered, pass
ing n hand over hey forehead. MY MEM
rvs powerful bad of latc.n
Where does he liver"
Down by the foot OF the hill close to the
old bridge, Oh, l know Jest how the place
looksl' she beamed. "Joc's dad md mt
worked pretty hard to clear the place and
build the house. Some say pa worked his
self inter the ground, for he didn't live six
months arter we got all the debts paid. 1t
hain't more'n MATERIAL for me ter love the
old place, and Pm powerful glad Pm goin
back home"
She leaned her head back againsta crack.
er box, II tired sigh coming from her lips,
her weary eyes dropping. 1t was warm and
comfortable there by the stove, and she
soon feemed to be sleeping.
Poor womnnl'' muttered more than one
Of the rough men us they thought of hel
sad lot-nn outcast from the home she
had laborcd so hard to obtain. They spoke
in whispers, SO she would not awaken, and
one by one they slipped out and went home
to their own tiresides until thestorekeeper,
myself and two others alone remained.
II hate to wake her up declared Jud.
son as he blew out one of the lights. "She
must be completely tuckered."
He went round the stove and touched
her on the shoulder, saying gently:
Come, csmc, wake up now!" She did
not stir, and he shook her n bit, adding
Its time to close" Then all ut once be
fell back, gasping:
"Shc is dcad!'
1t was true. She had gone home"