The Press., 1894-04-05

affected firmness, "Well,young man, do you propose to behave yourself now r Then he broke down, and we all three sat whimpering like whipped school children At last supper time came, and mother went out to prepare 1t. l went into the kitchen with her.
 "Where do you live, Jimmy ?" she asked.
 'In New York" I replied
 'What are you working at now, Jim my ?"
 "rm working in dry goods store."
 'sThen I don't suppose you live very high, for I hear tell O them city clerks that don't get enough money to keep body and soul together. So I'll just tell you, Jimmy, we've got nothing but roast spareribs for supper We ain't got any money now, Jimmy. We're poorer nor Jobs turkey" I told her would be delighted with the sparerib, ,and, to tell the truth, John; I haven't tasted a meal in New York that tasted as good as those crisp, roast spareribs did.
 I spent the evening playing checkers with father, while mother sat by telling me all about their misfortunes from old white Mooley getting drowned in the pond to fathers signing a note for friend and having to mortgage the place to pay 1t.
 The mortgage was due iuside 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 {:
 "Well, Jim, go out to the barn and see if Kit is all right. Bring in an arm ful of old shingles that are just outside the door, and fill up the water pail Then we'll go off to bed, and get up early and go a-6shing."
 1 didn't say a word, but 1 went to to the barn, bedded down the horse, broke up an armful of shingles, pump ed up pailful of water, filled the wood box, and then we all went to bed.
 Father called me at half past four in the morning, and while he was get ting breakfast skipped over to the de- pot across lots and got my best bass rod. Father took nothing but troll ing line and spoon hook. He rowed the boat with the trolling line in his mouth, while I stood in the stern with silver sinner rigged on.
 Now, John, never saw man catch fish as he did. To make long story short, he caught four bass and five pickerel, and I never got bite.
 At noon we went ashore and father went home, while went to the post office. I got letter from Chicago with a check for 5000 in it. With some trouble I got 1t cashed, getting paid in $5 and $10 bills, making quite a roll. I then got a roast joint of beef and a lot of delicacies, and had them sent home. After that I went visiting among my old schoolmates for two hours and then went home The joint was in the oven. Mother had put on her only silk dress and father had on his Sunday-go-to-me clothes, none too good, either.
 1 This is where I played joke on the old folks. Father was out to the barn, and mother was in the kitchen watch ing the roast. So I had clear co ast. 1 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 1t, and he actual ly trembled when he struck his knife into the roast
 I've haven't had piece of meat like that in five years, Jim" he said, and mother put in with, "And we haven't had any coffee in year, only when we went visiting" ...-..
 Then she poured out the coffee and lifted up the cover of the sugar bowl, asking as she did so, "How many spoonfuls, Jimmy ?"
 Then she struck something that wasn't sugar. She picked up the bowl and peered into it.
 "Ah, Master Jimmy, playing your old tricks on your nanny, eh Well, boys will be boys"
 Then she gasped for breath. She saw 1t was money. She looked at me, then at father, then with trembling fin= gers drew the great roll of bills out.
 l can see father now as he stood there On tiptoe, with his knife in one hand, fork in the other, and his eyes fairly bulging out of his head.
 But 1t was too much for mother She raised her eyes to heaven, and slowly said, ''Put your trust in the Lord, for 1 He will provide"
 Then she tainted away.
 Well, John, there's not much more to tell. We threw water in her face, and brought her to, and then we de molished that dinner, mother all the time saying, My boy, Jimmy My boy Jimmy p
 I stayed home a month. I fixed up the place, paid off all the debts, had a good time, and came back to New 1 York am going to send home fifty dollars every week. I tell you, John,