The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-10


young ones. baby always in my,
arms, and my work round the house,
! hadn't no time to tend TO invalids;
for mother'd got real poorly. So We
al Joined together and got her . beau.
tifnl room in the Fairfield home, where
she didn't have = thing to do all day
but just enjoy herself
Laura was so shocked and panied by
this evidence Of Ballard heaftlessness
that she cut short her visit 70 Clifton,
and started far her home the next
week. A part of her journey Was by
water; and happening TO fall into con-
versation with the lady who sat next
her on the boat, she related this Incl.
dent to her. prefacing itwith the ques-
tion:
''Do you know anyone in Clifton?"
mo-" replied the stranger, NOR in
any other part of this state. We, my
children and |, are simply passing
through it on our way home from
visit to the noun tains"
Il am glad of that, for | want to tell
you little incident which illustrates
the very trait. heartlessness, of which
we were just speaking. But of course
! shall suppress all names" .
Getting excited with her recital,
however, Laura involuntarily let fall
the name of Ballard - well as ono or
two Of the Christian DameA When
she had finished her story the stranger
said: .. . .., j.. 49,. ....a A.
where is this Clifton?"
1t is near railroad center called
Barnum; indeed, it was called Barnum
Mills until few years ago. Perhaps
you've heard Of the Barnum match
works?"
"Oh, yes; I have. All. here 10 the
place where lea:e the boat Let me
bid you good-by. with tho hope that
we may meet again sometime;" and 90
saying the strangertook her leave.
Early the next morning this Same
stranger might have been seen" (as
G. P. b. James puts it) entering the
comfortable, if lonely, little room IS
signed to Mrs. hannah Ballard in the
Old Ladies' home at Fairfield
you once lived in Barnum Mills, or
Clifton, as they now call it. did you
not?' the visitor asked Mrs Ballard
after the first greetings we're OK
changed.
eyes; I was married in Clifton and
my husband bought = farm there. He
lies sleeping there now, and my three
children live in Clifton still. Have
you come from there?" was the an
swer.
mo; but know some one who did,
L, k1,n<
had four children"
Eyes; l had four children, but my
youngest is-oh, / don't know where;
dead, l am sure, as it is years since ]
heard from him. Poor Mark! He was
my comfort"
II heard he was wild"
"He may have been. but If he was,
others were to blame. He was always
good to me. They called him lazy;
but he never let me chop stick of
wood or draw a pail of water I
never took any extra steps when he
was round. He didn't love to work.
maybe, as the others did-he set great
store by his books"
"Are you comfortable bere?"
"Ye-es; but it's kind O. lonesome
sometimes, specially when remember
that Abner and Seth and hannah have
all got good, CHEEKY homes of their
own. If Mark had lived it would all
be different"
ut shall be different yet, mother
am Clara Ballard, your son Marks
wife," cried the visitor, embracing
and kissing the surprised old lady.
''You shall be in q CHEEKY home of
your own before this time tomorrow.
Willie, come and kiss your grand
mother. Isn't he the image Of his
father?" added Clara Ballard, proudly,
as the boy came forward at her bid
ding.
my Mark is alive again in him!"
''Your Mark-our Mark-is himself
alive and we'll, mother. He was
little wild at first, he says, and un-
fortunate in everything he under
took; but he grew steady, and then he
persevered in one thing instead of
trying first one then another, and,
finally, got into good practice. You
knew he was doctor didn't you?
No? He is one of the leading ply
61C1duS III our SGdGSs nc "EOL0 over
SO many letters to you. but got no re.
plies, SO we thought you were dead"
" II never heard word from hint
His brothers were always so afraid
he'd come home to be drag on them
that one of them must have destroyed
those letters. They always got our
mail from the Office"
He never will be q drag on anyonel
know he was good son, mother, for
he is the best husband that ever lived;
and when my uncle died a year ago
and left me fortune, was glad to
get it so that we could have more to
give away, bless him! Come, mother.
help me pack your things, and ri take
you home as q welcome present to
Mark"
Some one, Clara Ballard never said
that she knew who, had inserted in
the next issue of the Clifton county
paper (which Abner and Seth took) a
long article describin>! the remarkable
manner in which "Dr. Ballard. our
TO- = a