Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-10-01

broke down and cried like baby. She
got me into the house, hugging and
kissing me, and then she went to the
back door and shouted. 'Georger
Father called from the kitchen.
What do you want. Car'line?
Then he came in. He knew me In q
moment. He stuck out his hand and
grasped mine. and said sternly: Well.
young man, do you propose to behave
yourself now?
He tried to put on brave front.
but he broke down. There We three
sat like whipped school-children, all
whimpering. At last supper time came
and mother went out to prepare 1t. /
went into the kitchen with her.
Where do you live, Jimmy? she
asked.
In New York I replied.
What are you workin' at now,
Jimmy?'
I'm workin in a dry goods store
Then l suppose you don't live very
high, for 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've got nothin' but
roast spareribs for supper. We amt
got any money now, Jimmy. We're
poorer nor Jobs turkey
II told her would be delighted with
the spareribs, and to tell the truth,
John, haven't eaten a meal in New
hat orig
roasted spareribs did. / 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 a
friend and having to mortgage the
place to pay it. The mortgage was due
inside of a week and not cent to meet
it with-just $500. She supposed they
would be turned out of house and
home, but in my mind l supposed they
wouldn't. At last nine o'clock came
and father said: Jim, go out to the
barn and see II Kit is all right. Bring
in an armful of old shingles that are
just inside the door and fill up the
WATERFALL Then we'll go off to bed
and get up early and go a-fishing.'
II didn't say a word, but went out
to the barn, bedded down the horse,
broke up an armful of shingles,
pumped up pail Of water, filled the
woodbox, and then we all went to bed.
Father called me at 4:30 In the
morning, and while he was getting
cup of coffee, skipped over to the de-
pot cross-lots and got my best bass rod.
Father took nothing but trolling line
and spoon hook. He rowed the boat
with the trolling line in his mouth,
while / stood in the stern with silver
sinner rugged on. Now, John, l never
saw a man catch fish as he did. To
make a long story short, he caught
four bass and FIVE pickerel, and never
got bite.
AT noon we went ashore and father
went home, while / went to the post
Office. got letter from Chicago with
a check for 1000 in 1t. With some
trouble got it cashed, getting paid in
IS and $40 bills, making quite a roll.
then got a roast Joint of beef and
lot of delicacies, and had them sent
home. After that 1 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 Sunday go-to-meeting clothes, none
too good, either. This Is where /
played Joke on the old folks. Mother
was in the kitchen watching the roast.
Father was out to the barn, and had
a clear coast. / dumped the sugar out
of the old blue bowl, put the thousand
dollars in ii and placed the cover on
again. At last supper was ready.
Father asked blessing over 1t, and he
actually trembled when he stuck his
knife in the roast.
1--WE haven't had a piece Of meat
like this in five years, JIM he said,
and mother put in with, And we have
mt had any coffee in year, only when
we went a visitin'.'
Then she poured out the coffee and
lifted 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 II. Aha, Master jim
my, playin' your old tricks on your
nanny, Ell? Well, boys will be boys
Then she gasped for breath. She
saw 1t was money. She looked at me.
then at father, and then with trem-
bling fingers drew the great roll Of
bills out
Hal ha! ha! / can see father now
as he stood there then on tiptoe, with
his knife in one hand, fork in the
other, and his eyes fairly bullying out
of his head. But 1t was too much for
mother. She raised her eyes to heaven
and said slowly, 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
her TO, and then we demolished that
dinner, mother all the time saying,
My boy JIMMY My boy Jimmyp
Get ataVad honoa a month fixad I'M