Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-16
A DREAM OF HOME.


window, was Joe Lummis' first COM
position. 1t was written in a large
uneven hand on foolscap paper and
was framed with an inch-wide fancy
design in vanished straw festooned
with acorns. 1t ran in this wise:
When l get big I want a home
want wife and children. l want
to hear their cheerful voices. l want
to see the fire burn brightly and to
watch it glimmer on my wife's hair,
When l come home at night l want
| to find supper ready, then we will be
very happy"
When Joe first had the composition
framed and placed near the motto his
mother smiled half chidingly and
looked upon his fondness for the crude
literary effort as a bit of childish folly
that ought to be shamed out of him.
She even went so far once as to begin
to tell him that if he wished to treas
ure his composition it would be better
to put it in the trunk instead of hang
ing it on the wall where all could see
~ oh IL, perhaps uu-
kindly, but hardly had he OWNED her
thought when he turned toward her
with such a wondering, appealing look
IN his large dull eyes that her tongue
tripped and faltered over the words.
and she fastened to change the sub
ject, hoping he had not clearly under
stood what had been in her mind. Her
heart was so sorely grieved at having
founded him that to make amends she
too began to love the faded compost
ton and had any one dared to attempt
to take it from its place on the wall
she would have defended it more
vigorously than the most valued art
treasure.
AS the years passed, taking Joe
through boyhood and youth and far
into manhood and each night found
him sitting at the opposite side of the
room, looking at the motto and the
composition with a smile expressive of
both hoped-for happiness and realized
disappointment resting on his plain
face, her mother-heart read the secret
Sometimes she wished he would take
her into his confidence and tell her
whether there was any possibility of
his dream coming true, but he never
showed any inclination to become con-
fidential on that subject, freely as they
talked on other topics. One night her
anxiety got the better of the reserve
which, she, too, had maintained in
Difference to his evident wish and
hobbling across the room she sat down
beside him and laid her knOtted, rheu-
matte hand in his.
"Joe," she said, half timidly, "do you
think it will ever come out all right?"
The rapt, entranced expression died
away from his face and he flushed
deeply
What are you talking about?" he
asked.
THAT" and she pointed to the com
position. do you think you will ever
get home, Joe?"
"Why, mother" he said, with
short laugh, I've got one now, haven't
II"
She looked around the little room
with it's plain walls, cheap ingram
carpet and homely furniture. His eyes
followed hers and they sighed in uni
son.
Joe, my poor boy, it's hard life
you've had, isn't it,"
He raised her hand to his lips and
caressed it gently. That unwonted
gates of feeling she had hitherto kept
we'll under control and she broke out
into a vehement, passionate flow of
simple eloquence he had never deemed
it possible to hear from his mothers
lips.
"Ah, Joe ny DEAR" she said, and
her shivele- hand passed tenderly to
and fro over his rough face as she
spoke, don't think you can deceive
your mother. I've known all about it
for years, Joe. You never knew that
understood you, but your every
thought has been as clear as print to
after night gazing so intentIy at that
motto with it's brown house and moss
grown well nearby, and I knew your
imagination was busy painting pictures
something akin to that of the wife and
children of your composition as central
figures. No supper I can ever cook,
Joe, will taste so good as that prepared
by your wife, and no other laughter
will ever sound so sweet to your ears
as that of her and the children. But
it is not in this homely old room
alone that your mind dreamed All
intent upon the same theme and 1
have dreamed with you. In fancy l
have been with you down there by
that burning furnace where you are
fireman, and have seen with you the
pictures that have blazed and danced
in the flames and glowing Goals.
Whether you were looking into the
fercest fire or upon banks of dull, cold
cinders, it has been always the same;
the home you long for has been ever
before you. Oh, how I wish you had
it, Joe; how 1 wish you had it,"
'Joe," she resumed, after a short
silence, 1.-The girls are married now
and off your hands. I'm the only one
left. 1t isn't right that you should
waste more precious years of your life
on me. You are past thirty. 1t is
time for your dreaming to end and the
reality to begin. l am old and crippled