The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-03-09
HIS HOME COMING.


hams and salt pork, and another boy
was postmaster. By George, it made
me homesick, and I determined then
and there to go home, and go home 1
did.
In the first place, I must tell you how
! came to New York. had tiff with
my father and left home. FINALLY turned
up in New York with dollar in my
pocket. l got a job running a freight
elevator in the very house in which 1
am now partner. My haste to get rich
drove the thought of my parents from
me, and when I did think of them the
hard words that my father last spoke to
me ranked in my bosom. Well, I went
home. / tell you, John, my train seemed
to creep. Twas actually worse than a
schoolboy going home for vacation.
At last we neared the town. Familiar
sights met my eyes, and, upon my word,
they filled with tears. There was Bill
Lyman's red barn just the same; but,
great Scott, what were all the other
houses? We rode nearly mile before
coming to the station, passing many
houses of which only an occasional one
was familiar. The town had grown to
ten times its size when knew it. The
train stopped and l jumped off. Not a
face in sight I knew, and started down
the platform to go home. In the office
door stood the station agent l walked
up and said, ''Howdy, Mr.. Collins?"
He stared at me and replied, you've
got the best of me, sir. -
told him who I was and what had
been doing in New York, and he didn't
make any bones in talking to me. Said
he: "It's about time you were coming
home-you in New York rich, and your
father scratching gravel to get liv-
ing"
I tell you, John, it knocked me all in
a heap I thought my father had enough
to live upon comfortably. Then a notion
struck me. Before going home l tele-
graphed to Chicago to one of our CORE
spondents there to send me $1,000 by
first mail. Then went into Mr.. Collins
back office, got my trunk in there and
put on an old hand me down suit that l
used for fishing and hunting Ny plug
hat | replaced by soft one, took my
valise in my hand and went home.
Somehow the place didn't look right.
The currant bushes had been dug up
from the front yard and the fence was
gone. All the old locust trees had been
cut down and young maple trees were
planted. The house looked smaller, too,
somehow. But went up to the front
door and rang the bell. Mother came to
the front door and said, 1--WE don t wish
to buy anything today, sir. -
1t didn't take minute to survey her
from head to foot. Neatly dressed, John,
but a patch here and there, her hair
streaked with gray, her face thin and
wrinkled. Yet over her eyeglasses shone
those good, honest, benevolent eyes. I
stood staring at her, and then she began
to stare at me. saw the blood rush to
her face, and with a great sob she threw
herself upon me and nervously clasped
me about the neck, Historically crying,
'It's Jimmyl It's JimmyP'
Then cried, too, John. broke down
and cried like baby. She got me back
to the house, hugging and kissing me.
Then she went to the back door and
shouted "Georgel" Father called from
the kitchen, "What do you want, Car
line?'
Then he came in. He knew me in
He stuck out his hand and
grasped mine firmly, 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 sat like whip
ped school children, all whimpering.
At last supper time came and mother
went out to prepare it. went into the
kitchen with her.
where do you live, Jimmy" she
asked.
In New York, - l replied.
"What are you working at now,
JIMMY"
81 am working in dry goods store "
'"phen 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 nothing but
roasted spareribs for supper. We amt
got any money now, Jimmy. We're
poorer nor job turkey"
I told her would be delighted with
the spareribs, and to tell the truth,
John, have not eaten meal in New
York that tasted as good as those crisp
roasted spareribs did. l spent the even
ing playing checkers with father, while
mother sat by telling me all about
their misfortunes, from old white Moo
ley getting drowned in the pond to ia
theirs signing note for friend and
having to mortgage his place to pay it.
The mortgage was due inside of week
and not cent to meet it with-just
$500. She supposed they would be turn
ed out of house and home, but in my
mind l supposed they wouldn't. At
last O'Clock came and father said:
Jim, go out to the barn and see if Kit
is all right. Bring in an armful of old
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"
I didn't say word, but went out
to the barn, bedded down the horse,
broke up an armful of shingles, pumped
up pailful of water. filed the wood
box and then we all went to bed
Father called me at half past in the
morning, and while he was getting
breakfast skipped over to the depot,
cross lots, and got my best bass rod. Fa-
ther took nothing but trolling line
and a spoon hook He rowed the boat,
with the trolling line in his mouth,
while / stood in the stern with a silver
rugged sinner on. Now, John, never
saw man catch fish as he did.
At noon we went ashore and father
went home, while went to the post
office. l got letter from Chicago, with
a check for 81, 900 in it. With some
trouble got it cashed, getting paid in
SIS and $40 bills, making quite roll I
then got roast joint of beef, with a
lot of delicacies, and had them sent
home. After that went visiting among
my old schoolmates for two hours and
went home. 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 clear
coast. I dumped the sugar out Of the
old blue bowl, put the 81, 900 in it and
placed the cover on again. At last sup
per was ready. Father asked a blessing
over it. and he actually trembled when
he stuck his knife into the roast.
1--WE haven't had piece of meat like
that in five years. Jim" he said. and