The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-23


ped school children. an whimrnring.
AT last supper time came and mother
went out to prepare it. went into tho
kitchen with her.
Where do you live, Jimmy?' she
asked.
In New York, replied.
What are you working ut now,
Jimmy?''
II am working; in dry goods store. I"
Then ] suppose you don't live very
high, for 1 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. Wore
poorer nor Jobs turkey
told her I would be delighted with
the spareribs, aud to tell the truth,
John, havo not eaten meal in New
York that tasted as good as those crisp
roasted spareribs did. Ispent tho even
ing playing checkers with father, while
mother sat by telling me all about
their misfortunes, from old white Moo
Icy getting drowned in tho pond to IA
theirs signing note for a friend and
having to mortgage his place to pay it.
The mortgage was due inside of week
and not q cent to meet 1t with-juBt
$500. She supposed they would be tprn-
cd out of house and home, but in my
mind I supposed they wouldn't. AT
last O'Clock came and father said:
Jim, go out to the barn and SEQ If Ri.
is all right. Bring in an armful Of old
shingles that are just inside the door
and fill mp the WATERFALL Then we'll go
off to bed and get up early and go
a-fshing."
didn't say word, but I went out
to the barn, beddcd down the horse
broke up an armful of shingles, pumped
up pailful of water, filled 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-
Their took nothing but Il trolling line
and spoon hook He rowed the boat,
with the trolling line in his mouth,
while l stood in the stern with n silver
rugged sinner OH. Now, John, never
saw man catch fish as he did.
At noon we went ashore and father
went homo, while went to the post
office. got letter from Chicago, with
check for $1,000 in it. With some
trouble got it cashed, getting paid in
SO and $40 bills, making quito roll. ]
then got roast joint of beef with
lot of delicacies, and had them sent
home. After that went visiting among
my old schoollhntes for two hours and
went home. Mother had put ON her only
silk dress and father had donned his
Sunday go to meeting clothes, mono too
good either. This is where played q
joke on the old folks. Mother was in
the kitchen watching the roast. Father
was out to the barn, and I had clear
coast. 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 n blessing
over it, and he actually trembled when
he stuck his knife into the roast
1--WE haven't had II 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 the cover of the sugar bowl, ask
ing as she did so, How many spoon
fuls, Jimmy"
Then she struck something that was
not sugar. She picked up the bowl and
peered into it. "Aha, Master Jimmy,
playing your old tricks on your mann
my, eh? Well, boys will be boys"
Then she gaspcd for breath She Gnw
If
then at father; then with trembling
fingers drew out the great roll of bills.
Ha, ha, hal can sec father now, ms
he stood there OH tiptoe, with his knife
in ono hand, his fork in the other, and
his eyes fairly bullying out of his head
But it was too much for mother She
raised her eyes slowly to heaven and
said, Put your trust in the Lord, for
he will provide.
Then she tainted away. Well, John,
there is not much more to tell. We
threw water i'll her face and brought her
to. Then we demolished that dinner,
mother all the time saying: ''My boy
Jimmy My boy Jimmyl"
L staid month 1 fixed up the place,
paid off all the debts, had good time
and came back to New York. I nm go
ing to send 500 home every week. I tell
you, John, it is mighty nice to have a
home.
John was looking steadily at the head
of his cane. When he spoke, he took
Jim by the hand and said: "Jim, old
friend, what you have told mo has af-
fected me greatly. haven't heard from
my homo away up in Maine for ten
years. I am going home tomorrow. -
Lulu Michel i'll st. Louis Post Dispatch