The times., 1897-07-18
WHEN MOTHER WENT AWAY.

The eofficlalan nouncenient Of his mothers
pending departure came to the Country
Eoy from his father. who said. as the fam
lily arose from the breakfast table:
Mas goin' to take trip To the burg
next week, and it's settled tnat II yOn'rs
a good boy you can go 10 Fredony an see
her off ON the cars. An mebby Wen ge5
your picture took in the bargain, If you
Oon'r swivel an make fuss"
This suggestion was sufficient 70 swell
his throat with an aching bali OF grief.
and as he Ietreated In the direction of tue
bgttemut grove his mother caught the
sound OF boyisl. .'sniffie " The COUn-
try Boy was no more able TO picture the
hOE1e without the presence Of his mother
than to imagine the kitchen without the
big old iron sink, besides which they had
done the dishes since he was old
enough 20 assist her To grasp the fact
that size would soon be hundreds 0f miles
away and he would not see her bending
over the WASH tub, the ironing table, the
bIead board and the cook stove was as
irCniupTchensihle 10 him as Il was i'm
possible 10 imagine the miraculous aud
unaidCd removal OF every familiar object
which the walls OF the house containeI
This Inability 10 COMPASS the actuahty Of
her prospective absence, together with the
| contemplation Of the ghtterfng rewards
Which were held befOre him as prizes to
stimulate quiet resignation 10 the inev-
table, sustained him until the day OF ter
departure drew near lie also praCticed
| d sim pie met aod OF seIf-decept!On, by which
| he almost made himself believe that, al
| though his mother would be at WhaEons-
burg, sue would. at the same time, be
moving with hercustomary pa tient quietude
| about the house and garden and would
not fan to answer his queruious calls Of
Ma! Nal"
Not until The old leather trunk, with it's
| decorations Of big, battered, brass-rivet
| heads, was brought down from the 20 rret
and the process Of packing actually be-
| gun did the Country Boy realize that his
| first long separation from his mother was
close at hand He hung abut tie scene OF
these final preparations, held 10y an almost
| tragic fascination. Every neatly folded
garment that was laid away IN the old
trunk added TO the fearful pressure that
was swelling within him, yet he could
not quit the place Of these sad activities
and 90 abogt his solitary play But a.
bis mother took fIom the clothes press her
new black silk dress, folded it lightly and
tIen tucked It into The trunk, be IetTeaIed
abruptly TO the orc cha rd in he west meadow
An hour later LIZ returned with a bunch
OF sweet clover in his hand stole into
mo. hers rooin," Fitted the lid OF the trunk
and secretly deposited the fragrant offer
Ing He knew that she always kept a with
cred sprig Of The sweet-SuieHing wayslde
weed in the bureau drawer and that she
would he clad 20 be greeted by its mild
aroma when she opened The trunk to IN
pack az her destination-and she might
gIless who placed IL there
lie who has not felt the world slip aw "
from him amid din Of Kissing steam, aIat-
tering baggage trucks and the Changing Cr
d locomotive bell know ut the sickenias
sensations OF The Country Roy as be stcs5d
OF the depot platform and watched the last
trembling gestures OF the bIack-mitteeI
hand " hich protrutled from the windOg- 81
tEeTecetling train The wruIneSs ofurphan-
hood swept back upon him with every
wave Of that projecting hand, and lie
sObbed out his grief with delicious and
shameless abandon AS his father took
him 70 restaurant bis breast stal hea-e,l
and quivered suspiciOusly, but the novelty
Of the scene and the fragrance of the fresh
baked russS sOCthed his sorrOws, ana he
ate as heartily as he had cTied
The last fact Of which he was sensible in
! the long moon-HJ Journey hOmeward was
that of passing through a>--streak Of Rot
air. in the hollow, near the watering
! trough Then his head eaned heavily
! | against his fathers arm AMI he slept the
sweet sleep OF exhaustion When he
awakened he was In his own bed, robin
q was singing in the locusts and he remem-
! bered that he was To accompany his fathe
ana the hired man to Bear Lake for a
whole days fiShing--ChicagO Post.