Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-03-25


but he broke down. There We sat like
whipped school children, all whimper-
ing. 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" replied.
"What are you working at now,
Jimmy ?"
81 am working in 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 III just
tell you, Jimmy, we've got nothing but
roasted spareribs for supper. We ain t
got any money now, Jimmy. We're
poorer nor Jobs turkey"
| 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. 1 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 note for friend
and having to mortgage his place to
pay it. The mortgage was due inside
of week and not a cent to meet it
with-just $500 She supposed they
would be turned out of house and
home, but in my mind supposed they
wouldn't. At last nine 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 shingles that are
Just inside the door and fill up the wa
terpail. Then we'll go off to bed and
get up early and go a-fshing."
I didn't say word, but | went out
to the barn, bedded down the horse,
broke up an armful of shingles, pump
ed up a pailful of water, filled the
wood box and then we all went to bed.
Father called me at half past four
in the morning, and while he was get
ting breakfast l skipped over to the
depot, across lots, and got my best bass
rod. Father took nothing but troll
ling line and a spoon hook. He rowed
the boat, with the trolling line in his
mouth, while | stood in the stern with
a silver rigged sinner on. Now, John,
| never saw a 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 $1,000 in 1t. With
some trouble l got it cashed, getting
paid in s. and $40 bills, making quite
a roll. l then got a roast joint Of
beef, with lot of delicacies, and had
them sent home. After that l went
visiting among my old schoolmates for
two hours and then went home. Moth
er had put on her only silk dress and
father had donned his Sunday 90 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 l had clear coast.
l dumped the sugar out of the old
blue bowl, put the 81 900 in it and
placed the cover on again. At last
supper was ready. Father asked a
blessing over it, and he actually trem-
bled when he stuck his knife into the
roast.
eve haven't had a piece of meat
like that in FIVE years, jim" he said,
and mother put in with, "And we
haven't had any coffee in a 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 nanny, eh? Well, boys will be
boys"
Then she gasped for breath. She
saw it was money. She looked at me
and then at father; then with trem-
bling fingers drew out the great roll
of bills.
Ha, ha, ha can see father now,
as he stood there on tiptOe, with his
knife in one hand, his fork in the 9TH
er, and his eyes fairly bulging 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 in her face and brought