, 1897-03-24
HIS HOME COMING.

pened III "a curious way. Six weeks ago
l went down to Fire island fishing. 1
had had a lunch put up for me, and YOU
can imagine my astonishmcnt when [
opened theh hamper to find Il package of
crackers wrapped up in a weekly pub
llshed at my home in Wisconsin. l rcad
every word of it, advertisements and
all. There was George Kellogg, who
was a schoolmate of mine, advertising
hams and salt pork, and another boy
was postmaster. By George, it made
me hOmesick, and l determined then
and there to go home, and go home /
did.
In the first place, l must tell YOU how
l came to New York. | had "a tiff with
my father and left home. FINALLY turned
up i'll New York with n dollar in my
pocket. l got y job running "A freight
elevator in the very house in which l
am now a partner. My haste to get rich
drove the thought of my parents from
me, and when l did think of them the
hard words that my father last spoke 20
me ranked i'll my bosom. Well, l went
home. l tell you, John, my train seemed
to creep. l was actually worse than a
~schoolbcy going home for a 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 rcd barn just the same; but,
great Scott, what We're all the other
houses? We rode nearly II 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 l knew it. The
train stopped and | jumped off. Not u
face i'll sight / knew, and l 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 l 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 i'll New York rich, and your
father scratching gravel to get a liv-
ing"
l tell You, John, it knocked me all in
q heap. l thought my father had enough
to live upon comfortably. Then IL notion
struck me. Before going home l tele-
graphed to Chicago to one of II CORE
%spondents there to send me 81, 900 by
first mail. Then l went into Mr.. Collins
back office, got my trunk in there and
put Oh an old hand me down suit that l
used for fishing and hunting. My plug
hat | replaced by II soft onc, took my
valise i'll 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 l went up to,the front
door and rang the bell. Mother came to
the front door and said. I'VE don't wish
to buy anything today, sir
1t didn't'takc Il 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
wrinklcd. Yet over her eyeglasses shone
those good, honest, benevolent eyes. l
stood staring at her, and then she began
to stare Mt me. l saw the blood rush to
her face, and with i great sob she threw
herself upon me and ncrvously clasped
me about the neck, Historically crying,
"It's Jimmy! It's Jimmyv'
Then l cried, too, John. l broke down
and cried like II baby. She got me back
to the house, hugging and kissing me.
Then she went to the back door and
shouted "Georgey' Father called from
the kitchen, "What do you want, Car
line?"
Then ne came in. He knew me in a
moment. 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 Oh Il brave front, but
he broke down. There we sat like whip
ped school children, all whimpcring.
At last supper time anne and mother
went tut to prepare it. ! went into the
kitchen with her. =
where do you live, Jimmy?' b
asked.
"In New York" ! replied.
"What are you working ut now,
Jimmy?'
Il am working in Il dry goods store
"Then l suppose you don't live very
high, for J 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 amt
got any money now, Jimmy. We're
poorer nor Jobs turkey
I told her l would be delighted with
the spureribs, and to tell the truth,
John, l have not eaten u meal i'll New
York that tasted US good as those crisp
roasted spareribs did. ! 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 i'll the pond to ia
theirs signing a note for a friend and
having IL mortgage his place to pay 1t.
The mortgage was due inside of a week
and not q cent to meet it with-just
$500. She supposed they would be turn
I'd out of house and home, but In my
mind ! supposed they wouldn't AZ
last Q o'clock came and father said;
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