Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-04-22
"Here | Am, Mother"
BY THORPE GREENLEAf.

larity for a birthright, and was soon a
favorite in the town and hotel. lie
liked to come into my room and sing.
His voice was deep bass; my room
mate, Manis sang part that l was
never musician enough TO name; Ilar-
rvs roommate, Jeryis, sang rich
tenor; and tried 10 carry the air We
sang "Suwanee River" "Old Kentucky
Home" and such pieces occasionally,
but the old hymn tunes were best
adapted t., 'tfi' ir11f
am obliged to say that we made some
good music ON "Old Hundred" "Ses-
sions," Coronation and like pieces
On one occasion we sang, "Where Is
My Boy To-night?" and at its conclu-
sion Harry said
III You care TO hear the story I will
tell YOU where I first heard that song"
Tell it by all MEANS" said the rest
of us.
81 viii have TO begin by saying that
until recently | was a pretty reckless
chap. My father has always been
railroad prospector and surveyor. and /
have been with him in camp ever since
]
! the leader OF a choir in Evettsburg.
where my mother frequently sings
solos. ! never hope 10 hear anything
! this side the glory gates that will sat
! isfy me as well as my mothers voice in
the First Cumberland church, at
| Evettsburg.
Father was not careful enough
about my companions in camp, and
soon | had drifted long way from the
right. But / learned his business. and
when | was about Is years old he put
me 20 work on one of his Jobs. The pay
was not large, but it was nearly all
clear money and | was too Young to UNI
derstand the proper disposal Of so
much. I got into the habit of sprecing
when I went to Evettsburg, or when IA
Their was not in camp.
We'll, when | was about 90. we
reached point in a job where we had
been two weeks in the rain and mud.
and got to the end OF Il section one
Thursday noon. Father said that we
would have To lay off until the next
Monday morning because his plans for
the next section were not matured. I
determined then and there 10 put in the
best part of the next three DAYS at
Evettsburg, on n great old iamborec
So | walked back to the terminus. and
the two o'clock freight bumped and
hanged me 30 miles to Evettsburg. Here
| disappeared i'm a saloon downtown.
and was soon oblivious to surrounding
events. The saloonkeeper was careful
that my whereabouts should be kept
quiet, and bundled me into his own liv- .
ing rooms when became unable TO care
for myself.
Father staid at his job preparing the
next weeks work until SATURDAY after I
noon. when he went TO Eyettsburg to .
be present at his choir meeting at
seven in the evening. Ills train was de .
laYed, and he went directly from the
depot TO the church. by strange
destiny, il seemed. mother was select
ed 10 sing. Where Is My Boy To-night|
for evening service.
ION the way home father asked for
me. and mother replied that she had
not seen me. They both became very
uneasy, father with an inklinp Of the
truth, mother with all sorts OF name
less breads. As | did not turn up that
night father started private police
man on search for me next morning
before breakfast. lie unearthcd me
and got me TO hotel, where q servant
was feed TO sober me up. The police
man then went TO report but rs nv fa-
thcr was not at home. the whole miscr-
able truth came out to my mother. lie
said as he was leaving:
Mrs. Gendrin, Twouldadvise YOU not
TO 90 TO Harry to-day. lie will be all
right tomorrow morning, and You can
see him before he starts bacl, u camp.
You would only be needlcssly distressed
at what You would see to-day. and YOU
can do him no good now. If possible. I
Will get him home tonight after sup
per
Mother promised that she would not
try TO see me until | should be sober.
and went 10 the morning service. Fa- ;
Their came 10 me early after noon. but +
was sleeping heavily and he thought it
best not TO disturb me. When awoke.
about five o'clock i'm the afternoon. |
was duly sober. but had raging head I
'che. When ! learned that it was sun
lay knew that my spree was at an end. I
50 | called for cup of strong coffee. ]
While drinking il | heard from the po- 5
iceman that mother knew everything. I
II was terribly cut UP about it, and
ny mothers sorrow-laden face arose {
before me with great distinctness as 7 '
iat ON the edge Of that hotel bed. What J
With that face and my conscience. YOU 7
AN easily believe that the next few /
lours we're simply awful. Then the
hurch bell rang, and at the sound | (
lroused myself and said:
Mason, I'm going to church. (
Where at, Harry?' r
At the First Cumberland f
You are in pretty rough shape for
hurch.' "
There were very few in the room v
when ! entered. but in % minutes the
immense auditorium was nacl,ed for L