Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-05-04
Lexington Rockbdge County, Virginia Wednesday, May 1898

| my nonu ana WenJ nome. OOWenO
he place didn't look right. The cur
rant bushes lad been dug up from the
front yard, and tie fence WIS 20 G.
All tie locust trees had been cut down
aid young maple trees wert planted
The houee looked smaller somehow,
too. But l went up to the front door
and rang the bell. Mother came to the
door ard said: ave don't wish to buy
anything to-day SIR
at didn't take me minute 10 sur
vey her from head to foot. Neltly
dressed, John, but patch and darn
here and there, her hair streaked with
gray, her face thin drawn and wrinkled
Yet over those glasses shone those good
honest, benevolent eyes. stood star
ing at her, and then she began to stare
at me. ! saw tie blood rush to her
face, and with a sob, she threw herself
upon me, snd Historically crying It's
Jimmy, it's jimmy.
Then I cried too, John. l just
broke down and cried like baby. She
got me into the house, hugging and
kissing me, and then she went to
the back door and shouted 'GeorgeP
"Father called from the kitchen,
"What do you want, Caroline?'
"lhen he came in. He knew me in
a moment. He stuck out his hand and
grasped mine, and said sternly: well,
young mai, do you propose to behave
Yourself nowp
"He tried to put en- a brave front,
but he broke down. There we three
sat like whipped school children, al
whimpering. Atlast supper time came
and mother went out to prepare it, 1
went into the kitchen with her,
Where do you live jimmy she
asked.
"In New York. I replied.
what are you working at now,
JIMMY
"I'm working in dry goods store
Then I don't suppose you live
very high, for I hear tell Of them city
clerks, don't get enough money to
keep body and soul together. So, I'll
just tell you, Jimmy, we've got moth
ing but roast spareribs for supper. We
amt got any money, Jimmy. We're
poorer nor Jobs turkey"
II told her I would be delighted
with spareribs, and to tell the truth,
John, I haven't eaten meal in New
York that tasted as good as those crist
roast spareribs did. speat the even
ing playing checkers with father, while
mother sat by telling me all about their
misfortunes from old white muley get
ting drowned in the pond TO father
signing a note for friend and having
to mortgage the place to pay it.
"The mortgage was due inside Of a
week, and not cent to meet it with
just $500. She supposed they would
be turned out of house and home, but
in my mind I supposed they wouldn't
At last nine O'Clock came and father
said; Jim go out to the barn aud
see if Kit is all right. BRING in an
armlul of old shingles that are just in
side the door and fill up the water pail,
Then we'll go to bed and get up early
in the morning and go fishing.
II didn't lay word, but went to
the barn, bedded down the horse,
troke up an armful of shingles, pump
ed up pail of 'ater, filed the wood
box, and then we all went to bed.
"Father called me at 4:3O in the
morning, and while he was getting
cup of coffee I skipped over to The
depot across lots and got my best brass
rod. Father took nothing but q troll
ling line and a spoon hook. He rowed
the boat with the trolling line in his
mouth, while I stood in the stern with
a silver sinner rugged on. Now, John,
I never saw man catch fish as he did.
To make long story short, he caught
four bass and FIVE pickerel, ard l never
got bite.
cat noon we went ashore and father
went home, while I went to the post
Office. got a letter from Chicago
with check for thousand dollars in
it. With some trouble got it cashed,
getting paid in IS and $40 bills. max
ing quite a..roll. I then got roast
Joint of beef and lot. of delicacie',
and had them seut hf >. After that
I visited my old school friends for two
hours and went home. The joint was
; H. or Iofhar had mt on her