The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-03-24
"Here lam, Mother" :
BY THORPE GREENLEAF.

counties OF western Kentucky, and
lor some weeks stopped at hotel where
a young civil engineer had headquar-
ters. Harry Gendrin was one of those
mellow, open natures who have popu-
Iarity for birthright, and was soon a
favoritc in the town and hotel. He
liked to come into my room and sing.
His voice was a deep bass; my room
mate, Manis, sang part that | was
never musician enough to name; Har-
rvs roommate, Jervis, sang a rich
tenor; and tried to carry the air. We
sang "Suwance River" "Old Kentucky
Home" and such pieces occasionally,
but the old hymn tunes were best
adapted to our style of quartette, and |
am obliged to say that we made some
good music on old Hundred" SEES
Sions," Coronation" and like pieces.
On one occasion we sang, Where Is
My Boy Tonight" and at its conclu
sion Harry said:
eff you care to hear the story will
tell you where first heard that song"
Tell it by all MEANS" said the rest
of us.
Il will have to begin by saying that
until recently l was a pretty reckless
chap. My father has always been
railroad prospector and surveyor, and |
have been with him IN camp ever since
was a mere kid. He is ii good man,
the leader of a choir in Evettsburg,
where my mother frequently sings
solos. never hope TO 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 a long way from the
right. But I learned his business, and
when l was about 1S years old he put
me to work on one of his jobs. The pay
was not large, but it was nearly all
clear money and was too young to I'M
derstand the proper disposal of so
much. l got into the habit of spreeing
when I went to Evettsburg, or when ia
Their was not in camp.
well, when I was about 20, we
reached a point in Il job where we had
been two weeks in the rain and mud,
and got to the end of a 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 to put in the
best part of the next three days at
Evettsburg, on Il great old jamboree.
c. 7 IL, I
the two O'Clock freight bumped and
banged me 40 miles to Evettsburg. Here
| disappeared in saloon downtown,
and was soon oblivious to surrounding
events. The saloonkecpcr 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
noon, when he went to Evettsburg to
be present at his choir meeting at
seven in the evening. His train was de-
iaYed, and he went directly from the
depot to the church. By d strange
destiny, it seemed, mother was select
cd to sing, Where Is My Boy Tonight?
for evening service.
'On the way home father asked for
me, and mother replied that she had
not seen me. They both became very
uneasy father with an inkling of the
TRUTH mother with all sorts of name
less breads. AS I did not turn up that
night father started a private police
man on search for me next morning
before breakfast. He unearthed me
and got me to a hotel, where q servant
was feed to sober me up. The police
man then went to report, but as my IA
Their was not at home, the whole miser-
able truth came out to my mother. He
said as he was leaving:
Mrs. Gendrin, Iwould advise you not
to go to Harry to-day. He will be all
right tomorrow morning, and you can
see him before he starts back to camp
You would only be needlessly 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 I should be sober,
and went to the morning service. Fa-
Their came to me early after noon, but
was sleeping heavily and he thought it
best not to disturb me. When | awoke
about five o'clock in the afternoon, /
was duly sober, but had raging head
ache. When 1 learned that it was Sun
day knew that my spree was at an end,
SO l called for a cup of strong coffee.
While drinking it l heard from the po-
liceman that mother knew everything.
II was terribly cut up about it, and
my mothers sorrow-laden face arose
before me with great distinctness as |
sat on the edge of that hotel bed. What
with that face and my conscience, you
can easily believe that the next few
hours were simply awful. Then the
church bell rang, and at the sound l
aroused myself and said:
Mason, I'm going to church.
Where at, IIarry?'
"'At the First Cumberland
You are in pretty rough shape for
c.urch.'
There were very few in the room
NIL, { t>,,t ~,