The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-04-01
gGlett Sturp.
MOTHER THOMPSON'S EASTER.

MUIdhh laUMfOUN' D LAD 1bh'
There now, Jane, you kick the fender
while | 90 through your father pockets. "
The speaker was middle-aged woman
with dark brown hair, parted in the mid
die and plainly combed back over her ears,
and swapping black eyes.
At first glance she and her daughter, a
pretty pink and white, golden-haired
blonde Of about fourteen, or thereaboutS
seemed the only occupants of the room.
The fire had been covered for the night,
and the girl Jane sat by it, and when her
mother whispered again in a more EN-
phatic tone, Jane, kick the fender, she
proceeded to admonish that unotiending
piece of furniture, which, being of sheet
IRON and aided by the rattling of the
shovel and tongs, made considerable noise.
have said they seemed the only occu-
pants of the room, but more comprehen-
sive glance showed that such was not the
case
In the back room. in sort of an al
cove. was IA bed. and ON that bed lay a
man known as James Thompson, and who
was husband TO the black Keyed woman,
while Jane was their youngest daughter.
James Thompson seemed to be sound
asleep, 50 sound that the clang Of the
shovel and tongs, aided by Jane and the
fender. made no impression upon him. but
L Il,
known to the neishsors, removed his trous-
ers from the right hand bedpost, where
they hung, aud thrust her hand into the
pocket. bringing forth handful of coin,
with its peculiar chink. chink, sandy
haired. gaunt figure raised up in the bed,
and said
Harriet, woman, what are you rob
bing my pockets for ?
The black eyed woman gave him no
answer. but turned to the girl, saying,
Jane, 20 to bed.
The girl crossed the room, opened a
door and went upstairs Then, turning
to tse bed, the woman continued
Now. Thompson, the time has come
We might a well have it ont
Then she drew small rocker to the
side of the bed and "a, down, while the
man sank back on bis pillow with a sort Of
a groan.
james Thompson. you aud me --
when excited Aunt Harriet always fell
into bad grammar-'you and me might
lust A. well come to an understanding, and
YOU needn groan about it. either When
| married you. near onto twenty years ago,
everybody said married YOU for your
three farms and your money. However
that NAV be, a Young woman in exchange
for herself should have something, and
you know have made you good wife
and your four daughters and son good
mother. Look back and You Il remember
a talk We had when you asked me to be
Your wife. You remember how you told
me that scandalous story Of Melissa Orvis,
the orphan girl who worked for youI
mother
Harriet, came again from the Pill.
low.
Don stop me. | say You mind the
-irl well enough. and you know her child,
ty1, your child was only little over q
wear old when married YOU, and You
know. too. that one Of the conditions OF
car marriage was that YOU should care for
and educate Young james Thompson, who
held in my own arms while his mother
died aud when [ had him chri>teued BY
Your name had the heart of a woman IN
me. and | could not have the child IN the
house with my own children, but you know
a. well as DO that | have always looked
attel his raising and his education. and
that until he was twelve years old he
thought me his aunt and YOU his uncle.
Lie still. Thompson. l m not done
ye;. You know how stingy aud mean YOU
have alwavs been. how, although YOU art
the richest man in the county, with three
farms aud two stores, have had to slave
and manage to keep myself aud your chill.
dren clothed But from this day forth
when ask for S. want it, and when
jaime. Thompson, ,Jr., graduates you will
help hun to study law, exactly as though
he was our Willie aud not the child OF
Melissa Oryis Whether | married You
tor your money or not lies between YOU and
me. but In not be beggar and neither
will feel that me aud my children are
getting what should belong TO another
Herewith. as though to emphasize hel
words. she gave the fender kick on hel
own account, while her spouse turned hi'
face to the wall, but lay so quiet that she
was sure his sleep was only a pretense.
After this a change took place in the
household. Four handSomer, better dressed
Young women did not enter the village
church than the Thompson girls, while
Young Willie, the youngest Of the flock,
was resplendent in black velveteen and bras
buttons. which set off his blue eyes and
/ blonde curls and made him look more like
an overgrown cherub than ever.
Soon after this young James Thompson
graduated. He call occasionally ON the
/ family and always spoke of Mrs. Thomp
son as Aunt Harriet although he hac
long known the story Of his own birth, anc
he also knew that most of the good thing,
in his life had come to him through her.
The day after he was admitted TO the
bar Mrs. Thompson called on him ano
told him to draw on them for what money
was necessary to start him well in business
He fell on his knees by her side anC
buried his head in her lap, while he poured
forth his gratitude, begged to be allowed
To call her mother, and told how he woulC
try to be an honor and comfort to her il
her old age.
Everything he did prospered. He grad
uated then practiced a term, and wa
made prosecuting attorney, then State Rep
reseutative, then went to Congress, auC
from that removed to New York, whenc,
reports came back that there was no law
yer there more highly respected than he
and no one who was piling up more honor