Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-10-12
"Wbv. don't YOU know?" the little

"Why. don't you know" the little
fellow exclaimed in astonishment.
"They spell Welcome. because moth
er's coming home tomorrow. To-mor-
row morning-yes, Stree! Theyv
cured her at the hospital. and she's
coming home. We've got pieces to
sneak. and singing, and we're going to
drape the picture with vines and flow
ers. | tell you there's times. when
your mother comes homer!
Little Scarecrow crept away in the
darkness. Even the bright silver quar-
ters clinked, unheard, in his pocket.
He was thinking.
There are "times"-I tell you!-
when your mother comes home. That
is what Scarecrow was thinking.
( Scarecrow's mother was coming
home, too, tomorrow. - Had they
"cured" her at that great. grim hos
pital for sick souls, over there? All
at once Scarecrow remembered some
thing. She was coming out weeks
earlier, because of good behavior" .
they said. Some one had told MIN.
Scarecrow was conscious suddenly OF
being proud Of his mother. He had
never been proud of her in his lie
before
"Dey're goin' to let her out sooner
along O. her behavin' good" he mu:'
INJURED. little glow warming his thin,
brown cheeks. "Oh, l say, mebbe"-
his voice quavered excitedly-"mebbe
dey'se cured herr
But there would be no green ana
flowers or welcome" on the wall Inc
utter contrast smote Scarecrow like
dull blow. He stopped in the street
and sobbed in sudden compassion.
There would be no vines, no flowers
no singing-no anything-when Scare
crows mother came home. That 9th
er mother would have them all.
Then the silver coins clinked remind
ingly. They bore inspiration straight
from the tattered pocket of respondent
Scarecrow to his brain under the tat
tered cap. Fifty cents will carry
great way sometimes, and it was
| Scarecrow's trade to carry things.
There were the odds and ends or
green's and the half wilted flowers that
the florist let him have cheap; there
were the buns and sausages and the
tea-and the bit of sugar and milk.
He carried them all home to the attic
in the dreary alley. All the way up
stairs, fight after flight, Scarecrow
whistled. Across the dark hallway
the invalid woman took up her nee
die again and smiled.
Maybe she amt comm home after
all-then l don't wonder he feels like
whistlin'," she thought. 'Its dread
full good to hear him again."
The little attic was swept and pol
ished and decorated with the treasures
from the florists. Scarecrow got uI
at the first ray of daylight to do 1t
And he set out his little feast on the
fitting old table. Over the one little
window he nailed a gigantic w thai
he had fashioned patiently out OF
shreds of green. 1t was crooked ant
queer, but it was w, and it begaI
the word welcome. He would explain
she would understand.
81 wish | could remember de wa!
de other letters went" he thought
standing off and cycling the solitar.
letter wistfully; "but I'll tell her wot !
STAINS fer. an how she's welcome
home again, and when she comes il
de door I'll set UP an whistle, loud
Dat'll be de singin'."
1t was midway in the dull, morn
ING when the mother Of little Scare
: crow came home. Sore hearted ant
hopeless, with the brand of shame OF
her forehead, she dragged listlessly VI
the stairs, fight after fight She ha'
"been good" over on the Island, /
now
81 sayw
1t was Scarecrow on the upper land
ing. nodding cheerfully. His llttl
brown, lean, hungry face was elat
with pride.
eyer come along in an look, vii
yerw he cried, exultantly, hurrying he
before him. at STAINS fer Welcome
see?-it's de first letter. l cOuldn'
spell de rest. An de flowers an vine
an de vittles-dey all STAINS fer We
GOMEZ"
Then the boys lips pursed into
whistle, and the whole decorated littl
attic was filed with shrill music.
A moment the mother gazed-for
moment she listened Incompetence
ingly. Then, with understanding
arose something sweet and warm
her calloused breast, and she caugl
little whistling Scarecrow in her arm
: The music stopped when she kisse
. him. He could never remember
have been kissed before, and the prOpl
esy of better things was in the strang
u warm touch ON his lips. The faith
a little child and the love of motht
d were born then, and the squalid Ii
u tie attic blossomed into home.
would be easier to "be gOod' aftt
that.-The Interior.
I. A Cat That Kills Snakes.
d Miss Ruby Fleming daughter of NJ
d and Mrs. George NJ. Fleming, of til
q Mace. has a cat that is not only q fir