Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-11-26


But then the stra7 ger would not
/ have understood that the draft en-
| closed in the letter was not in payment
for the contents of any of the shelves
/ that lined the walls, but was instead
the talisman that should bring his boy
home.
What a pleasant f1utter of excite
ment filed the whole house those last
few days before Thanksgiving! How
Jacks room was swept and busted and
adorned with the best bureau cover
and pincushion, the best Counterpart
| and pillow shams, and on Wednesday
how busy his mother was making
mince and pumpkin pies and fried
| cakes, and planning for the feast what
she knew would please Jack best.
She even asked some of the young
people to come in in the evening,
thinking wistfully, he'll get kind or
tired of just his father and mother and
brother and sister by that time,
s'pose. It's natural for boys and girls
| to like something going on" She
meant to surprise him with ice cream
and cake for the evening, and as she
maze her preparations, said to herself:
Il want he should see we know some
thing about city ways if we do live in
ia little country town."
For the first time the father and
mother felt that an effort was needed
to make home attractive to the young
collegian. They had grown conscious,
with the keen insight love always
gives, that something in this boys life
beyond their ken, had grown to rival
in his affections the old home and the
homely family circle.
They we're all going to the station to
meet him-father, mother, brother and
sister. He was coming on the $3.50
train. Everything was ready, the
lamp was lighted in his room, the fresh
curtains tied back with his college
color, were shaken out daintily for the
last time They all looked in at the
door, then exchanged smiles of mutual
satisfaction and congratulation.
"The fatted calf's been killed this
time and no mistake" said the young
brother. IT guess this1l be better'n a
boarding house if it is in the city"
His mother smoothed her rough
hand with a feeling of nervous salts
faction II don't believe we've forgot
adding humbly: Jack amt quite used
to our ways now, and want he should
be comfortable
They were ready to go to the station
at 5 O'Clock. all but Mr. .Giddings. He
was busy at the store and would meet
| them at the train, he said. The rest
walked on slowly. It was early but
they were too excited to sit down to
wait. Their hero was to stay till Sun
day night He would be here in half
an hour. It all seemed too good to be
| true.
S0They were not the only ones expect
| ing friends on this train. They met so
! many of their neighbors at the station
that the twenty minutes of waiting
passed before they knew it. Everyone
was glad Jack was coming home and
it was such pleasure to speak of him
and to answer peoples questions about
| him. Just before the train arrived
Mr.. Giddings reached the station. He
hesitated as he saw the crowd, and it
was not till they were all taken up
with the new arrivals, exchanging
kisses and greetings that he joined the
one forlorn little group still looking in
vain for the familiar figure. He
cleared his throat, yet still his voice
was a little husky as he spoke. Per.
haps it was because he had been walk
| ing fast and the air was cold.
He touched his wife's arm. He
isn't coming, Ellen" he said. Il just
got this" He showed her the tele-
gram in his hand as he spoke: Sorry
can't go home. Go to Chicago with the
fellows Jack
No one spoke for moment They
looked at one another in a dazed way
as if half comprehending the message.
/ The young brother was the first to
recover himself ''Well, I call that
mean he exclaimed; football or no
football. Father sent him that money
to come home with and I'm going to
write and tell Jack what I think of
him.
Tears had risen to his mothers eyes,
but at his words she turned to her
younger son reprovingly. Don't be so
hard on your brother, Ned Jack is a
good boy and know he wants to come
home, but some of those other boys
must have persuaded him. (poo1
i mothers, how often have you com
forted yourself with this logic!); Il
can't believe he would have disappoint-
ed us himself; he was always such a
kind-Eearted boy when he was little.
You remember, Reuben?' turning ap-
pealingly to her husband.
Eyes, I remember" he said, and he
sighed as he spoke. He looked tired
and old. "There is no use waiting
here; there's nothing to wait for SC
they turned home.
Mary hurried upstairs before her
mother and turned out the lamp in
Jacks room AS they had come into
the lighted house and seen the look on
her face, the instructive thoughts OF