Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-22
JOHN WARREN'S CHRISTMAS

JOHN NARREN ) CHRIS | MIS-
John Warren dropped his newspaper
on the floor of the car, and, lighting
fresh cigar. stared out of the window at
the row of dingy tenement houses which
lined the railroad into the great city.
Strongly built and handsome, he was
just now wearing on his face look Of
utter WEAKNESS, resulting from long
trip in the West, where he had been look
ing after some interests of the firm of
which he was a Junior partner. Nine
years before, in a fit of anger, he had
left his home in the country, and, too
proud to return, had by dint of dogged
persistence, secured a humble place in
the packing rooms of Brace n Browns
wholesale dry goods store. Fortune Ia
vored him. and this same quality of reso-
luton, together with application, had
raised him to the position he now occu-
pied. Though he was gazing out of the
window his attention was really drawn
inside to the group of travelling men who
were making ready to leave the train. 1t
was a jocular set and they had enivened
their trip, and now, as they were get
ting into their Overcoats, the jolly-faced
hardware drummer said:
Boys, where are you going 10 be
Christmas day.
I'm going back to the feshpots of
Egypt and eat my turkey in the coun-
try" said one.
Yes" said another, I'm going to be
in my old place at the old table with my
white-heared little mother smiling at me
from behind the coffee pot and my dear
old dad piling enough on my plate to
feed a regiment"
Think of those homemade pies" said
another, those fat moons of apple,
pumpkin, mince and cranberry. Say, no
restaurant-tin bottom crust about them.
And" said the boot and shoe man, to
sit around the old fireplace and watch
that roaring, great hearted log fire, with
two or three of the neighbors arguing
about that wood lot on the north side of
the farm. Boys, you couldn't fence me
away from home that day"
And so each one, with a home picture
in his heart, hurried out of the. car and
up the long flight of station stairs away
to his destination. while slowly behind
them came John Warren with a surging
tumult of feelings in his breast.
Shame, that he hadn't writtenAtoz,
parents in the nine years of his absenee.'
They don't even know where / am.
Poor fool | was to be miffed ut them.
Worse fool to stay miffed until now they
have dropped almost out of my recolec
ton All. that home picture that fellow
drew" And as John mounted the last
step a tear dropped on his brown beard
and a sudden resolution filed his heart
He almost shouted: lin going home,
too"
Dashing up to a cahnan he said. Tire
mont, quick" and tiin2ing his baggage
into one seat. fairly hurled himself into
the other. AS the carriage rumbed
along the sleeping emotions of years
awoke and seemed to choke him. Then
swiftly his praeticed mind began to PLAN
| and by the time the hotel was reached
definite line of action was laid out
| Scarcely waiting to snatch hasty cup of
coffee, he leaped into a cab. and soon
| mounting the steps of Mr.. Braces pala-
| tial home. was uShered into his library
where he found that gentleman standing
| with feet wide apart. back to the fire.
and contemplating picture on the oppO-
| site wall.
Mr. Brace" said ne. after greetings
We're exchanged, Il must beg your par-
| don for talking business out of business
hours, hut am going home tomorrow
| and can wait for regularity NV home
| is just like that farmhouse in that pic
ture there, and | am in a hurry to go in
| at that little gate"
His conference soon ended, John hur-
shabby suit from his wardrobe packed it
with some things ~ large satchel. and
| then fastening to the station climbed in
10 the sleeper Just as the long train pulled
out for the East. Arriving at a point
| twenty miles west of his old home he.
| went 10 an obscure hotel and changed his
clothing for the old suit in his satchel.
hen the 'leven forty pulled into the
! town of NJ two DAYS before Christ
mas, the usual crowd of loungers OBJ
served a tall, br0Wn-hearded man, whose
clothes seemed the worse for wear, step
on the rear platform, and without look
ing at anyone strike off toward the farm
of Richard Warren.
Much curiosity was centered on this
event, much discussion engaged in. until
the SeedleSt-lookng loafer present said:
mat was John Warren, or I'll eat my
nay. les that was John Warren, and
ne come home to live on the old folks
II wouldn't be for long, though cause
Squire Cobb has given notice that he's
Eo'h 10 forecloSe the mortgage he has on
The old mans place"
If they had followed the stranger for
NAN mile they might have seen the
strong young man shed heartfelt tears as
ne leaned against the old oak tree by the
Ittie gate and gaze earnestly on the
brown house at the edge of the woods
Crushing the snow with haSty steps, he
was soon az the woodpile at the side Of
M mouse. HnSlng down ms Satchei
and catching up the axe he split an arm
ful of wood. and opening the kitchen door
said in a voice tremulouS with emotion.
Mother. is this enough wood to get din
her with?"
y cry Of wonderful JOY and the mother
wept on her sons shoulder while his
father paced the floor shouting, Praise
God! Praise Cod stopping often to
clasp his sons hand and murmur MY
boy my boy Then he drew up TO the
fire and John said: Father, mother will
you forgive me for my anger nine years
ago and my cruel silence ever sinceg''
has passed but that we haven't nrayel
for Your return. and. now that Won are
| with us. we can tnke now lnnsn of Efn