The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-05
THE ADVERTISERS # .s 7
 .s .s DAILY SHORT STORY.) )
!. Copyright. 1901, by D.,iy Story Pub, Co,

|, of you. my scn. But, Billy boy, you must be sure and take very good care oi yourself, for you know since Mary dieo last June you arc the only one have left a Oh, Billy boy, away on yonder IF that big city, down the river, do moi fofget your little mother, whose hear is always with you, my son, wherever
 :: Yesterday was your birthday. Billy and so longed to have you with me or that day, for you see, it's kind of lons- some here, and my heart grows so weary listening for the footsteps that never come Perhaps should be braver than l am but .oh it Is 50 ionesome-so lone- some. .., and took out the first little pair of trousers you ever wore. Do you remember them Billy boy? They are torn. and stained: and faded. just as they were when you and perhaps am foolish, but cried over them, Billy, as I spread them out ID my las and thought of the days oh so long ago. when I gut them. and i,5,, fif them' hnn anu
 ".And do you remember how proud you were of them; how you put your hands in the little pockets and threw Dack your head and strutted around the rom, ana mother called you her little gentleman?
 "I seemed to see you as l saw you then-your little curly head. with the silken ringlets falling over each other down your neck and piling up in a golden cheeks diInpiing when you laughed and showed your pearly teeth; your darN brown eyes that used to look into into mine nl'e the batter of your little feet as you trudge1 back and forth across the room, and the music of your sweet, young voice driving the gloom and the loneliness out
 And then. Billy boy, like one awakened from pleasant dream, l realized that I was alone-alone In the
 ItrLN h m lions and those little, lattered trousers and the silence broken only by the tick ing of the clock upon the mantei; laid the faded garment in the bottom of the old hair trunk. And then l knelt ara prayed to God to bring my Billy boy sa1e home to me again.
 to believe that all is for the best. In your last letter you said you cannot come home for some time yet. as you have SC much to do. So I will try. to be content
 But the inspector never finished read ing the letter. for stranger. who was sitting next to me staggered to his 1ee' His face was pale and his voice trembled
 "Good God, man" he said, "Tm the big gest wretch that ever lived. Do you un m partner who was drowned, down th' river. But he papers stated 1t was l. anc as had got into trouble. l changed m. name and pulled out for other perts Bu luck has been with me, sir, and here am, for dear old mothers sake an hones man from this day on. Boys" he con tinued, turning to us. who sat witt mouths agap. boys, Biliy's got lot ol good, old greenbacks and please God Tn Eoin' home tomorrow-soin' home tt stay"
 Then the inspector jumped upon chail and shouted. Three cheers for Billy boy and mother!'
 And we gave them with a will thai shook the house. And the stranger said:
 yate secretary, that little, consumptivc postmaster. hasn't drawn his salary. fol a long time. But he'll get 1t. boys, hel get 1t with compound interest and sea skin overcoat thrown in"
 Say, you should have heard us vel then.