Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-13

IN you uhEu 10 U'. III" city sHu NJ
ford to lose good workmcn like you!
They're too scarce'" and h. smiled
scniaiiy ns he Signalcd his horse To
trot on.
Yes: he was getting old. Bernard
Dunn realized that fact nv he drew his
sleeve across his eyes. which n strange
mist had blinded several times during
the afternoon; but he was not going
to stop until plump 9 o'clock. he
thought. for his heart was In his work.
as II had ever been.
II America had done well by Supt.
Merrill. II has certainly done well by
Bernard and his children. and with
gratitude he pondcrcd the supcrintcnd.
cnt's words. letting his mind run on
his comfortable home. his steady work
! and the good wages which IL brought
him. and then TO his Childrcn-thc old.
est daughter n beautiful woman. wife
Of the Judge of the circuit court: his
oldest son pastor OF nohrishing par.
ish In n nearby town: another son n
surgeon studying In the hospitals
abroad: n daughter who. as buyer In
the lace department OF big Boston
house. commanded salary larger
than that of many government con.
sul-all well and doing well. except
the youngest child. Alas and alack!
Where was he to-day. his birthday No
wonder the mist rost before the old
mans eyes. shutting out the sights In
the city streets.
That they had all spoiled the lad
the father remembered with a sigh.
but who could resist his sway. hand.
some young tyrant Of the household,
"a he grew to be. accepting as his
right the sacrifices of his brothers and
sisters: he. his mothers idol. his
fathers pride!
The college where his brothers had
received their education seemed too
slow and steady.going for him. and
SO. In the fullnoss Of time. he had been
sent to Yale. and had established him.
self in luxurious quarters. bent upon
getting all the good time there was
out OF life. Slowly but surely the
knowledge forced itself upon the ador-
ing little family at home that all was
not as 1t should be, and there came n
time when boyish cscapndcs were eN.
changed for dlsgraceful and dishonor-
able conduct, and then his father had
interfered.
II hurt the old man even In mem
ory to recall the rcbuke which he had
felt Obliged to give his son. and the
sullenness with which 1t had been re.
ceived. That very night the lad had
disappcared-tcn years ago. and not
one word had been heard from him
since.
Every 18th of March the lads moth.
er had prepared for him those little
birthday daintios which he used TO
like in the old days. when daintics
meant luxuries to the struggling fam.
lily.
Each Patrick's night during the
nine years the old man had gone hope.
fully homeward. straining his eyes for
a glimpse of his wife, as he pictured
her, coming out to wait for him at the
gate with the CHEEKY announcement:
Father. dear, our boy has come back
to us,"
1t was almost time to 70 now, and
unbiddcn the picture rose in his mind
"The poor wife! God help her, 1t
comes hardest on herr" he said tender
ly. as he thought lovingly of the wom-
an who had been the joy of his youth,
the pride of his manhood and the so.
lace of his later years. And then. with
deep sigh at memory Of his absent
boy, he added:
MAY God guard him IL he's living.
and receive his soul If he is dead!"
and the old man went solemnly about