Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-12-03
07 ESTER and Jacob Cross had
J6I letter from their only son.
~ which caused them both n


J6I letter from their only son.
which caused them both
great deal of anxious thought.
"You see. father" SO ran a portion
Of the letter. II can seldom leave my
business to 60 out to see you. il is
such long. expensive journey, and
must think of saving the dollars and
child to provide for: SO | agree with
my wife that it would be good idea
Tor you and mother to come out here
Just close up the old place and come
out here and live with us for good.
No use trying to sell anything, for no
one would care to buy such a little
tumbledown house: and, IL remem.
Der right, there isn't piece of furni.
ture in II which is worth above dol.
lar. Just pack your clothes and few
e3 the things you value most. and come
right along and live with u.s."
Don't you think Henry speaks a
little too slightingly Of the old home,
Hester?" asked Jacob Of his wife. ut
was good enough for me and my fa.
Their before me. and he had good.
comfortable bringing up In It."
Il s'pose he's got so forehanded that
be can live in a way that makes the
old things seem dreadful old. and he
can't help II. Jacob" replied Hester,
ready now. as in the time of her sons
boyhood. to make excuses for his
shortcomings. Yet there were plainly
written upon her face lines of pain
caused by some of the words in her
boys letter. which not even the seem.
ingly sincere and hearty invitation to
come and live with them could smooth
out.
Yet her heart swclled with pride ut
the thought of leaving the old home Of
comparative poverty for her sons
home, filed. as she judged by his let
tiers, with all the luXuries and com.
forts which money could buy; and abe
endeavored to bring her husband
around to her own state Of miul
which was becoming each moment
more and more favorable toward the
project Of breaking up their own
housekeeping and going to Glenticld
to live with their son.
So 1t came about that the time for
: their departure was near at hand. and
they we're making ready to go.
might as we'll take all the things
down and pack them into boxes, SO II
We should ever happen TO want any OF
them we can send for them and have
no bother about anything
Jacob raised his thoughtful eyes &c
his wlfe's flushed face in careful con
sideration.
II wouldn't. Hetty; they'll keep bet
ter Just where they are, think. Who
ever comes for them can pack them
You need your strength for the Jour
ney; let everything stay just as 1t Is
! say"
So they merely closed the blinds
curtains and doors, as II retiring 70:
the night or going out to call on q
Me!ghbor for an evening, and startet
with fiuttering hearts upon their lon.
overland journey to Glenheld.
All the way Hester Cross dreamej
longingly Of the meeting so soon t.
be. She had never seen the dear baby
nor indeed its mother, her sons wife
but her great heart was fully pre-
pared to take them both In and en-
shrine them beside Jacob and Henry
and the nearer she drew to her jour
ney's end the more eagerly she antici
pated the pleasure Of meeting them.
At length, dusty and travel.worn
Hester and Jacob Cross stood upon thu
steps Of their sons rather pretentious
house, waiting for admission.
BY some unfortunate mistake o.
omission, no one had met them at til,
station, and they. had found their way
to their sons house as best they could
And no one met them cordially q
the hall door, as would have been thu
case In their own home II anyone they
loved had come to visit them. In
stead, servant came at length, and
with eyebrows raised superclliously
showed them with n doubtful air int
q richly furnished parlor.
II seemed a long time to their wear,
eagerness before their sons wife. ;
vision OF beauty, smiling, and will
condescending air, came to meet them
She tried to make them feel at cas-
and amply apologized for the Oversight
Of falling 10 meet them at the sta
ton, but IN spite of all her efforts
something was lacking, ana the fathe
and mother from the little old tun
ble-down house" away back In tn
country hoped family that the meet
ting with Henry and the baby would
OF a character to warm up their chile
spirits, and drive out that specie
which already wore the garb and al
peararte OF inconsistencies and persis
entity sat in their inmost souls.
shown to their room, which was
model OF comfort and convenience
they rested and refreshed themselvt
and waited, as they had been reques
ed, TIL summoned TO dinner, wheI
they met their son for the first time
ten years.
The2 had no real reason to compia'
of any lack Of warmth In their son
greeting, and he was genuinely glad
sec them. The mercury OF their spl
its ran rapidly up; but still they la
not seen baby.