Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-12-10
YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN.

he'll show up and not till then. So come,
Martha, dry your eyes and think no
more of il. !"
Mr.. Morley's words were always reas-
surlng to his nervous, timid little wife;
sun, when the emotions of grief and sor-
row We're thus kindled, it was hard to
stifle them. Bert Morley had been the
pride of his mothers heart. He was q
promising youth, but very stubborn and
| wIlful. 1t was only the day after his if
teenth birthday that he received we'll
merlted punishment and when his fond
mother went the next morning to awak-
en- him, instead Of finding, as She expect
ed, .penitent boy asking forgiveness and
promising future obedience, there was
naught but the empty room. He had
stolen away in the night
1t was terrible shock to his parents,
Mrs. Morley in particular, who, being in
iran health, was almost FRUSTRATED. Ey-
cry effort was made to discover the lads
wherea bouts; but, beyond the fact that a
boy answering his description was seen
to board an outgoing vessel at a nearby
seaport, no trace was found In truth,
MIR. Morley himself had scarcely ray of
hope that he would ever see his son
again. Still he never expressed any
doubts IN the presence of his wife, but
ever tried to inspire a trust that he
would return.
When preparations for dinner were
Wei under way Alice set cut for the
Banks home with a wellladen basket on
her arm. To the plump, nicely dressed
duck Mrs. Morley had added a loaf of
bread: some cranberry sauce and rich
pumpkin pie The old couple were SUR
prlsed and delighted, and loud were their
expressions of gratitude; so when Alice
started home she felt amply repaid for
the care and trouble she had taken in
trying to bring a bit of cheer into the
lonely home.
For some distance a stretch of wood
Dordered the road. The snow had drifted
so that Alice had hard work to get
through. She had not gone far when
man, tai and lank and roughly dressed
came out of the wood and made directly
toward her. Alice stood terrified and
unable to move. She could see the smoke
from her fathers chimney lust around
the bend of the forest, and measuring the
distance with her eye, was undetermined
whether to retreat or advance, when the
stranger, having almost reached her.
seemed about to speak. Only a word
came from his lips and Alice did not
understand. Then, with a little groan.
ne swayed and fell headlong at her feet.
Giving frightened cry Alice kneeled to
assist him, then ran swiftly toward her
nome. Fear lent wings to her feet and
all trembling and out of breath she stag
gereu INTO the house.
"Oh, mamma" she gasped, there's
strange mana tramp-d0wn there by
the wood! Have papa go quick-he's
dead or dying"
Mr.. Morley waited for no further ex-
PLANTATION, but, hitching a horse to his
Sleigh went speeding to the relief of the
sufferer. The sick man lay at the side !
OF the road just as Alice had left him.
MI Morley stopped over the PROSTATE fig |
ufe ana took one look into the worn. hag-
gard face, With a hoarse cry he stag |
gercd back
son. ny
kneeling, he listened for signs of life. |
All, yes, the heart was still beating |
Tears of gratitude yelling to his ewes. |
Mr. Morley gathered the helpless form |
into the sleigh Alice and her mother
anXiously met him at the door.
Don't be alarmed" he said huskily. !
trying to control his emotions, ''the poor |
chap IS only overcome with cold and ex- |
posurer'
Mrs. Morley could see by her husbands /
that he was greatly affected, and |
pressed forward to the sleigh. The rec
ognltlon was instant and with an exeIaDl- /
alton in which Joy and fear were strange /
IS blended she pressed the unconscious /
hoy to her heart. Inside by the CHEEKY |
lire, where restOratives had been applied. /
the long-absent son opened his eyes once |
more and beheld the beaming faces of his /
loving parents and sister. 1t was truly /
Merry Christmas in the Morley homer- /
Detroit Free Press.