Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-11-30
ISL ESTER and Jacob Cross had a

l0 letter from their only son,
~ which caused them both a
great deal of anxious thought.
"You see, father" so ran portion
of the letter, II can seldom leave my
business to go out to see you, it is
such a long, expensive journey, and l
must think Of saving the dollars and
cents, now that l. have a wife and
child to provide for; so | agree with
my wife that it would be a good idea
for 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 10
one would care to buy such little
tumble-down house; and, If 1 remem-
Der right, there isn't piece Of furni-
ture In it which is worth above a dol
lar. Just pack your clothes and a few
OF the things you value most, and come
right along and live with as"
Don't you think Henry speaks a
little too slightingly of the old home,
Hester?" asked Jacob of his wife. 1T
was good enough for me and my ia
Their before me, and he had good.
comfortable bringing up in it."
II s'pose he's got so forehanded that
1e can live in way that makes the
old things seem dreadful old, and he
can't help it, 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
dngly sincere and hearty invitation to
come and live with them could smooth
out.
Yet her heart swelled with pride at
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 she
endeavored to bring her husband
around to her own state of mind,
which was becoming each moment
more and more favorable toward the
project Of breaking up their own
housekeeping and going to Glenfield
TO live with their son.
So it came about that the time for
their departure was near at hand, and
they were making ready to go.
Might as we'll take all the things
down and pack them into boxes, so If
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 to
his wife's flushed face in careful con-
Sideration.
II wouldn't, Hetty; they'll keep bet
ter just where they are, I think. Who
ever comes for them can pack them.
You need your strength for the jour-
ney; let everything stay just as it is,
4 say"
So they merely closed the blinds,
curtains and doors, as If retiring for
the night or going out to call on a
neighbor for an evening, and started
with fluttering hearts upon their long
overland journey to Glenfeld.
All the way Hester Cross dreamed
longingly Of the meeting so soon to
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-
neys end the more eagerly she antici-
pated the pleasure OF meeting them.
At length, dusty and travel-worn,
Hester and Jacob Cross stood upon the
steps of their sons rather pretentious
house, waiting for admission.
BY some unfortunate mistake or
omission, no one had met them at the
station, and they had found their way
to their sons house as best they could
And no one met them cordially at
the hall door, as would have been the
case in their own home if anyone they
lowed had come to visit them. In
IL
with eyebrows raised superciliously,
showed them with a doubtful air into
a richly furnished parlor.
1t seemed a long time to their weary
eagerness before their sons wife, a
vision Of beauty, smiling, and with
condescending air, caue to meet them.
She tried to make them feel at ease
and amply apologized for the oversight
Of failing to meet them at the sta
ton, but in spite Of all her efforts,
something was lacking and the father
and mother from the little old tum-
ble-down house" away back in the
country hoped family that the meet
ing with Henry and the baby would be
Of character to warm up their chilled
spirits. and drive out that specter