The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-27

day-rot long enough to find whether
you like it or not" demonstrated
Henry, in tones of perplexed veXation.
Yet his father, searching his face,
saw a flash of something like relief
pass over it, and having a key to an
inner chamber of his sons mind, ne
did not blame him, but gently
persisted.
ITS an old folks notion, boy, no
use to fight it. We're as homesick as
dogs, and we will stay all night with
you and then start back to the old
place. It's mistake when folks as
old as we are think of transplanting
themselves to a new place"
Father, | cannot bring myself to
consent to this-this most unreason-
able desire of yours and mothers be-
ing carried out, "the distressed young
man replied. Come with me down to
the station and we will have your
things taken to the house and nicely
placed then you will feel more at
home, and so will mother, and all will
be right and pleasant"
But no. Henry Cross saw that it
was useless to try to persuade his
father to alter his decision.
They went to the station, but it was
to arrange for shipping their boxes
back home, all but one.
This is filed with country things
which your mother and l thought you
might like-apples from the old trees
you used to like best, and few extra
nice vegetables.
The old man sighed as he thought
that having sold all their fruit and
vegetables they would be obliged to
buy more to keep them through the
winter months.
Henry's wife was delighted with the
contents of the box, but her husband
could never bring himself to relish the
vegetables when they were prepared
for the table; they seemed to choke
him, and the sight of the well-remem-
bered fruit brought tears to his eyes.
The information of the change in
the plans of the old people was re-
ceived by Henrys wife with unfeigned
disapprobation.
Not until the old couple were well
on their way home did the reason of
their sudden return there dawn on the
mind of their son. Then he said,-
Helena, do you care to know why
your father and mother-in-law did not
make home with us as they first in
tended?"
She noted the bitterness in his tone,
and said nothing, but waited with
questioning eyes for what he had to
say.
"They overheard your learned dis
puisition on the subject of grand
mothers-the danger of allowing them
to nurse or caress their grand
children"
Helena Cross blushed fiery red.
she would have given much to recall
she would have give nmuch to recall
the words which had worked such mis-
chief.
She was not SO cruel or .hardhearted
as not to realize what she had done
and to regret it from the bottom of
her heart. She was young and felt
the importance of wife and mother
hood, and had listened to too many
well-meant but false and foolish teach
ings, and herein lies excuse enough
for Henry's wife, whose punishment
was quite adequate to her fault, or so
her husband decided when a few hours
later he saw her eyes swollen and red
with weeping.
AS for the father and mother who
had SO suddenly changed their mind,
no tongue can tell how blest and
sweet, and altogether lovely, the
little old tumble-down house." which
had been so calmly deserted by them
four days before, appeared now, as, in
the golden light of an October sun
set, they stopped before it.
ooh, I'm so glad l didn't tear up or
down anything" sighed Hester, soft
ly, YEARLY, yet delightfully."-, as she
stepped inside the dear old kitchen
door. Jacob are you too tired to
run over to Benefits and get the
cat? They'll give her up-it don't
seem quite like home without her
have know she'd see us coming. And
now we'll unpack the things Henry
made us bring and have supper. Do
get out from under foot, puss, till
get fire built"
And Jacob, splitting pine kindlings,
kept his face turned aside from Hes
ter that she might not see the happy
tears in his eyes.
No one to welcome them, only the
old cat they had deserted, yet for Hes
ter and Jacob Cross it was a blessed
homecoming.
Letters came at regular intervals
from Henry during the winter, and
each one was filed with news of the
little child-all her little ways and
wiles-bitter-sweet news to Grandma