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

Hester and Jacob Cross had letter
from their only son, which caused
them both great deal of anxious
thought
you see, father" so ran a portion
of the letter, Il can seldom leave my
business to 60 out to see you, it is
such long, expensive journey, and |
must think Of saving the dollars and
cents, now that l have 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 no
one would care to buy such little
tumbledown house; and il l remember
right, there isn't piece OF furniture
in it which is worth above a dollar,
Just pack your clothes and a few
things you value most and come right
along and live with u.s.
Don't you think Henry speaks
little too slightingly of the old home,
Hester?" asked Jacob Of his wife. 1t
was good enough for me and my
father before me, and ne had good
comfortable bringing up in it.
81 spose he's got so forehanded that
he 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
ingly 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, filled, 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 Glent1eld 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 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 to
his wife's flushed face in careful con-
sideration.
81 wouldn't, Hetty; they'll keep bet
ter just where they are, think. VINO
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 if retiring for
the night or going out to call on q
neighbor for an evening, and started
with fiuttering hearts upon their long
overland journey to Glenfield.
aAll the way Hester Cross dreamed
longingly of the meeting SO soon to
he. She had never seen the dear BABY
nor indeed it's mother, her sons WIFE
but her great heart was fully prepared
TO take them both in and enshrlne
them beside Jacob and Henry. and the
nearer she drew to her journeys end
the more eagerly she anticipated the
pleasure of meeting them.
At length, dusty and traVel-Worn,
Hester and Jacob Cross stood upon
the steps of their sons rather pre-
tentious house, waiting for admission.
Rv 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 any one
thew loved had come to visit them
Instead. a servant came at length, and,
with eyebrows raised superciliously
cbowed them with a doubtful air into
a richly furnished parlor.
It seemed long time to their weary
eagerness before their sons wife, a
vision of beauty, smiling, and with
condescending air, came to meet them
She tried to make them feel at ease
and amply apologized for the over
s;gbt of failing to meet them at the
station, but in spite of all her efforts,
something was lacking and the father
and mother from the little old tum-
h1o-down house" away back in the
country hoped family that the meet.
sne with Henry and the baby would