The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-16

1 l
~ - Is full of pathos
as he travels his
M W. rounds of the city
curing the week.
1t takes many classes Of people. peo-
pie of different ambitions and hopes
to make up this busy old world of ours
and the Man meets them all. The Man
is not philosopher; he has long since
learned that life is too short to theo-
rize and to wonder at. but that pref
ty SENSIBLE light in which to look at
things is to take them as they come
without the useless and wearlsome
plan Of wondering why things are
thus and So
This is, not an essay. dear reader.
and the Man has a story to spin-a
homely story. but at the same time. the
incident gives one foor for sober
thought and, consideration.
1t is within the province of news
paper man to butt In" using an-ex-
preston more Pat than elegant. II we
do not butt in" something will get
by us and the many little incidents
given the public through the medium
of the press would never be written.
Some are good. some bad and others
are Indifferent. but to gather them we
must first "butt in"
Seated in a quiet nook in second
class clearinghouse not long ago.
were two people, young man proDa-
bly, aged about % years. and little
woman, his mother. The woman was
nervous. retiring little person Of
plain attire and homely countenance.
Her garments were worn and thread
bare in places. though neat and care
fully arranged. A small. black shawl,
one of those with fringed edges. at
one time supposed to be the embody-
ment OF elegance as wardrobe aux
tliary worn by the humber class. A
quaint bonnet, fronlsunder which stray
ed locks of. gray hair, covered her
head. Her face plainly showed I'M
mistakablc signs of care and hardship.
but happy. contented smile rested
upon it today, and look of such I'M
alleged. almost pitiful, joy was thereon
portrayed that the Man glanced Sec
ond time at her and the stalwart
young man at her side. 1t required
no second glance to satisfy one that
the boy had been going the pace. Dis
sipation and nights of revelry, coupled
with exposure to outdoor life and
rough weather had left their unmis-
taxable marks upon his countenance.
But. honor to him. rough though he
was. he looked lovingly at the frail
little woman by his side. and the
rough and hardened face bore look
of resolution which signified much.
"Oh. Charley. we'll all be SO glad, my
boy, oh. SO glad, to have you at home
again. and your father will be all
right, laddie, all right, never fear"
The Man did not catch the reply, but
waiting patiently, followed the young
man to the door later as he left for
moment the little woman in the
black shawl and old-fashioned bonnet.
Going out on this train. friend?"
asked the Man. II gather news for
local paper and would like your
names-your mother. conclude"
YES" he answered. "it's mother;
and l am goind back home with her.
but don't want it in the paper, at
least, not our Names" and the Man
promised.
The story hold by the young man
was an old one-a story too often re-
peated, but the climax too less fire.
quently. A hayward son leaving the
parental roof to mingle with gay COM
panions in dissipation, mother and
father neglected and almost forgotten
for two years: word received through
friend of the fathers serious illness
and the awakening in the prodigal a
realization of his cruelty. The old
story again. but happy climax, for
they were going home-back into
northern Minnesota where loved ones
were waiting. The Man listened to
thes tory and agreed to divulge no
names in this write-up of the same.
The Man watched the pair as they hur-
riedly walked to the train later and
thought: There is lesson in that
story for every young man, I'll write
it-and he has. Without encroaching
upon the essay sort of things or at
tempting to give advice, isn't there
something to be considered in the APP
peal, Mother says come home'-now
isn't there, boys?
you have fine city here, a fine
city, but" and the Man knew what
was coming from the easterner who
offered him cigar in the hotel Da-
cotah lobby. your main street here
is fright. What's the matter that
you people don't put in paving?"
The Man proudly informed his
eastern friend that I'VE are going
to"-some time and then made an
effort to change the subject to the
fine new government building, schools,
churches and hotels the city boosted
of, but the fastener would stick to
the subject Of paving. Continuing he
said, when you get around to pave
here, let me tell you something-use
brick. Its the most durable and best
in the long run. You newspaper fell
lows should take up this subject and
boom it along. Read up on the SUBJ
ject Of paving and give the people
the benefit of the ideas gathered"
The Man agreed with him and prom
Used to read up" on brick, asphalt and
all paving material. then give the pub
lie the benefit of his research-that is,
some time.