Amador ledger., 1906-01-05

NPNANSShOSS VI age Wueu Tue only out
look is continued need and reduced
earning capacity? The truth came
home strongly to Jonas when he began
to seek work. There was no work for
MIN. They wanted young men. He
was too old; he couldn't stand the
racket. And some were less gentle
with the rebuff. Gradually his little
Tund dw1ndled, and at last he made
his way by begging at farm houses
along the road. He found shelter in
hayricks and barns, sneaking in after
dark and leaving before dawn. Lack
OF food began to tell. The wrinkles
deepened in his face; his eyes took
on hopeless expression; his gait was
slower; his back began to bend. In
rev weeks Jonas was an old, old man.
And with weakness came the feeling
OF dependence. His pride melted. He
wanted a strong arm about him. But
there was only one in all the world on
whom he might can--"Sonny." And
where was "Sonny" now?
There was ample time for Jonas to
regret the past. AS he plodded along
the frozen road he recalled the occur
rences of ten years before, when
Sonny" had passed out of his life.
On the boys shoulders had fallen the
burden of the farm with its mortgage.
Together they had worked, Bill doing
the lions share, tocraise the encum.
brance; and when the money was al
most in hand, Jonas had loaned it,
against Billy's earnest protest, to a
friend on an unsecured note, at heavy
interest. And when the friend failed.
Billy saw the fruits of his labor swept
away In night. Was it any wonder,
tnen, that he proposed giving I'D the
farm and moving to the city? Were
they to continue there, with noses to
the eternal grindstone, merely eking
out a living? The mother agreed,
faith in her son being deep and abid-
ing; but Jonas said No, and when,
aIter months of argument, Billy an
nounced his intention of going alone,
Jonas rose in wrath and showed him
the door, bidding him with curse to
60, and stay, and never show your
face again." Now, in his bitterness,
weak and weary, Jonas sat down by
the side of the road and wept quietly
the hrst time in years. Oh, if he could
only find Sonny" 'Sonny' wouId
forgive him. His heart went back to
the old home; to the sorrowing mother,
who had pined away griev1ng for her
son. He did not know that on the day
OF his departure, Billy, prosperous and
generous, having heard of the av-
proachlng sale, had appeared before
the astonished Squire Barlow and up-
set that individuals prophecy by salts
Tying all demands and rendering the
sale unnecessary; nor that for weeks
Billy had been Advertising all over the
East for his father to come home.
1t was New Years eve. Jonas had
been on the road over a month. With |
out knowing how, or, indeed, why. he
nad proceeded steadily north, through
the mountains, and now, as the bleak,
winter day drew to close, he was ap-
preaching the great city of Pittsburg. |
From afar he had seen the heavy
smoke lying low on the horizon. The
road was lined with beautiful resi- |
dences, and as dusk came ON, lights
appeared in the windows. There was
warmth and cheer. Might not food
and shelter be there too for an old
man? He could not keep up much
longer. His shoes were worn through,
He was sick with hunger In despera-
ton he followed the driveway of
palatial residence and made his Way
back to the stable. The hostler
came at him savagely. "Git out O.
here" he growled. "This amt no
place for hoboes." Jonas turned and
went out again. He would not beg
from common stable-hand. He
would push on to the city.
AS he passed the side of the house
he glanced up at the roof and stopped
suddenly. There. was a glow in the
attic window. The glass shivered and
a gush of smoke and flame told him
instantly that the house was on fire.
With quick steps he ran to the front
and up on the broad porch. The door
was locked, but he pounded on it with
his fists. "FIREr' he shouted; and
again, "FIRE! FIRE! The dooropened
suddenly, showing the white, scared
face of woman. "FIREr' Your
house is on firew he cried, as he
pushed past her.
Women screamed and children ran
hfther and thither. Hardly knowing
why Jonas hurried up the broad stairs. |
AS he turned into the upper hall
cloud of smoke enyeloped him. He en-
tered the first room and ran to the
window. Opening it, he shouted into
the still night air, "FIRE! FIREr' He
heard mems voices, but as in a dream,
for the smoke was sitting him. He
must get back or die, like o rat in
hole. AS he groped his way he fell
against bed. A tiny voice startled
him. 1t was baby, choking in the
dense smoke. He reached out blindly;
his hands came upon the child strug-
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