The Elbert County tribune., 1906-01-18
Two Surprises

The last day of the old year makes
a fellow feel sort of reminiscent.
doesn't it," said the man at the roll
top desk. "The worst case of home
sickness | ever had was brought on
by encouraging that feeling"
81 lived in Chicago then, and for
some reason or other l hadn't visited
the old farm for five years, though the
old folks made an annual visit to me,
and made them enjoy it. Well. when
the clock announced the last day of
'9S, was sitting in hotel lobby with
lot Of travelling men. Every one of
them had been farmers boy, and we
fell to telling stories. We spoke of
skating and swimming, forgetting
frosted ears, chores, and the interview
with ma when we came home late for
supper and she felt our hair to see IL
1t was wet. We lived over orchard
raids-never referring to the painful
memory of how pa waited in the dark,
when we climbed in at the window.
We remembered the sweetness of
stolen melons, overlooking what hap
pened when old Thompson complained
Of us next day. By and by we were all
homesick.
Then fellow from North Dakota
spoke of the holidays on the old farm,
thought of the old folks with a lump
in my throat the size of a prize pump
kin. Why, hadn't written home for
month. and hadn't spent New Years
day there since | came to the city.
Suddenly l resolved to go home and
surprise them. The man from North
Dakota said for two cents he'd go with
me; he didn't know my mother, but
he knew his own, and he'd risk his well
come. | offered him two cents.
we could make it if we took the
o'clock train in the morning, and that
would bring US home when the lamps
were lit and the smell of supper met
you at the back door. The man from
North Dakota hoped they'd have sau-
sage, dried apple sauce and hot bis
cults! He said it cured his dyspepsia
to think Of It.
Before / slept l wired my brother
Jim, who lived three miles from the
old place, to meet us at the station,
not letting the old folks know.
1T was showing when we started.
but that only made it seem more like
New Years. 1t showed all day and
our train kept losing time, but only
pitied Jim waiting at the station. We
gave up the home supper and ate in
the dining car. 1t was nine when we
arrived, and the station master, a
stranger, hadn't seen jim, There was
no hotel, but travelling man offered
us lift to the cross roads. The man
from North Dakota hoped the old folks
hadn't gene to bed; | knew they had.
1t was further from the cross roads
than | thought. We stopped talking,
as we foundered through the snow.
But, anyhow, l was going home for
New Years,
There was no light when we turned
in, and hoped pa had not covered the
fire too carefully. l meant to tell Jim
few things next day. but tonight |
was at homel knocked and waited
for the window to go up and to hear
pas voice when l shouted, but no
sound came. l knocked again; then
we took turns knocking
'It seemed an hour before a surly
voice above told us its owner was
armed; also that the dog was loose.
The dog arrived just then; he was a
stranger and seemed to have double
set of teeth. The man was a new
hired hand. He said l wasn't Ed, be-
cause the old folks had gone to Chi
cago TO spend New Years with him.
He backed up his opinion with a gun
which looked as big as a howitzer in
the starlight.
"The man from North Dakota sug-
gested we go to Jim's. 1t was the long
est three miles I ever walked. Jim
was at home; he hadn't got my teIe-
gram. His wife had gone with the
old folks to surprise me. There was
nothing to eat in the house except
some cold potatoes and a jug of mo-
lasses, and the fire was out.
"The next time I go home for New
Years I'll wait till pa writes; he'll
meet me at the station."-Evenfng
Il