The Mena weekly star., 1907-12-19


 and for some weeks stopped at
 hotel where young civil enginee
 had headquarters. Harry Gendrii
 was one of those mellow, opel
 natures who have popularity for
 birthright, and was soon favorit
 in the town and hotel. He liked t
 come into my room and sing. Hi
 voice was a deep bass; my room
 mate, Morris, sang part that l wa
 never musician enough to name
 Harry Gendrin sang rich tenor ant
 I tried to carry the air. We sang
 "Swanns River" Old Kentuck,
 Home," and such pieces occasionally
 but the old hymn tunes were bes'
 adopted to our style of quartett, anc
 am obliged to say that we made
 some good music on "Old Hundred,
 "Coronation" and like pieces. Or
 one occasion we sang Where Is My
 Boy Tonight" and at it's conclusion
 Harry said If you care to hear the story will tell you where l first heard that song"
 "Tell it by all means,' said the rest of US.
 "I will have to begin by saying that until recently I was a pretty reckless chap. My father has al ways been railroad prospector and surveyor and have been with him in camp ever since was a mere kid. He is good man, the leader of a choir in Evettsburg. where my mother frequently sings solos. l never hope to hear anything this side of the glory gate that will satisfy me as we'll as my mothers voice in the First Cumberland church at Evettsburg.
 Father was not careful enough about my companions in camp, and soon had drifted a long way from the right. But I learned his busl- ness, and when was about Is years old he put me to work on one of his jobs. The pay was not large but 1t was nearly all clear money, and was too young to understand the proper disposal of so much. l got into the habit of spreeing when l went to Evettsburg or when father was not in camp. When I was about 20 we reached a point in job where we had been two weeks in the rain and mud, and got to the end of a section one Thursday noon. Father said we would have to lay off until, the next Monday morning because his plans for the next section were not matured.
 "I determined then and there to put in the best part of the next three days at Evettsburg on great old jamboree, so l walked back to the terminus and the 2 o'clock freight bumped and banged me forty miles to Evettsburg. Here 1 disappeared into saloon down town and was soon oblivious to all surrounding events. The saloon keeper was care full that my whereabouts should be kept quiet and bundled me into his own living room when became un- able to care for myself.
 Father stayed at his. job prepar- ing the next weeks work until afternoon, when he went to Evettsburg to be present at his choir meeting at ' o'clock in the evening. His train was delayed and he went directly from the depot to the church.
 By strange destiny, it seemed, mother had been selected to sing Where Is My Boy Tonight" at the evening service. On the way home father asked for me and mother re- piled she had not seen me. They both became very uneasy-f father with an inkling of the truth and mother with all sorts of nameless dreads. As 1 did not show up that night father started private police man on a search for me next morn- ing before breakfast. He unearthed me and got me to a hotel where a was hired to sober me up.
 ''Ihe policeman then went to re- port, but as my father was not at home the whole miserable truth came out to my mother. He said as he was leaving: Mrs. Gendrin, I would advise you not to go to Harry today. He will be alright tomorrow morning and you can see him before he starts back to camp. You would only be needlessly distressed at what you would see today, and you can do him no good now. If possible l will get him home tonight after supper Mother promised that she would not try to sec me until I should be sober. and she went fn the