St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-09-21


| sobs hid her poor old face in the cor.
| ner of her shawl.
| The lady laid her hand gently on
the bowed head, her heart swelling
with pity and indignation. There,
there, mother, don't cry" she said
tenderly, land this son of yours, is he
SO very poor he cannot take care Of
you himself?"
i "Oh, mol" the bowed head lifted a
little; hes right we'll to do, but you
see he's married new wife,. that amt
been so long acquainted with me, an
then, too, I'm too old to work, an
amt stylish an nice like Mis- Pringle
would like me to be. She expects
company for over Christmas, dread
full stylish lady from New York, an
they sorter felt ashamed O. me, l
reckon, an besides, Sary wanted my
room for her compny, so here I am"
| She tried to smile through her
tears. 1T putty nigh broke my heart,
ma'am, leavin' EN- all, for though
they was putty hash some times, they
was all / had"
If she had looked into the face Of
her companion. she would have seen
flashing eyes and lips compressed
with inward emotion; but she was too
much absorbed in her grief to notice"
There now, don't think any more
about it." The kind hands were un-
tying her faded bonnet. I'll go and
get you cup of tea, and that will
rest you"
In the meantime there had been a
revolution of feeling in the Pringle
family. Martin had gone back to his
Office after seeing his poor old mother
on board the train, and as it was a
cold day, he sat down before the glow
ing fire to warm his feet. The walk
from the station had been long one,
he seldom employed streetcars, the
warm fire made him drowsy and it
is probable that his days experience
was answerable for the strange dream
that he had. The consciousness of
having done supremely mean act is
not a restful pillow for a sleeping
imagination. and Mr.. Pringles played
him queer trick. He thought he
was at home by his warm, anthracite
fire when stranger opened the door
and came in, tall, impressive and
stern. Mr.. Pringle had no familiar
word of greeting for Him, although
he knew Him at once and instructive
ly. 1t was the Savior of mankind,
and He stretched out long, majestic
arm, with an accusing foref1nger
pointed toward the unflial sons
heart. Man, where is thy mother,
and the praying one of this house;
she who has been your passover for
years? Come find her."
A cold sweat broke out on the
dreamer's brow as he stammered in
shame and contrition, Il have sent
her away"
Even so shall you be sent away"
The words fell with crushing force
upon the guilty heart, and with a look
of condemning reproach He passed
out, and Mr.. Pringle was alone, and
awake, the cold sweat-drops upon his
brow as they had been in his dream,
and his limbs trembling with fright.
He hurriedly arose when he could
command his trembling limbs, and
buttoning up his warm overcoat he
thought with a SILVER that the moth
er's shawl was both old and thin; he
started for home.
Sarah was in the hall to meet him.
Sarah, we've done an awful thing"
said Martin, his knees beginning to
tremble again. eve haven't thought
enough about God, and the future,
and I'm afraid His shifting hand will
be upon us if this wrong isn't made
right"
How can it be made right? She's
gone, and what's done can't be I'M
done"
Yes it can, and I'm going after her.
1 can go on the limited and catch her
before she goes any farther" and
then he told her his dream.
Sarah's head dropped. 1t was fear
fully hard for her to give up her will.
well. perhaps you had better" she
said.
They were coming out of the room
where they had breakfasted, the old
lady's feeble steps supported by the
younger ones strong arm, when Mr..
Pringle met them, and her eyes rest
ed upon him in terrified surprise.
"Oh, Martin, what is it?" she cried,
laying her trembling hand upon his
arm, rs anybody sick or dead at
home-is it Roster"
mo, no, mother, there Is nobody
sick or dying" he answered, with a
shame-faced look, "but I have come
after you, mother. We cannot let
you go after ALL
The good effects of Martin Pringle's
singular dream lasted all through the
aged mothers life, and when at last
they laid her away for her last long
rest, it was with real regret and tears
Of unfeigned sorrow"
SuroeFv Extraordinary