Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-11-19

boz, my boy" Then they drew up to
the fire and John said Father, mother,
will you forgive me for my anger nine
years ago and my cruel silence ever
since?" And his mother said: MY boy,
not day has passed by that we haven't
prayed for your return, and, now that
you are with us, we can take new lease
on life, and'-she glanced at his shabby
clothing-i'we will share our little posses
sions with you, my dear, long-lost son"
As the afternoon wore away John help
ed his father about the chores and by
skillfully planned questions learned all
about his financial troubles. He had TAX
en- his satchel up to his old room and was
washing his hands before supper when he
heard light step on the porch and
bright-faced young woman walked into
the kitchen and seeing him stood embar-
raised until he, coming forward, said;
This is Anna Scott, isn't it!"
why, John Warren, where have you
kept yourself all these years? Oh. how
happy your mother must be!''
And dropping his hand, which she had
been shaking with greatest enthusiasm,
she flew down into the cellar and threw
both arms around his mothers neck, and
that good lady embraced her, weeping and
patting her shoulder with the empty
cream pitcher which she had taken there
to fill.
Mrs. Warren insisted that Anna should
stay for supper. 1t seemed very much
like old times when John tucked her hand
under his arm and they walked over the
road they had travelled so often years be-
fore. Just as they entered her fathers
gateway John said:
Anna, my parents think just as you
do, that | have made a failure of life.
Well, l haven't. | am junior member of
very prosperous firm in the West, but l
want to keep the secret a little while
longer and l want you to help me give
them a kind surprise"
Then he unfoIded his plan to her and
her voice rang with delight as she said :
''Oh, John, how lovely that will bel'
The next morning, after the old family
Bible was read and a heartfelt prayer
offered, John asked the loan of his faith
er's horse and drove straight to Squire
Cobb's Office and that worthy being in,
John said:
SNS
mortgage you have on my fathers farm. %
With that he drew from his pocket a
| large roll of bank notes and counted
down the $500 which would release his
father from worry and misery. John
drove at once to the farm of Mr.. Scott
ard called whoa r' just as Anna, her
| father, mother and brother came to the
| gate.
There were hearty greetings, and then
Anna, all ready for a long drive, sprang
in beside him. How bright the morning
was! How happy were they as the bells
| jingled and the sleigh moved over the
wilderness of snow and through the deep
woods. What mysterious bundles they
brought out of the stores in town until,
when, at last they arrived at Anna s
home. the sleigh was loaded with enough
to stock q store" as Harry Scott re-
marked.
Thanksgiving day dawned bright and
glorious with sun and snow, and early
| in the morning Anna appeared and she
wanted to help get dinner" Soon John
brought the horse and cutter around and
asked his mother to take ride with him,
and finally, after much urging from Anna,
Mrs. Warren put on her shabby cloak and
| hood and with a warm soapstone at her
| feet was tucked into the sleigh beside
John. He noticed the cloak and gave a
little look of entreaty to Anna, who only
smiled and said: Il wish you would call
at mothers before you come back Away
| they drove toward the mill and down by
| the river, then stopped at Farmer Scott's.
Soon Mrs. Scott was showing Mrs. War
rem her new quilt, just taken out of the
| frames" and the picture of Cousin Will
| liam, who is on the board of trade" and
these two good old women talked over a
! hundred harmless things which constitute
ed their everyday life. John finally sug-
| gested that it was time they were going
if he could believe the clock of appetite
Anna met them at the door, her eyes
! dancing as she said: "Uncle Warren is
almost ready. You lay off your things
and sit down at the table,"
When Mr.. Warren had finished the ten,
derby thankful grace, Johns eyes as well
as Annals were filled with tears. Mr.
Warren turned over his plate and there
lay the Cancelled mortgage. Slowly he
lifted it. What does this mean, JohnT
The kind voice of the old man trembled
with emotion as he glanced first at the
mortgage, then at the son. And Johns
mother, who had been peering through her