The Green Forest tribune., 1908-12-25

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 Its ten years since he left" hs said, what a man he must be now 31 tonight. But was thinking, when bought this, of the time when be was such. little yellow-haired toddier, and almost drove us wild with just such a horn as this at Christmas time"
 She took the horn from him, and looking dreamily at it, said: Well keep this, father; maybe Jacks boy will some time make these old walls ring with it at Christmas time as he made them ring, himself, so many years ago"
 God grant that he may!" said the old man. Do you remember, mother, how he used to come chasing down the street after me when would start off to my work in the Horning?"
 Yes, and how you would pick him up and carry him back to me-" she said. And do you remember the time we came near losing him, the day he ran away to hunt you in the city?"
 Who that saw you then could for get it, mother?" and he took her hand in his and drew her down to the chair beside him. They sat hand in hand in the silence, given over to voieeless memories of the past. only the ticking of the old clock keeping an accom- paniment to their dreams of other Christmas Eyes. They were sitting thus an hour later when a servant opened the door and said, respectful ly: "There is telephone call for MT. Wellington"
 Cant you answer it, Mary?" the old man asked, loath to leave his com fortable chair and dreams.
 No, sir. It is especially for you A long-distance call, 1 think
 "Who the deuce wants to talk to me from a distance" he said as he rose and went to the telephone in the hall.
 Hello, who is this?" he asked, as he picked up the receiver. Yes, this is John Wellington"
 "A party in Chicago wants to talk to you" said the long-distance oper- ator
 All right, put him up. Who In thunder do I know in Chicago" he calculated to himself, pressing the re- ceiver closer to his ear.
 A peculiar wailing sound was all he heard, and a puzzled expression crept over his face. Talk a little louder. I can't understand a thing you are saying" and he listened more intent ly. The wailing grew a little louder. but still it was nothing but an inartic- ulate vail, and for moment the old man looked thoroughly disgusted.
 "Confound it!" he shouted at last. You sound exactly like mewling in- fant. I don't know what you are say. ing"
 Then a mans laugh was heard, fol- lowed by "A merry Christmas, father. You know exactly what he sounds like, but you don't know what he is saying" and there was another laugh, ringing joyful, as in his boyhood days, and the old man knew he had found his own
 oetSh, cdSh, Liy uOy, lo lIidL yOu. he shouted, staggered by the unex. pected joy of his sudden discovery.
 None other, father, but what you just heard was another Jack, the sec. ond Jack Wellington, Jr. He has just arrived, and his command of English is somewhat limited, but he was doing his best to introduce himself, and in. vite you and grandma to Christmas dinner with him, and"
 "Oh, Jack, Jack, where have you been all these years?" sobbed the old man.
 Catch the Lake Shore Limited to. night, father, bring mother with you, and I'll tell you all about it when you get here. You've got time. You see, father, I've kept track of you and mother all along. I wasn't going to let anything happen to the old folks, and" there was a catch in his voice, I've got the right kind of report to make, father. Never fear that"
 The old man could scarcely contain himself as he listened, pressing the re. ceiver closer and closer to his ear, as though he feared some bit of the precious news might escape him. Then he shouted: "All right, son, we're coming on the next train" He left the receiver dangling on the wall, and started on a run to the room where his wife sat, shouting as he went: Mother. mother, it's Jack our boy. Get ready, mother. I'm go. ing to have a cab here in 20 minutes to catch the train for Chicago" She had risen with wild look on her face, and had started to question him, but he shook his head, saying: "No, no, I'll explain later. Not got time now. We're going to spend Christmas with Jack and his boy"
 He started for the phone again. and then dashed back. exclaiming: Pack the tin horn if you don't pack another thing. Any child that can cry loud enough to be heard all the way from Chicago ought to have breath enough to blow that horn," and he dashed again to the phone to order a cab.
 Was Already Supplied.
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