Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-11-20

wanted to help get dinner" Soon john
| brought the horse and cutter around and
asked his mother to take a ride with him.,
and finally, after much urging from Anna,
Mrs. Warren put on her shabby cloak and
hood and with a warm soapstone Mt her
feet was tucked into the sleigh beside
John. He noticed the cloak and gave Q
little look Of entreaty to Anna, who only
smiled and said II 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 Scotia
Soon Mrs. Scott was showing Mrs. War
rem her new quilt, just taken ont OF the
frames" and the picture of cousin VIII
liam, who is. on the board OF trade" and
these two good old women talked over -
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 10
almost ready. You lay off your things
and sit Town at the table,"
When Mr.. Warren had finished the ten
derby thankful grace, Johns eyes an we'll
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, John?"
The kind voice of the old man trembled
with emotion as he glanced first At ths
mortgage, then at the son. And Johns
mother, who had been peering through her
| glasses at something which wouldn't pour
out Of the cream pitcher, turned the ar
| ticle upside down and a bunch Of bank
notes dropped upon the table.
Then the old couple saw it al and soon
the three were clasping hands and no ons
could say a word until John managed to
murmur: Father, mother, it's a part Of
my repentance"
The dishes cleaned and put away,
Anna took the mystifed Mrs. Warren
into the little spare room" and John
asked his father to walk up TO his roOm.
and there, spread out on the bed, was .
| splendid new, warm suit Of clothing and
shoes and a fur cap and a handsome gBeat
coat. $50
The old man knelt down by the bed
and murmured, u thank Thee, Lord, for
my son." Then arising, clothed himself.
! in the first well-ftting suit he had ever
worn. John, too, arrayed himself in his
| best, and soon they walked down into the
parlor, where John saw a sweet, m~atro0ly
woman and a pretty younS woman. both
smiling and both having evidences OF re
cent tears.
During the week that followed John
engaged a hired man to ease his fathers
work and a trusty girl to relieve his
mother. He also hired a carpenter to do
some needed repairing and set in motion
many plans for the future comfort Of his
parents.
One day he and Harry Scott hunted
through the woods, and when, tired and
loaded with trophies of the days hunt,
they came to Mr.. Warren's they found
Jennie Nellis and Anna seated before the
"great-hearted fire" What a merry sup
per that was, and how the Did people
laughed at the bright saHies Of the young
folk
Then they roasted apples and told
stories, and John felt that he had faith
fully carried out the program of the trav-
cling men.
When he left for the West he carried
in his memory not only the dear faces Of
his parents, but the gentle voice Of Anna
as she said:
Eyes, but not until June, John.'-Chi-
cago Post.