The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-12-19


It's ten years since he LETT he
said, what man he must be now
81 tonight But was thinking, when
bought this. Of the time when ne
was such little yellow.haired fodder,
and almost drove us wild with Just
such a horn as this at Christmas
time
She took the horn from. him, aud
locking dreamily at &C. said Wen
keep this. father; maybe Jacks boy
will some dine mako these old walls
rirr ~ith It at Christmas time az 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
on to my work In the morning.
Yes and how you would pick him
mp 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 voiceless
memories Of the past only the ticking
Of the old clock keeping an accom-
paniment to their dreams Of other
| Christmas Ewes They were sittinl
! thus an hour later when servant
opened the door and said. respectful
! ly: There ia a telephone call for Mr.
wellington"
Cant you answer IT, Mary?" the
| old man asked. loath n leave his con.
Portable chair and dreams
No sir It is especially for you 4
long distance call think"
Who the deuce wants to talk to M
from distance" he said. as he ros1
and went to the telephone in the hall
Hello. who Is this?" he asked. az
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.
IAN right, put him up. Who in
thunder do know in Chicago" he
calculated to himself, pressing the re
ceiver closer to his ear.
A peculiar waiting sound was all he
heard, and a puzzled expression crept
over his face. Talk little louder.
I cant understand a thing you are
saying" and he listened more intent.
ly. The wailing grew a little louder,
but still II was nothing but an inartic.
ulate wall. and for a moment the old
man looked thoroughly disguised
"Confound IT," he shouted at last
You sound exactly like a mewing I'm.
FAINT ] 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.
Jack, Jack. my boy is that 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 JUS
arrived, and his command of English
is somewhat limited. but he was doinl
his best to introduce himself, and in
vite you and grandma to Christina,
dinner with him, and"
"Oh, Jack. Jack. where have yot
been all these years." sobbed tn,
old man.
Catch the Lake Shore Limited 10
night. father, bring mother with you
and I'll tell you all about It when yol
get here. You've got time. You see
father. I've kept track of you ant
mother all along. ! wasn't going I,
let anything happen to the old folks
and there was a catch in his voice
i've got the right kind OF report Il
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 a
though he feared some bit Of tn
precious news might escape him
) Then he shouted: "All right, son
we're coming on the next train" II
/ left the receiver dangling on the wal
, and started on ran 10 the room
where his wife sat. shouting as h
r went; Mother. mother. it's Jack
our boy Get ready. mother I'm &c
ing to have a cab here in 20 minute
to catch the train for Chicago" Sh
, had risen with a wild look on her face
and had started TO question him, bu
he shook his head, saying mo. M
. I'll explain later. Not got time nov
We're going 10 spend Christmas wit
, Jack and his boy"
He started for the phone AGAR
: rR7H1T THEN dTs7ned BACK ENCHANTING
Pack the tin horn II you don't pac
another thing. Any child that can or
, loud enough to be heard all the wa
from Chicago ought to have breat
enough to blow that horn" and h
dashed again to the phone to order
, cab.
, Was Already Supplied.