The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-12-19

more Of q man than with it." She put
her arm around his neck and patted
his cheek. -de has risen somewhere,
father. l know 1t. He could not be
your o and fall" she said, the 10y
atty and love of a lifetime lighting her
face with a soft radiance.
He took up the tin horn from the
table where he had laid it, and fondled
1t as II 1t were fraught with memories,
instead Of merely recalling them.
Its ten years since he left" he
said, what a man he must be now
81 tonight. But I was thinking, when
l bought this, Of the time when he
was such a little yellow-haired fodder,
and almost drove us wild with Just
such . horn as this at Christmas
time"
She took the hoin from him, and
looking dreamily at II. said: We'll
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 NE when l would start
off to my work in the morning."
Yes, and hos 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 ~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 sitting
thus an hour later when a servant
opened the door and said, respectful
ly: There is a telephone call for Mr..
Wellington"
old man asked, loath to leave his com
lOTtdDl0 CHdlr ana dreams.
mo. sir. 1t is especially for you. A
long-distance call, | 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
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.
| can't understand a thing you are
and he listened more intent
ly. The wailing grew a little louder. |
but still it was nothing but an inartio.
ulate wall, and for a moment the old
man looked thoroughly disguised.
"Confound it," he shouted at last.
You sound exactly like a mewling in
FAINT. 1 don't know what you are say
Then a mans laugh was heard, fol-
lowed by "A merry Christmas, father.
You know exactly what he sounds
ike, but you don't know what he IL
and there was another laugh,
joyful, as in his boyhood days,
and the old man knew he had found
lis own.
Jack, Jack, my boy, is that your"
shouted, staggered by the unex-
joy of his sudden discovery.
None other, father but what you
ust heard was another Jack, the sec
Jack Wellington, Jr. He has just
arrived, and his command Of English
S somewhat limited, but he was doing
lis best to introduce himself, and in
ute you and grandma to Christmas
Inner with him, and"
"Oh, Jack, Jack, where have you
all these years." sobbed the
I'D man.
Catch the Lake Shore Limited to-
light, father, bring mother with you,
md I'll tell you all about it when you
'et here. You've got time. You see,
ather, I've kept track of you and
mother all along. l wasn't going to
ct anything happen to the old folks.
nd" there was a catch in his voice,
I've got the right kind of a report to
make, father. Never fear that"
The old man could scarcely contain
imself as he listened, pressing the re-
eiver closer and closer to his ear, as
hough he feared some bit of the
~recious news might escape him.
hen be shouted: "Ail right, son,
ye're coming on the next train" He
eft the receiver dangling on the wall,
started on a run to the room
here his wife sat, shouting as he
Tent: Mother, mother, it's jack
ur boy. Get ready, mother. I'm 60
to have a cab here in 20 minutes
> catch the train for Chicago" She
ad risen with a wild look on her face,
nd had started to question him, but .
q shook his head saving. "No no