Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-05-21
Thy Will
Be Done

Hannah Proctor was blind, an in
nate of the city infrmary. Outward
she was happy, for her sightless
yes could not express the longing in
Ter heart Those around the institu-
ion thought she had forgotten the
3Get They did not know In the
| mothers breast was a longing for her
boy, VINO had been taken away to
| lrison years ago. He had sinned; she
| uttered.
One OF Jim's old coats was the only
thing she had to remind her of him.
! She fondled it like a baby. They said
t was a failing mind.
Many times day she would
smooth out the rough garment and
sigh.
Jim Proctor had broken his moth,
ar's heart He worked in bank. His
salary was not large, but enough to
are for his mother. His father died
When jim was young.
One night Jim did not come home
to supper. His mother worried her
9elf sick. The next day she read it in
The papers. The bank had been robbed
If $15,000-Jim had fallen.
jim was sentenced to ten years in
prison.
Mrs. Proctor had taken in sewing
Night work ruined her eyesight; she
was sent to the infirmary, blind.
Jim would be out of prison in a
few weeks. His mother had kept track
Of the time.
She waited for the attendant to
come, hoping she would bring letter
The woman came in a bad humor.
Mrs. Proctor held her boys coat in
her arms.
Here, you old fool" growled the
woman what are you always cod
ding that thing for?"
why, that's my Jim's coat" an
swered Mrs. Proctor.
"It's time you gave that up" said
the woman, grabbing the coat out Of
the old woman's lap. The lining bulg.
ed. The woman looked closer, gave a
rip, and roll of bills fell at her feet.
$50! That's why you wanted to
keep the rag is it? Cheating the city
out of your keep. Mothers love!
Huh! I'll see to this" She left the
old woman too frightened to speak
-
The officials decided the $11O
Saved" by the old woman should be
put to the credit of the infirmary fund
s.
Mrs. Proctor sat alone in her room
that night The money she had saved
to care for her son until he found
work had been taken from her She
knew that it would be hard for him to
get work. She would go to the mayor
and beg the money back.
For the first time she thought per
haps jim might not come. She cried
herself to sleep.
A letter came next morning. She
asked the woman to read it. 1t was
from him. He would come that day.
Mrs. Proctor gasped as she heard
the words She could not realize how
soon her boy would be with her, held
close in her arms. She cried from joy.
Late into the night the mother sat
in the little room and waited.
A door slammed.
Jim" she gasped, as the door
opened
Nav, 1 amt jim" She recognized
the superintendent voice.
81 got a telegram for you"
The mother stood clasping her with
cred hands.
Jim Proctor, former convict, killed
in wreck. Address in pocket. Is he
relative?" read the superintendent.
The mother shriek2d and swoOned.
Tie superintendent caught her and
carried her to a chair. Then he left.
Mrs. Proctor arose and stood, sway
ing unsteadily, her face covered by her
thin hands, as she prayed for the
tears that would not come.
Jim" she muttered. Jim - my
boy-dead. OIL" The tense tones
ended in a low moan.
My boy-my-little boy-you didn't
-come-to mel" She fell on her
knees at the side of the bed.
Thy Kingdom Come-Thy Will Be
Done!" her voice choked.
She pitched forward.
An hour later they found her. They