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

half a mile they might have seen the
Strong young man shed heartfelt tears as
he leaned against the old OAK tree by the
little gate and gaze earnestly on the
brown house at the edge Of the woods.
Crushing the snow with hasty steps, he
was soon at the woodpile at the side OF
the house. *Flinging down his satchel and
catching up the AZ, he split an armtul OF
wood and opening the kitchen door SAID
In a voice tremulous with emotion, Moth
er, is this enough wood to get dinner
with?' ..-,
A cry of wonderful joy and the mother
went on her sons shoulder while his
father paced the floor shouting, Praise
God! Praise God !" stopping often to
clasp his sons hand and murmur, MY
boy, my boy" Then they drew up to
the fire and John said Father, mother,
will you forgive me for my anger nine
years ago and my cruel silence ever
since?" And his mother said MY boy,
not a day has passed by that we haven't
prayed for your return, and, now that
you are with us, we can take a new lease
on life, and"-she glanced at his shabby
clothing-"we will share our little posses
sions with you, my dear, long-lost son.
AS he afternoon wore away John help
ed his father about the chores and by
skillfully planned questions learned all
about his financial troubles. He had tax
en- his satchel up to his old room and was
washing his hands before supper when he
heard a light step on the porch INT a
bright-faced young woman walked into
the kitchen and seeing him stood embar-
raised until he, coming forward, said:
This is Anna Scott, isn't itT'
"Why, John Warren, where have you
kept yourself all these years? Oh, how
happy your mother must be "
And dropping his hand, which she had
been shaking with greatest enthusiasm,
she flew down lnto the cellar and threw
both arms around his mothers neck, and
that good lady embraced her, weeping and
batting her shoulder with the empty
cream pitcher which she had taken there
to ill.
Mrs. Warren insisted that Anna should
stay for supper. 1t seemed very much
Ike old times when John tucked her hand
under his arm and they walked over the
road they had Travelled 70 often years be-
fore. Just as they entered her fathers
gateway John said:
Anna, my parents think just as you
do, that I have made =. failure OF life.
Well, l haven't. ! am junior member Of
a very prosperous firm in the West, but ]
want to keep the secret a little while
longer and 1 want you to help me give
them a kind surprise"
Then he unfolded his plan to her ant
her voice ram with delight as she said
"Oh. John, how lovely that will be
The next morning, after the old family
Bible was read and a heartfelt prayer
offered, John asked the loan of his faith
er's horse and drove straight to Squire
Cobb's Office and that worthy being in
John said
Squire, l came to see you about thai
mortgage you have on my ather's farm
With that he drew from his pocket g
large roll of bank notes and counted
down the $500 which would release his
father from worry and misery. Johr
drove at once to the farm of Mr.. Scott
and called whoa !" just as Anna, hel
father, mother and brother came to the
gate.
There were hea rty greetings, and Their
Anna, all ready for a lon drive, sprans
in beside him. How bright the morning
was! How happy were they as the bells
jingled and the sleigh moved over thu
wilderness of snow and through the deeI
woods. What mysterious bundles they
brought out Of the stores in town until
When, at last they arrived at Anna
home. the sleigh was loaded with 'enougt
to stock a store" as Harry Scott re
marked.
Thanksgiving day dawned bright anc
| glorious with sun and snow, and early
in the morning Anna appeared and she