The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1908-12-26

knew IL he had worth, he would con
quer himself and rise without my aid
more of q man than with it." She put
her arm around bis neck and pasted
his cheek. $He has risen somewhere
! father. know 1t. He could not ba
yeur son and fall" she said, the Icy
atty and love Of lifetime lighting her
face with soft radiance.
He took up the tin horn from the
table where he had laid 1t, and fondled
IL as II 1t were fraught with memories
instead of merely recalling them.
TITS ten years since he left," he
said, what q man he must be now
81 tonight. But I was thinking, when
bought this, Of the time when he
was such a little yellow-haired fodder
and almost drove US wild with just
such q horn as this at Christmas
time"
She took the horn from him, and
looking dreamily at It, said: Well
keep this, fatherl maybe jacks boy
will sons time make these old wa1h
ring with 1t at Christmas time as he
made them ring, himself, 50 many
years ago"
God grant that he may!" said the
old man. do YOU remember, mother
how he used to coee chasing Down
the street after me wien would start
on to my work in the niorning?"
Eyes, and how you wouM pick him
up and carry him back to me-" shs
said. "And do you remember the tiua
we came near losing him, the Day hR
ran away to hunt you in the city,"
who that saw you then cuutd for
get it, mother?" and he took her hand
in his and drew her down to the char
beside him. They sat hand IN hand
in the silence, given over to voice2ess
memories Of the past. only the ticking
of the old clock keeping an accom-
paniment to their dreams Of othe1
Christmas Ewes. They were siftiul
thus an hour later when a servant
opened the door and said, respectful
ly: There Is a telephone call for Mr.
Wellington"
Cant you answer 1t, Mary2" tn
old man asked, loath to leave his com
Portable chair and dreams.
mo, sir. It is especially for YOU 4
long-distance call, think"
"Who the deuce wants to talk to ~
from a distance" he said, as he ras'
and went to the telephone in the hall
Hello, who is this?" he asked, q
he picked up the receiver. eyes, th8
is John Wellington"
"A party in Chicago wants to tai
to you." said the long-distance opel
ator.
can right, put him up. Who !
thunder do I know In Chicago" b
calculated to himself, pressing tho n
eeiver closer to his ear.
A peculiar wsiling sound was all b
heard, and a puzKled expression chi
over his face. Talk q little leusz
] can't understand q thing you Oh
saying" and he listened more intsgs
ly. The wailing grew a little louda.
but still 1t was nothing but an inaHtaa
ulate wall, and for a moment the Of
man looked thoroughly disguised.
"Confound i'll" he shouted at Las
You sound exactly like a mewling a
FAINT. don't know what you are So,
ing"
Then a mans laugh was heard, 70
lowed by "A merry Christmas, f$fhs
You know exactly what he sound
like, but you don't know what he
saying" and there was another lsugf
- ringing joyful, as In his boyhood dag
and the old man knew he had foufl
e his own.
e Jack, Jack, my boy. Is that you1
e he shouted, staggered by the une;
e pected joy OF his sudden discovery.
d None otheD father. but what Se
# Just heard was another Jack the 90
ond Jack Wellington, Jr. He has .iul
)! arrived, and his command Of EngHs
s is somewhat limited, but he was de3n
his best to Introduce himself, and &
J. vite you and grandma to Christms
dinner with him, and"
4 "oh, Jack, Jack, where have yn
d been all these years?" sobbed Il
n old man.
g Catch the Lake Shore Limited t
night. father, bring mother with 10
d and I'll tell you all about 1t when gc
e get here. You've got time. You SO
s father, I've kept track OF yeu az
,r mother all along. I wasn't going
let anything happen to the old far
n and" there was a catch In his vois
It i've got the right kind Of a report
e make, father. Never fear thar
6 The old man could scarcely contai
It himself as he listened, pressing the +
e ceiver closer and closer to his ear, 4
It though he feared some bit OF II
Q precious news might escape hi1
d Then he shouted: CAN rislIA, su