The Jasper weekly courier., 1909-11-19

on the floor of the car and stared OUT
OF the window. Strongly britt and
handsome, he was just now wearing on
his face a look OF utter WEAKNESS. re-
sulting from a long trip In the West,
where he had been looking after some
interests OF the firm OF which he was a
/ junior partner. Nine years before, in
/ III OF anger. he had left his home In
/ the country and. too proud TO return,
I had. by dint OF dogged persistence, Sc
cured a humble place In the packing
rooms of Brace a Browns wholesale
| dry goods store Fortune favored him
and this same quality of resolution. To-
/ gether with application. had raised him
TO the position he now occupied.
! group OF travelling men were making
ready TO leave the train. IL was joe
ular set and they had enlivened their
trip with stories. politics and trade
gossip. and now the Jolly-faced hard
ware drummer said:
Boys. where are you going to be
! Thanksgiving day.
I'm going back 10 the fieshpots OF
Egypt and eat my turkey in the coun-
try" said one.
Yes" said another. I'm going TO be
in my old place at the old table with
my white-haired little mother smiling
at me from behind the coffee pot and
my dear old dad piling enough on my
place 10 feed regiment"
Think OF those homemade pies'
said another. "those Fat moons OF apple.
pumpkin. mince and cranberry. Say.
no nt-tin-bottOm-crust about
them"
And" said the boot and shoe man,
ito sit around the old fireplace and
watch a row of juicy apples roasting
in front OF that roaring, great-hearted
log fire. Boys. you couldn't fence me
away from home that day"
And so each one. with a home pic
ture in his heart, hurried out OF the car
and up the long flight of station stairs
, away 10 his destination. while slowly
behind them came John Warren with q
surging tumult of feelings in hi:
breast. and as he slowly mounted thu
! last step a tear dropped on his brown
. beard and a sudden resolution filled hi
heart He almost shouted. I'm goins
home. too"
John hurried to his hotel, and takin'
a very shabby suit from his wardrob'
packed IL with some other things IL
Q large satchel. and then fastening TO tn
|. station climbed into the sleeper just a
= the long train pulled out for the East
r Arriving at a point twenty miles ives
:. OF his old home. he went 10 an obscur
o hotel and changed his clothing for tn
l. suit in his satchel.
n When the "'Ieven forty pulled int
$ the town OF NJ two days befor
l. Thanksgiving the usual crowd OF lounl
II ers observed tall. brown-bearded mar
whose clothes seemed the worse 10
wear. step off the rear platform. an
without looking at anyone strike on L
ward the farm OF Richard WarreI
st Much curiosity was centered on thi
a event until the seediest looking loafe
m present said:
ii THAT was John Warren. or I'll es
r. my hat, He's coming home TO live o
N the old folks. Ii wouldn't be for lonl
, though, cause Squire Cobb has give
In notice that he's goin' to foreclose III
e mortgage he has on the old man
is place"
re III they had followed the stranger f
n. half a mile they might have seen II
strong young man shed heartfelt tea
as he leaned against the old oak tree
the little gate and gaze earnestly c
y the brown house at the edge OF Il
NOOuS. AIu1uAHb lAlt onOW WIN hNN
vi steps, he was soon at the woodpile
oy the side of the house. Flinging dow
pc mis- satchel and catching up the ak.
split an armfull OF wood and openii
IN the kitchen door said In a voice treil
'~' lous with emotion. Mother. Is "a
enough wood TO get dinner with2"
,rd A cry Of wonderful JOY and the mot
70 er wept on her sons shoulder while
father paced the floor shouting. "Prai
God, Praise Godl" stopping often
clasp his sons hand and murmur. N
KS bey, my boy" Then they drew up
m the fire and John said: Father. mot
lgs er, will you forgive me for my ang
ina nine years ago and my cruel silen
lch ever since?" And his mother said: :,
pa boy, not day has passed by that
: haven't prayed for your return, az
nk- now that you are with US, we can Ia
ept a new lease on life. and"-she glanc
6s' at his shabby clothing-"we will shs
ks. our little possessions with you, !
lks dear. long-lost son"
VS. AS the afternoon wore away 10
ate helped his father about the chores a
ks, by skillfully planned questions Learn
o. all about his financial troubles.
had taken his satchel up TO his
room and was washing his hands
fore supper when he heard a II.
ike step on the porch and bright-fa'
ont young woman walked into the kitcf
was and seeing him stood embarrassed
was I'll he. coming forward. said:
ore. This is Anna Scott, isn't it?"
ore why. John Warren, where h;
lat you kept yourself all these years?
ON how happy your mother must be-"
Dor And dropping his hand. which
ton had been shaking with greatest
fac thusiasm. she few down into the
lar and threw both arms around
rect mothers neck. and that good lady
the braced her. weeping and patting
ects shoulder with the empty cream pitc
in which she had taken there TO fill.
hip Mrs. Warren insisted that Al
hen should stay for supper. IL seen
will very much like old times when j
of tucked her hands under his arm
tab