Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-12-30

together and have . mighty good time
Of it. don't yon 2. 80.
His hearer made grimace. II
want q drink" he said. shortly.
You remember how you used to
come down for the mail, Tommie, and
Id have you come in and help sort
the 1etters?" .8 #5
An expression that was almost .
sI.lle dawned slowly across the boys.
haggard face. II remember we used
70 initiate one another's handwriting.
Josh" he said. slowly. .s=|'
yes. and / got at last SOS ] could
write just like you, Tommie..' Remem-
Der you used to tell me you could al:
most believe 1t was your own writin'!'
ssll3 }..I remember. Josh. Go on. There's
something behind an this. I'm waiting
to hear IT, When You got into trou-:s
Bile oyer at Maxton's and 'S :ts s =.
Az .z==sAnd; skipped: Yes: wen, g q.
!! st,1Wsll, someh'6v,; The matter was
phushed up and kept from; Your ii 2 old
folks, Maxton never. said an,ythtn;.
and: we gave your pa and ma" to I'M
derstand you'd gotta big position out
1 west. I'm afraid wrote 'em a; letter
from .you,1 Tommie,, tellin' EN- all
about It and saskin' forgiveness for not:
biddin' 'em good-by." The other
nodded his head on his breast. - -,
:. You were always big-hearted
fool, JOSH" he said, hoarsely. Il can't
understand why you won't get me q
little whisky"
II remember their faces when they
read that letter." said the grocer,
heaving big chunk on the fire. 81
remember how glad they both was
Your ma said you'd be writin' again
soon and let them know how you liked
it. Well, you did" IT wrote again,
did II" "Yep, you wrote every week
you've been away, and that's how
long lets see?" "Six years ago, day
after tomorrow, JOSH"
you sent some money home, too,"
continued the big man, after an. in
terval of silence. "Quite a little bit
of money. Fifty dollars once. and a
ten-spot every now and again." The
speaker laughed queerly, his face
working. "Only last night they got a
letter from you, Tommie, with $50 in
1t. Christmas box, I think you called
It," Something like sob came from
the bowed figure.
your pa most always read your let.
tiers to the neighbors. They're right
glad you're doing so we'll. Every
Christmas Eve your ma and him come
over here and buy Christmas turkey
with the money you send them-I al.
ways have laugh at your pa. It'll
eat Tommie's SHARE" he says. "'Cause
It's next best thing to havin' him
home. We're right proud of our Tom.
mie,' he always ends. They've been
writing you, too, every week regular
I read all their letters, cause I have
to in order to know how to answer
them. They got letter from you last
night with their Christmas money in
1t, and they've answered IT. already
Here's their letter with your address
on it. Maybe you'd like to read it,"
! The young man reached out sha
king hand for the letter, The other
watched his face as he read. When a
tear fell with splash on the cramped
writing, the grocer spoke again.
"You can send me to Jail for dom
what I've done, Tommie. In one way
it was wrong, very wrong. I've been
guilty of openin' letters"
The other held up thin hand as
! though to ward off blow. Then he
rose weakly and came over to the big
! man.
Josh, old JOSH" he spoke trem.
blingly. you've been-you-are-
| Oh, I'll make it all up to you some
day." he broke out, lifting his head
I'm going to be a man. I know I'm
not fit to go to them now. I've been
drunk for days! But promise me you
will take me to them soon, JOSH"
"Day after tomorrow night is the
anniversary of your goin' away. Well
go tnen,". promised the grocer with a
big smile. He took the boys land
I'm goin' now. You just lie down or
the sofa here. You'll stay at my place
until after Christmas. He moved to
ward the door. Then he turned
"shall I fetch you anythtn'?" he asked
gently. ..,e f>.:.,.s ~.
Nothing answered the young
man, smiling. I'm perfectly salts
fed, JOSH ~ III .-..T .,.
An hour later the grocer carried ar
armful of groceries and threw then
into the back Of the sleigh: "Merr,
Christmas to you both, Mrs. Law
renee" he cried, tucking the robes
about the old couple. The old mar
chuckled, and the old lady, CHANGING
about her fearfully, bent forward, hes
itated, bent forward again, and kisse<
the big man on his broad forehead
God bless you" she slid, gladly
God bless you for sendin' for oul
Tommie. I'm right glad you thinl
him so smart The grocer laughed
awkwardly.. Ill.,, Ill.,.
yep, Tommie's goin' to work TO
me-" he called. And with his hear
in harmony with the jingling bells