The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-12-22
OWENS had driven
fN in to town a few days before

slS C0r1SUllldS Ou UWO fOAJ -
portant errands. First, he was to
buy needful things for the Christ
mas dinner, and second, he was go
ing to remember Mother with a
nice present. For wasn't Mother {
he always called his wife Mother
about all he had left in the world
TO care for, now since Robert was
gone? He knew Mother would be
sure to have something for him IN
a little remembrance, either
good warm pair of mittens, pair
of hand KNITTED socks or leggings,
or house slippers, something, any
way. that he needed. She always
did, and so much more appreciated
because of her thoughtful care Tor
him. and because it was generally
the work of her own dear hands.
And it was wonderful what Mother
could do in the way of knitting, he
reflected, as he remembered long
wears ago the beautiful zepher
scarf she had knitted for him, which
was six feet long, and took such
stacks and stacks of yarn. Yes, he
must get Mother something nice.
He had thought of many things
within his means, and had hnally
decided on black silk dress.
Things had not gone we'll with the
old man, of late years, he was poor
now. ana had to be careful how he
spent his dollars; but if any one
had earned it Mother had, and she
should have it.
They would have nice little
Christmas all by themselves, except
perhaps neighbor Kellar and his
wife. They were old, and all alone
in the world now, too, their chill
dren having all married and left
home, and as he drove along his
thoughts turned to Robert, his only
son, Somehow the memory OF
Robert filled his eyes, and made a
lump in his throat. 1t was open
ing a new grave, and turning the
pages of life back to the great sor
row that almost killed him ane
Mother. She had never been thu
same since it happened, he was al
most afraid at times she would los'
her mind. God had dealt kindly
with them in most things, but no
in this. And yet they had tried tt
live Christian life, and hat
taught their son that ''the fear o
the Lord is the beginning of wis
dom"
AS he drove homeward in tn
clear, cold, sunshine of that Decem
Der day, and looked at the tree
covered with the sparkling damon
frost along the road, his thought
went back to the years when b
and Robert had travelled this sam
road together, happy in each other
companionship, and full Of tn
Christmas joy they both felt, br
that was past now. Again his eye
filled, but he must be brave fc
Mothers sake, she must not Sc
the signs on his face, of the ach
he felt in his heart.
Every one spoke of RobeI
Owens as steady, hard workin
boy. He was such a genial, goo'
natured lad; endowed with robu
constitution and fine health. ii
hearty laugh and jolly temper WI
infectious and contagious. A lead
in the little social circle, as well
in all athletic sports of the lit
town; and his skill with clear-head'
Judgment had helped win many
hard-fought battle on both the di
mond and gridiron for the hon
team. He was looked upon, al
was, honest and tru stw orth
Many bright eye among the ia
maidens of Langley had sought t
favor of his smiles; and last, b
not least, the idol of a mother
heart, and the pride of fathe
life.
His parents, though not ric
were not considered poor. A GOO
well-improved farm of one hundr
acres, we'll stocked, large, pls
but neat dwelling and substantial
but pleasantly furnished, cons
tuted the bulk of their worlo
goods. The farm was situa t.
about two miles from the lit
town of Langley, where all the
teen hundred inhabitants knew ca
other personally, knew one ano1