The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-04-18

wood"
''Maplewnod-thi>: oh John. John.
don't you know-haven't YOU neard?"
All the color WIS gone from her cheeks
now. and her face WAS white and pite-
Gus. Did you come all the way from
Mexico TO find such Il welcome as
this: How thankful | am that your
father did not know.
But what is it. grandmother? You
must tell me everything. You and |
are all there is left. and yoi: must let
me help you. What is it about Maple
Wood:H
1T was sold long ago. Your Uncle
Richard owed money and let the dear
old place go. 1t took everything.
Poor Richard.
The boys own face had grown color !
less now; a terrible suspicion WAS in
his mind
What place is this:" he asked fear
fully.
1.-The poOrhOuSe. Oh Jacky. Jacky"'
But with that heartbrokcn cry in
his ears the boy forgot everything else
all his hopes and expectations and
longinSs.
Never mind. grandmother" he said
lovingly. You have me. and | am
almost man. l will soon make am
other home for YOU
"Poor Jacky boy. You are young yet
and do not know how hard the world
is. And it is more for you than my
self care
Il am seventeen" he answered stur-
Oily as he drew his strong young fig
urc to its full height. Il went with
| father to his work in the mountains
every day. and he said l was the
strongest boy of my age he ever saw.
l shall soon make nice home for
YOU
j Never mind its being nice. Jacky
4 howell or woodshed-anything to get
away from here. And it will not cost
so much to live. You have no idea
how little we can get along with-we
two" Her eyes were shining now.
and the color was coming back into
her cheeks IL was afraid that l
should have to live here always"
When the rest of the women began
to file in from the kitchen the two
were standing by the window, talking
earnestly.
John picked up his hat.
"I'll come and see you as often as l
can, grandmother" he said as he
moved toward the door. land it will
not be long before 1 have a home for
YOU
hn
not help contrasting his prospects with
those of the boy who had passed there
a short half hour before.
He thought of the long talks that he
and his father had had about his flu
ture-the studies and college life and
the work to be done afterward.
Neither of them had ever dreamed
Of the possibility of his relatives being
unable to provide for him. And here
he was penniless and his supposed
wealthy grandmother in the pOorhouse
He almost felt glad that his father
was dead and could not know.
At the head of the lane he paused
and glanced back at the rambling farm
{ house and its outbuildings.
Poor grandmotherv' he said aloud
, II must not keep her waiting yer.
long"
Although it was still March. the SUI
was hot and the snow nearly gone
l Here and there in the fields he coul'
r see farmers beginning their sprin
I work-picking up stones and mendin
e the walls and fences.
After awhile he went across to on
s Of the groups and asked for work
a But he was too late. The farmer ha
Y already hired all the help he wanted
r A little farther on he tried again. A
d last he found man who said he wa
n just the sort Of boy he had been lool
s ing for.
It One day in the latter part Of April
q farm wagon drove up to the poo
house, and boy sprang lightly to til
e ground.
d Sitting on the stone wall was til
u same man he had met before. Sloucl
ing across the barnyard were sewers
J. of the dilatory hands.
:, give come for Mrs. Carter" said tt
d boy respectfully.
The man took a straw from h
= mouth.
- "Well, I don't mind" he answere
gruffly. "D'ye think you can suppo
10 herr"
> Eyes"
N "Where ye goin'?''
% "Pm working on the Taylor far1
:, and we're going to have the lit
y house in the lower pasture"
"a '"Thatv contemptuously. why, n
n body's lived in it for years! 'TaiI
dt to live in
n 1--WE fixed up a couple of rooms
II they'll do very WE'LL" replied the b
quietly, land Mr.. Taylor says he W
m have it repaired before another winte
He isn't going to charge US any re
id until he has it fixed.'
,g "Shouldn't think he would. VIII
re does he pay you?"
"Three dollars a week and let's Z
8, have a big garden where l raise
Ia the VEGETABLES 7 want"