The daily Alaskan., 1913-03-28
An Easter Morning By DOROTHY CUMMINGS

a tram stopped dL ultle COuhllJ s'e- ton, a single passenger alighted, the train went on and the man stood look Ing down upon a broad valley dotted with farms. The sun poured forth genial warmth; the air was balmy; chirping birds were hopping about among the trees on which the buds were swelling, the more advanced bursting their leaves.
 Twenty-Five years have passed since the man, then a boy of fifteen, had looked upon that valley, in which he had been born and up to that time had lived. During those two and a half decades 1t had not changed. Here and there was house which had gone up since his departure, but he counted not more than half dozen of them. Down there to the left was his fathers farm. the same as he had left 1t, ex- cent that 1t had lost it's spick and span appearance. The apple trees In tEe orchard had grown, and forest trees near by had been saplings when he left The well, the poultry house. the woodhouse. were there, but they looked dingy.
 The man seemed to hesitate at leav' ipg the station. AS a boy he had been grasping and had quarreled with his father because that father would not give him what money he wanted to spend and had gone away determined to get money of hls own. From that day to this he had ignored his parents. but he had got all the money he could spend ard much more. From time to time he had so far relaxed from his business as to remember the parents he had left so ungraciously and plan some time to make them g visit. But the passion of money getting had got him in its clutches, and he always de- ferred his visit to more convenient season.
 Just at this time preparations for Easter had had an effect upon him that he had not experienced before. He had climbed the hill of youth, stood upon the crest of middle life and looked down into the valley of old age. Then he remembered his home. and 1t seem ed dear to him. He had accumulated so much money that he didn't know what to do with 1t, A shame came to him at remembering how he had treat ed his parents and his neglect of them since,
 Al last he descended from the station platform and took a winding path across Iots-that same path be had trod ou that memorable day he had left his home without taking leave of his par ents or any friend. He crossed the same bridge and walked through the same lane to a side door of the home or his childhood. His father he pictured a sturdy man with black hair and whiSkers. his mother the tidy middle aged matrOn he had left her As he approached the house he saw a white haired woman come to the door and throw something to some chickens that devoured 1t greedily. An old man with an old mans walk was carrying bucket of water from the we'll house. Could these be his parents? Yes. There was something about both that he rec ognized. He approached the woman and said:
 "Mother.
 She looked at him for a moment, then. extending her arms, exclaimed:
 My boy. My boy"
 The old man, seeing the two with their arms about each other, drew near with an inquiring look on his face.
 Father" said the woman, its our boy. He's come back to us.'
 Have you come back-to stay?" fa!' tered the old man.
 i've chosen this Easter Sunday father. to come back to ask your for giveness for leaving and neglecting you so long. Somehow this day seemed fitted for my return-a day connected with the lesson given us by the Saviour that a life of hoarding makes 1t life wasted. 1t was the want of money that induced me 10 turn from you without even a goodby after you had given me all | needed, loved, cherished me from babyhood, and now it Is a snperfuity of money that has driven me back. My task is finished, and 1t has been re vealed to me that it has been a task to which I have been welded through miserly instincts. ] have heaped up treasures on earth and cannot use tenth part of my accumulatiOns. have come back to you penitent and to say that instead of being angry with YOU for not giving me money, you will hurt me if you refuse to help yourself to any part or all of my fortune"
 The old couple looked at each other. What do we need, father?" said the woman, The old man scratched his head and, after much thought, said that he couldn't think of anything, They had been working and saving for twenty years to pay or mortgage on the farm, but the last cent bad been forthcoming and the load had been lifted.
 Come in to breakfast, dear boy" said the old woman, "and we'll think 1t over."
 When the meal was finished she said to her son: Your father and l want