Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-03-28
An
Easter Morning
BY DOROTHY CUMMINGS

1t was Easter Sunday morning when
a train stopped at a little country sta
ton, a single passenger alighted. the
train went on and the man stood look
Ing down upon 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, 10 which be
had been born and up to that time
had lived. During those two and a
half decades it had not changed. Here
and there was house which had gone
up since his departure. but he counted
not more than half a dozen Of them
Down there to the left was bis fathers
farm, the same as he had left it, ex-
cept that it had lost its spick and
span appearance. The apple trees In
the 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
dfngy.
The man seemed to hesitate at leav-
ing the station. AS boy he bad been
grasping and had quarreled with his
father because that father wOuld not
give him what money ne wanted to
spend and had gone away determined
TO get money Of his own. From that
day to this he had ignored his parents,
bat he had got all the money he could
spend and much more From time to
time he had so far relaxed from his
business as to remember the parents
be had left so ungraciously and plan
some time TO make them a visit, But
the passion of money getting had got
him in It's clutches, and he always de-
ferred his visit to a 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 hiii 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 it. A shame came to
him at remembering how he had treat.
ed his parents aud his neglect OF them
since.
AT last he descended from the station
platform and took a winding path
across iotS-that same path he had trod
on that memorable day he had left his
home without taking leave OF his par
ents or any friend lie crossed the
same bridge and walked through the
same lane to a side door of the home of
his childhood His father be pictured
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 white
haired woman come TO the door and
throw something to some chickens that
devoured it greedily An old man with
an old mans walk was carrying a
bucket of water from the well 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 q moment,
then, extending her arms exclaimed
My boy! Ny 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. tits our
boy He's come back to us"
Have you come back-to stay?" fat
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 life Of boarding makes 1t life
wasted 1t was the want Of money that
induced me to turn from you without
even goodby after yon had given me
all needed, loved, cherished me from
babyhood, and now it is a superhuity
of money that has driven me back. My
task is finished, and it has been re.
vealed to me that 1t has been q task to
which have been welded through
miserly instincts | have heaped up
treasures on earth and cannot use q
tenth part of my sccumulations.
have come back to yon penitent and to
say that instead of being angry with
you for not giving me money, you will
hurt me II you refuse to help yourself
to any part or all of my fortune"
The old couple looked at each other
what do we need, sather7' said the
woman. The old man scratched his
head and, after much thought. said
that be couldn't think OF anything
They had been working and saving fol
twenty years to pay of a mortgage or
the farm. but the last cent had beer
forthcoming and the load had beer
lifted
Come In to breakfast, dear boy
said the old woman, sand we'll think 4