The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-04-03
An
Easter Morning
b DOROTHY CUMMINGS

ing down upon broad valley dotted
with farms. Tho 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 q 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 q
half decades it had not changed Here
and there was a house which had gone
up since his departure, but he counted
not more than half q dozen Of them.
Down there to the left was his fathers
farm. the same az he had left It, ex-
cept that 1t had lost its spick and
span appearance. The apple, trees In
the orchard had grown, and forest trees
near By had been saplings when hs
left The well, the poultry house, the
woodhouse. were there. but they looked
dingy.
The man seemed to hesitate at leav.
ing the station. Az boy he had been
grasping and had quarrelsd with bis
father bscause that father would not
give him, what money he wanted to
spend and had gone away determined
to get money Of his own. From that
day to this he had ignored his parents,
but he had got all the money he could
spend and much more. From time to
time be had so far relaxed from bis
business as to remember the parents
he had left 80 ungraclously and plan
some time to make them visit. But
the passion Of money getting had got
him IN tn clutches, and he always de-
ferred his visit to q 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 It seem.
Cd dear to him. He had accumulated
20 much money that he didn't know
what to do with It. A shame came to
him at remembering how he had treat
cd his parents and bis neglect Of them
since. 4.
At last he descended from the station
platform and took q winding path
across lots-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. He crossed the
same bridge and walked through the
same lapp to side door Of the home Of
bis childhood His father be picturea-
q sturdy man with black hair and
whiskers. his mother the tidy middle
aged matron hs had left her. A. hs
approached the house he saw q white
haired woman come to the door and
throw something to some chickens that
devouredf it greedily. An old man with
an old mans walk was carrying .
bucket Of water from the we'll house
Gould these b his parents3 Yea There
was something about both that he rec
ognized. Hs approached the woman
and said:
'Motherl"
She looked at him for a moment,
then, extending her arms. exclaimed:
my boyi Ny boyr'
The old man. seeing the two With
their arms about each other, drew near.
with an figuring look on his face.
"Fathe4" said the woman. ats our
boy. Hfs come back to us.'
"Have Jon come back-to stay7" tai
tered the old man.
1--WE chosen this Easter Sunday.
father. q come back to ask your for.
giveness for leaving and neglecting
you 20 lots. somshow this day seemed
fitted for my return-a day connected
with The Issson given % BY the Saviour
that LIE Of boarding makes It q life
wasted. Il was the want Of money that
induced mo 70 turn from you without
even 4 soodby aftsr you had given me
al I needed, Iovsd. cherished me from
babyhoo4 and now Il 70 q superiority
Of money that has driven me back. Ny
task - 6nished. and It has been 70.
vsalsd To- mo that It has been q task to
which have been welded through
misery tnstincts. I have heaped up
treasures on earth ana cannot uso Z
tsnth part of my accumulationi.
have como back to you penitent and to
say that instead Of being angry with
you for not giving me money, you win
hurt mo e Jon refuse to help yourself
70 any part or all Of my fortune"
The old couple looked at each other.
''What Do We need. father1" said the
woman. The old man scratched his
head ana. after much thought said
that hs couldn't think Of anything.
They had been working and saving for
twenty years to pay OF q mortgage on
the farm. but the last cent had been
forthcoming and the load had been
'Coms i'm to breakfast, dear boy"
said the old woman. '.and ven think Il
over"
When he meal was finished she said
10 her sdn: "Your father ana I want
for nothing more than W have But
20 many, Of our nsighbors are poor.
some Of them IRE sick. their children
arc In rsgs and the farms are nearly
an mortsaged. You may give mo what
you hkstfor them: in that you win