Charlevoix county herald., 1914-06-06

was to be his home for the next few
months, he realized how dear the old
farm really was. The stars made him
think of what the Sand Farmer had
said about the mothers star, and his
heart cried out to his mother, whom
he had loved so dearly without ever
knowing it.
He missed her now more than any
thing that had ever been taken out of
his life. She had made home all that
it was. The house without her was
no longer home, and he dreaded to
think of going into it because she
would not be there to greet him.
Why had he been such a fool and
never have noticed that she was hun
priv for his affection until that night
he had seen the tired look in her face,
and had made her so very happy by
a little kiss? How he wished he had
shown her the affection that was
really in his heart and which she
must have craved ever since his
father died. The great lump was
again in his throat, and hot tears
were running down his cheeks as he
thought of his mother and the past.
The old farm was only half-mile
away, and yet he was thoroughly
homesick. He could go there any
time he wished, but the one who made
the old house home was gone, and
with a great sob he buried his face in
his pillow, and cried out: Mother,
Mother" AS when one is drowning
all the e. ngs of the past seem to pass
in rapid succession through the mind,
so his boyhood days with the many
incidents which now revealed his
mothers love, and his own blindness,
toroured him until at last it seemed
as though he heard his mother say
ing: There, there son. Now stop
your crying, and go to sleep"
As little boy he had always knealt
at his mothers knee before going to
bed. and repeated the little prayer
which she had taught him. Since he
had become a man he had thought
that praying was foolish, but he now
thought his mother would like to
know that he was praying, and ssme-
how the idea of prayer seemed to APP
peal to him, for he realized that he
wanted strength greater than his
own, and for the first time in years
the mans great form, with childs
heart, knealt beside the bed and re-
peated his childhood prayer:
"Now | lay me down to sleep,
/ pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If should die before | wake,
| pray the Lord my soul to take,
And this | ask in Jesus name. Amen.
And then he added: 80, Lord, help
me to be worthy son, and blessing
to my mother, and not white
nubbin."
The room seemed less lonesome
and the lump in his throat melted
away as he again lay his head OH the
pillow, and saw the stars silVery
LIGHT as it came from the distant
worlds to lend him cheer. He again
thought of what the Sand Farmer
had said about the stars, and with the
resolution that he in the future would
steer his course by the North Star,
which he now loved because it made
him think of his mother, he tell
asleep.
The next morning found Sam at
the barn before the Sand Farmer
The stock was fed and cared for IN
the most approved fashion, for ne
wanted to show the Sand Farmer that
IL did know something about farm
ing. although he was there to STUDY
the Michigan "pine barrens. AS he
stood in the barn door looking out
over the alfalfa fields, orchards, and
the many acres of vetch and rye, as
green as a lawn, he heard the Sand
Farmers voice calling cheerily from
the house: "Good morning, Sam. You
are surely an early bird, and should
catch the worm today"
AS Sam walked towards the house
he caught the spicy scent from the
crab-apple trees in full blossom, and
as he came up to the porch, he SAID,
with a new meaning in his voice, as
he looked the Sand Farmer straight
i'm the eve: "Isn't it all beautiful ! i
never had eyes before, but | am be-
ginning to see why you love the God
forsaken ~'pine barrens" which you
have turned into a Garden of Eden,
and | want TO learn how to make my
farm as beautiful before Mother
comes home"
"That's the way to talk" said the
Sand Farmer. "When man works
for others he gets a good deal more
pleasure out of his work, and be be-
gins to learn the true meaning OF
those words: 1T is more blessed to
give than to receive Come in now,
and have a good breakfast, for you'll
need something to help you work to-
day, as you know we begin breaking
up No. g."
Sam took his seat at the table
where mother had indicated, between
Little Pete and the Sand Farmer, and
as soon as all were seated he noticed
all heads but his own were bowed, and
he heard the Sand Farmers voice say
ing: owe thank Thee, our Heavenly
Father, for Thy care during the night,
and this food. Strengthen, bless and
use us, that our lives may be a bless
ing to others. Amen"
Sam remembered that his father
used to ask a blessing at the table
when he was little chap, but some
| how he had not taken his fathers
| place in that respect any more than
in some others; but he ate a hearty
breakfast, and talked with Little Pete
about his ton sheen and his fifteen