The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-09
WHEN DAD CAME
BACK TO STAY
Estranged Couple Reunited
by Their Little Son.

1t was five minutes after noon on
Saturday. The alimony clerk had left
his cage, locked it and vas about to
leave his office when a man in the
garb of a workman entered.
"Mornin', Mr.. JONES'" he. said to the
clerk.
"You mean afternoon, John. Don't
you know better than to come here to
make a payment after IL o'clock on
Saturdays? The safe Is locked and the
books closed for the week. You'll have
to bring it Monday"
."Oin be workin' all the tonne y're
open on Monda'."
Cant help it." w..
"Mebbe If you'd tell me where she's
Twin now OF might take it roun' me-
SELL"
"All right. but don't raise. a rumpus."
The next morning was bright and
beautiful. John shaved and got him
self into n clean white shirt with no
buttons, and started to walk half a
dozen miles into the country. He
stopped before a cabin in the center
Of an acre planted with garden truck.
Through the open door he could see
his wife in a clean calico dress button
ing the collar on their boy, five years
old. thus completing his Sunday MORN
ing costume. The man leaned on the
gate and called. The wOman went to
the door and, seeing her husband, was
about to turn AWAY. when she noticed
a pitiful expression on his face.
what brings ye here. John?" she
asked. not unkindly.
1.-The allymony. The offs was shct
up Yesterday when OF KEN. The clerk
told me OF might bring it mesel."
Tie woman went to the gate. and the
man handed her a ten dollar bill.
"Oi'l write We a receipt" she. said.
"Divil a bit Of a receipt do OF want.
Ye niver was u woman to take more'n
belonged to ye."
"Well, come in and have a glass o
milk. Ye must be tired comm all the
way from the city. Johnnyll be glad
to see his dad"
Johnny. who had been admonished
in no placid terms to give his father
a wide berth, looking upon this as a
removal Of the embargo. ran down the
walk. climbed up on the gate and
threw his arms around his fathers
neck. The mother opened the gate and
the boy rode into the house on his
fathers shoulder.
"Have y come back to stay. dad?"
he asked eagerly.
lowed this nj timed remark was
broken by the mother. who told the
boy to keep quiet and not muss his
Sunday clothes. Then she got out a
glass of milk and some bread and
butter and set it down before her bus
band.
Eyer shirt is wide open. john" she
said. I'm thinkin' Old better put or
some buttons while yer here"
While John was drinking the milk
and eating the bread. or, rather. feed
ing it to Johnny. Mrs. Hobbs was get
ting out needle and thread. Then she
produced the button bag. and by that
time John had finished his refresh
ment and was ready to have his shirt
repaired. but Johnny had settled him
self in his fathers arms and refused
to be dislodged.
"Coom now. Johnny" his mother
pleaded. "daddy's wantin' to git mend
ed while he's here. Jump down loike
a good hoy"
"Oi won't" said Johnny.
Lave him alone" said the father.
'Oi'd 'r6yther have him than the but
tons."
The woman laid aside the button bag
and the thread and needle. and Johnny
and his father had a romp. at the end
of which the father produced a ginger
bread horse and several sticks Of can.
dy. with which he bribed his son to let
the mother sew on the buttons. The
process Of sewing on buttons without
Johns taking of his shirt brought hus-
band and wife In close proximity. New
ertheless they got no closer than was
necessary. and. the buttons having been
sewed on. John said that since 1t was
a long walk to the city perhaps he'd
better be going. But Johnny got hold
Of the skirt of his coat and chung so
tight that neither father nor mother
had the heart to shake him of.
"Oi'm thinkin'. john" said Mrs.
Hobbs. THAT. 1t bein' so o%nconvanient
for We to lave the allymony at the
clerks office. We moight bring 1t every
Sunda' yourself ,
"And ye could put on the buttons"
An effort was made with this assur-
ance to Johnny to remove him. but 1t
failed.
What dye say. Mary said John.
ITO me staytn' on for awhile jist to
PLACE the chile7 Oi might be helpin'
We at times with the garden"
"Oi was thinkin' mesel' that It would
be more convanient for ye to be here"
"It's far from me work. but. ! can
get up early" 81 /.
"Let go. Johnny. Daddy's goin' to
stay with u.s."
She took Johnny up in her arms os-
tensibly to relieve his father. but real
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