The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-06-05
WHEN bis MOTHER CANE
THE ELEVATOR mANs STORY.

I08 8IevSIOH MAWo SJOHbs
"You seem extra cheerful this morn
Ing" Bangworthy commented to the
elevator man, who was shooting hin
up to the sixteenth story.
Hull" chortled the elevator man
beaming. "why shouldn't II Just go'
word that my mother is coming to ses
me-"
The elevator man being fat, red
faced and OF grown-up years. Bang
worthy looked q trifie bewildered. YET
evidently from the manner In which
the news was delivered he was ex
pected to strike an attitude OF aston
ishment and appreciation.
"That sof" Bangworthy offered
vaguely.
"Yep!" said the elevator man. "shs
wrote she'd be hero next Friday on
the train that gets In at ten o'clock.
I'm going to get on and 60 meet her..
'Hard to get away these days." said
Bangworthy. idly. why don't you
have your wife meet herr"
The elevator man laughed hugely.
"why." he chuckled. my wife doesn't
know my mother and my mother new
er laid eyes on my wife. You see. !
haven't seen my mother myself for
tan years-not since I came to CHI
cago."
"Oh!" commented Bangworthy with
aroused interest. II see."
"Ten years." mused the elevator
man, forgetting to open the door.
Gee! That's long time-not to SEQ
your mother. I hate to think OF It!
She never saw the two kids, either"
I'll bet she thinks the boy looks
like mel" grinned the elevator man to
Bangworthy the next morning when
he headed for Bangworthy's floor.
"Who-what?" asked Bangworthy in
bewilderment.
The elevator man looked almost
hurt. "Why. didn't l tell you yester-
day that my mother was coming to
visit?" he reminded. Say. you oughta
eat the custard pies my mother
makes! When I was boy at home
could eat a whole one. Just as
creamy! My wife's anxious to find
out how she does 1t. She's going to
find out about a lot Of things while
my mother Is here. She says I'm al
ways talking about that scrapple
stun and raised doughnuts and things
that she's blessed II she can make.
my mother'Il be tickled to tell her.
because II there's anything mother
likes to do It is to cook. Gee! ! can
Just remember boing up in the hay
NOW and hearing her calling out that
the sugar cookies were out Of the oven
and II wanted any-say, ever eat any
sugar cookies all warm from the oven
and light brown on top?"
They sound good" agreed Bang
worthy, q trifle enviously. I'VE had
good things when was kid, too
not that we don't now, of course. But
I suppose this generation of women
has learned some different things to
cook"
you bet!" agreed the elevator
man. I'm not saying that my wife
amt dandy housekeeper, either. but
somehow things did taste different
when was boy. My mother was q
corker. Once when she'd said not to
go swimming and I did. anyhow. l.
blistered my back something awful.
It hurt so wanted to cry. but didn't
dast tell her. and after I'd gone to bed
she slips in with some soft cloths and
ointment and fixes me up without .
word. It gets me how mothers seem
to know about lots Of things like that
being told"
whats the matter?" anxiously
inquired Of the elevator
man the next morning when he saw
that individuals countenance Of
gloom.
Jaw. just had wire from mother.
She can't get here till Saturday. in
stead of tomorrow" growled the dis
appointed one. "And me all fixed up
to 90 to the depot tomorrow! The
kids have got new shoes, too. l
wouldn't miss seeing mothers face
for farm when she lays eyes on
those kids. You oughta see the
things she sends 'em Christmas and
birthdays. Makes 'em all herself!
She's been Just crazy about 'em on
paper. and when she sees 'em-gee!"
'Is she coming today sure?" asked
Bangworthy on Saturday morning.
''Yep!" breathed the elevator man
excitedly, letting q passenger for the
eleventh floor on at the ninth door
and disregarding his frantic protests.
I'm getting on at $3.50 to hustle over
after her. Say, I'm all sort Of nerv-
Gus. Amt It queerf''
We'll. did she GOMEZ" asked Bang
worthy. a. he descended late that af
ternoon.
The elevator man looked at him
from behind . subdued sort Of glow.
Yep" he said. vibrantly. "She came.
Say. would you believe III ! looked
and looked and couldn't pick her out
from the crowd-mother's changed
sol Why, she's oldi Somehow. you
never think Of your mother getting
old. But she knew me-after ten
yearsl Yes, cir. she came right up to
me and called me BY name. Beats all
how . fellows mother always knows
~ a. ~-aA- - ~--~~-<xkaH.o A~sk