The Irish standard., 1915-06-05
ANIRISHMOTHER' SSORROW

whim, as thought it was, that had
planned this whole motor trip. Fran.
els. along with the rest of us, was en-.
5oying the tour immensely, and yet
l felt sure that his resolve was still
unbroken. Indeed, my husband seemed
put out when he heard of my refusal
to allow Francis to follow his desire.
And now We were about to return
nome, and l would have to try some
other plan to break his will. / was
resolved that he should not go away
from me.
l made a tour of inspection around
our room. Not a speck of dust did
l find; the furnishings were antique,
like family heirlooms, but everything
was spotless; the bed linen was soft
and Immediately white.
1.-THE dear old lady has some story
connected with her." my husband re-
marked. Il would like to hear it,"
yes, john" 1 said, 81 would like
to hear it; but old wounds, we'll, you
know"
l made no comment on my hus.
bands seeming ease and comfort, but
1t pleased me to see that he, too, had
been captivated by her Irish mothers
manner.
Fifteen minutes later a gentle
knock at our door announced that sup.
per was ready. We followed our host.
ess down the stairs into the little din.
ing room, and at the door We fairly
gasped with establishment. There was
the table set in the center of the room,
covered with a snowy cloth. Several
candles burned on the mantlepiece
over the great open fireplace, from
which the cracking logs cast a cheer
ing glow over the whole room. There
were four chairs drawn up to the
table.
"This is like home," cried both the
boys together, and the joy in our host.
ess' eyes was pleasing to see.
Everything that we could have de.
sired was there on the table, steam.
ing soup, buttered potatoes. peas, cold
veal, fresh celery, in fact, more than
we could have expected, and the best
of it all was that we enjoyed it to the
full-we felt at home, just as the boys
had said.
The good old soul would not allow
us to help her, but served everything
herself with the greatest simplicity
and grace. After supper we all Joined
In, and it would have done your heart
good to see my husband and the boys
drying the dishes and clearing up the
room.
Our work finished, we made our
hostess draw her chair close to the
fireplace, and here we gathered around
to listen to her tell about the life of
the people roundabout, and before we
realized it the dear old Irish mother
was going over her own story.
"Sure, it's a long story, but if you
want I'll tell it to you, though bless
me soul, l ought to be ashamed to be
airin' my sorrows"
She paused, as if doubling, but we
urged her to go on.
There were six of us in this little
cottage, and happier home never
dwelt on Erin's shores. My daughter,
Mary, was the first to go; she mar
rled and now lives outside Limerick.
with two of the finest little lads that
God ever sent on earth. Regularly
she comes to see me here-'tis only
two days since that she went back
home with her boys. Two years ago
my husband, Michael, God rest his
soul, was taken with the fever, and
in three weeks was gone to his re.
ward-a loving husband was Michael,
yes, and kinder father never lived,
but God wanted him, so we couldn't
keep him. I'm sure he's happy, and
so I am glad. Then there were my
three sons, fine boys all of them. John
was twenty-five, Patrick twenty-five,
and Miles. eighteen. Well, his fathers
death took the heart of Miles-he was
his fathers chum; at night they
would walk along the river bank chat
ting together over the days goings.on,
but since the day his father died the
poor lad was never the same; he could
never forget his fathers death. He
grew gloomy and sad, and now the de-
mon took hold of him, and when the
drink was in him he was wild. All, the
boy was beside himself with grief; he
wasn't responsible. He couldn't stand
1t around the old home without his
father. SO he went away. It was a sad
day when kissed him an unwilling
farewell, and he went his way. His
last words to me, as he called from
the garden gate, still ring in my ears:
"Ill come back all right, mother.
I'll come back"
"Have you heard from him SINGER"
l asked timidly.
Never a word, good or bad, came
to me until today, but l felt he'd be
safe. Our Lady had promised me to
guard him, and she's never failed me
yet"