The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1917-03-22
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homestead. Mother.
Forever
yes, forever.
The little urchin who gave ut
terance TO these words the other
day little thought what signifi-
canoe lay behind them. 1t was
only an echo of the silent drama
but thereby hangs a tale.
Back on the farm where the
air is pure; but where the sun
shines hot on a summer S day
the young farmer boy reins IN
his team and wipes the perspira-
ton from his brow. When /
have finished this field it viii be
the last time | will ever follow
a pair of mules around field, "
he says. "It will brsak mothed S
heart he reflects, and its true
that father has not paid off the
mortgage yet, but they il man
age somehow to get along with
out me.
The old mother follows HIM to
the gate with tear-stralned eyes
and the father sees him to the
station and bids him God-speed.
Glad to be rid of the work of
the farm, the boy begins to feel
a sense of freedom for the first
time. Already the lure of the
bright lights have taken posses
sion of him and he longs to show
the folks at home the degree of
success he means 10 attain as a
man of affairs. 1t S true there
will be a few lonely days and
nights when thoughts of home
loved ones will creep into his
mind, but once in the madden
ing whirl all is forgotten. Al
occasional letter and a short
visit now and then only serve to
open afresh the wound. For
back in the old homestead are
those who will never forget until
nature draws a veil over what
was to them the tragedy of
life.
At the end of a busy day the
tired business man pulls down
his desk and reaches for his hat,
the same he has done for many
years. But a picture flashes be
fore his eyes and memorie:
crowd into his tired brain thai
will not out 1t Is of the old
homestead he is thinking, anC
of mother. He sees her sitting
in the old chimney corner, as
she sat in years gone by, knit
ting yarn socks for father and
the boy. The old father Is tell
ing of his hopes and plans fol-
the future and his eyes sparkle
as he contemplates that soon tn,
boy Will be old enough to hell
bear the burden he has born,
alone so many years. He re
calls the, proffered sacrifice
when the old father urged hin
to take an agricultural cours'
and thereby equip himself t.
some day take active manage
ment of the farm and keep it il
the family.
| Almost the tired business ma
is persuaded to go back. He j
weary of the daily grind of cit.
life and the things that one
amused but never satisfied hir
Iare a pleasure no more. But h
suddenly realizes that once tn
old homestead is sold they Sc
dom go back-and then 1T ha
fallen into the hands of thos
who appreciated its worth an
its possibilities. The soil Ia
been built up to a high state q
cultivation; new barns and fen,
les have been constructed an
even the old homestead has bee
enlarged and beautified.
would require a eonsiderab
fortune 70 buy it back now. An
then there ale the ties that bin
him to the city forever. b,
above all these father and mot
er are there no more. I'll
time mas passed when he ca
gladden. their hearts by surpri
ling them with receipt for ii
payment of the mortgage tn,
so long oppressed them.
liz takes many dispositions 1
make a world. The cultivate
flower blooms and flourishes !
the hot house. But the vii
rose thrives best ON the ope
country. There are opportun
ties in the city but are they lie,
in the country where men wit
brains are needed as never b
foref
Does it pay, my boy, to lea,
the old homestead when Il