South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-18
Absence Did Help - b, Catherine Parsons.

Mrs. Granger had at last decided
TO leave her comfortable but lonely
home in Banbury and come TO live
with her son and his new wife,
Edna. She would try it for a
while she said: for the winter. any
way, which was always the loneliest
season for her in her home town,
since her husband had died and
the years had brought increasing
inhrmities Not that Mrs. Granger
was at all feeble or ailins; but. as
she herself confessed. she didn't
feel as spry as she used 70.
John Jay and his wife were pleas
ed with her decision. the son be-
cause of vision of his aging moth
er in her empty home cast a shadow
over his growing prosperity which
he wanted 10 share with his de
serving parent; and his wife be-
cause Edna Granger was pleased
over everything that gave pleasure
TO John Jay.
Then the young man BEGAN to
make plans for his mothers recep-
ton: and her avoweJ intention 10
stop on her way TO the city 10 visit
an old friend made his task com
paratively easy. Edna listened 10
her husbands plans and approved
as she did everything which John
Jay said or did She thought him
very clever and engaging per
son, and credited him with all the
wisdom of Solomon-and little
beyond this
1T is a lovely ideal" Edna ac-
claimed. her eyes shining and a
smile emphasizing her dimples.
Most people-young people-don' I
understand the needs of their elders
at all Your mothers going TO be
very comfortable here, John Jay
Il shall leave nothing undOne, "
said the dutiful son solemnly.
To this end. young Granger made
a flying trip 10 Banbury. and enter
/ ed the COSY home his mother re-
Gently had left. He made mystic
rious journeys from room TO room,
gathering Up various objects which
| were duly deposited in the large
van that drew up before the door
in the evening shadows.
To this end, a large sunny room
/ in John Jays handsome city house
was freshly decorated and draped
as nearly as possible after Ban
bury's ideas. Then the old fash
! Toned furniture which the young
man had removed from the old
/ Granger cottage was set i'm familiar
arrangement.
There was the wide. ornate bed
stead with a marble-toppej bureau
on one side and a sewing table on
/ the other, equipped as il had been
| through many years. There was the
| upholstered rocking chair near the
window: and across one corner a
| couch stretched its length draped
I in its usual blue and gold cover.
Banbury rugs on the floor and Ban
/ bury pictures on the walls com
pleted the transformation.
John Jay and his wife stood side
\ by side i'm the doorway and beam
/ ed upon their finished work.
Its like an old-time picture-so
| sweet and comfy breathed Edna,
pressing her husbands arm with a
/ caressing fervOr.
Its like home - for mother. "
John Jay nodded. Can YOU think
OF anything else for her comfort
\ Edna"
Edna mejitated. What are her
\ favorite flowers. Dearie?"
i
/ little rasseddy kind.
Then Wei have a bouquet OF
! those right here on the table. wait
Ing for her" Edna dimpled and
/ shone beyond her usual sunny ra-
/ dance. And I'm going 20 ask your
mother 10 show Callista how "a
I make some OF her favorite Ban
\ bury dishes"
1 John Jay met the elder Mrs