Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-12-02
HOME
BY MARY wInIFRED FORD.

| hands with Tom Ranger, the
earted boy in all Newbury town
At the whole town would tell
| ~ had you asked about Tom
r..
Tom was an engineer on train No.
100. All the children in Newbury
raced down TO ingalls, Crossing every
afternoon after school to see the No.
1856 flying by and to wave to their be
loved "BIr. Tom" Tom always had r
smile for every one, but today his
heart was heavy and sad. The tmle
had left his eyes and his lips quiv-
cred as the train sped on its way to
Ellis Falls. This time Tom was on a
| different misSion-it was not his old
| No. lt5 ne was running, just sitting
with the other passengers deep in
thought.
He had just buried his best friend
| his mother. 1t was her last request
that he would take care Of her child
| hood home in Ellis Falls. Before her
death she had put it into a real eS-
tate agents hands. Why, Tom never
knew; in fact, never knew she had
thought of selling the little home she
had known and loved since childhood.
He had worked in the city, coming
home once month to that little house
at Ellis Falls where over the week
end he would find a peace too sweet
to define. Now he was going to fight
to get that house back.
'POOr little mother. She couldn't
have been in her right mind to sell the
place we lOved-the home we said we
would never part with !"
Pardon, l have made mistake.
thought l was in Mr.. HammOnd's Of
fice--er-the real estate"
'Please be seated. am M. Ham
mond but not Mr. as you can read
lily See" And the girl sitting at the
desk near the door where Tom was
standing continued writing.
"But-but-"
AT this moment the girl laughed
heartily.
please don't look as though you
don't credit my statement l assure
you l am NJ. Hammond, the real es-
tate-wel. shall say agentess, or
what?"
why, yes, did sell that property
to a Miss Marietta. a young girl who
had lost all her own folks and wanted
a nice, quiet place out in the coun-
try, so after l talked with your moth
er decided 1 would sell it to one who
would take good care of the place. as
those were her last wishes, and this
girl surely will take good care of your
old home.
"But-but must have that home
mothers home from infancy-my boy
hood homer
81 must see her-thiS girl who
bought my home-tell me where can
locate her." he begged.
"She has gone away for month,
but if you will leave your address I
promise l will do my utmost to per-
suade her to give up your old home"
Ten minutes later Tom was travel
ing back to the city.
True to Miss Hammond's word, Tom
heard within months time:
Dear Mr.. Ranger-I wouldn't think
Of taking the only home you have ever
known away from you, and your moth
err was my dearest friend. / spent
many happy hours with her. Why I
took the house you will never know,
but am giving it back to you and
hope you will be happy.
MISS MARIETTA"
The very next train out of Newbury
carried Tom back to his childhood
hOme-the girl had sent the key with
the note. AS he was about to fit the
key to the door he noticed that it was
ljar and he could hear someone NOV
ing around. He let himself in quietly
and there before him was the real es-
ate little lady enveloped in an apron
with a buster in hand and humming
softly as she busted. She uttered an
'Ohr as she espied Tom in the door
way. Then because she didn't know
what to do or how to escape she burst
nto tears.
"Why, Miss Hammond, l don't I'M
ierstand p and Tom waited for an ex-
)lanatiOn.
81 didn't think you would come so
;Oon and just wanted to have every
hing ready and comfy-yOu see your
mother loved me as dearly as l loved
Ter. l came to see her quite often,
Dut l would never allow her to talk
# me to you. / had reasons of my
'wn. She made me promise that l.
hat L"
"Please go on, Miss Hammond. Any
hing that concerns, or concerned,
mother; you don't know how"
This time the tears fell fast as the
,irl answered
swell, she wanted me to keep the
Ome for-for-well for you and me-
ut knew that was impossible, so
did think | could keep the home be-
ause loved 1t. But now--I was try
ng to fix things up just as she would
ave done for you, and never let you
now the truth; but am Miss Maret-
a Hammond"
And picking up her coat, she rushed