The Meeker herald., 1920-11-27
A HOME
b May wln.rasO Ford:

a 1889. ~ Mcclure Nsvssapsr ayndiss1s.'
-Good luck. Tom. only wish II
were possible for me to leave the
sultry city behind and take the path
to Gods own land" and Jerry Barton
shook hands with Tom Ranger. the
best-hearted boy 10 all Newbury town
-at least the whole town would tell
you. that had you asked about Tom
Ranger.
Tom was IN engineer on train No.
1875. All the children 10 Newbury
raced down to Ingalls, Crossing every
afternoon after school to see the No.
1856 flying by and to wave to their be-
loved "Mr. Tom" Tom always had .
smile for every one. but today his
heart was heavy and sad. The mile
Ind left his eyes and HIS lips quiz.
cred as the train sped on It's way to
Ellis Falls. This time Tom wns On
different mIssion-lt was not his old
No. ls5 ne was running. just sitting
with the other passengers deep IN
thought.
He had lust buried his hcst friend
his mother. It 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 . 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 chiIdnood.
FIe had worked In the city. coming
home once q month to that little house
at Ellis Falls where over tho week
end he would nnd q peace too sweet
to define. Now he was going 10 light
to get that house back.
poor little mother. She couldn't
have been in her right mind to cell the
place we loved-the home We said We
would never part With"
"Pardon, have made q mistake. !
thought was In Mr.. Hammonfs Of
nce-er-the, real estate
"Please be seated. am II. Ham
mond but not a MI a. you can read
lily see.s. 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 assure
you am N. Hammond. the real es-
tate-well, shall say agentess. or
whatr' -
"why. yes. I did sell that property
: to q Miss Marietta. a young girl who
had lost all her own folks and wanted
a nice. quiet place out In the coun.
try, 20 after I talked with your moth
er I decided would sell II to one who
would take good care Of the place. ~
those were her last Wishes, and this
| girl surely will take good care Of your
old home.
"But-but I must have that home
mothers home from lnfancy-my boy
hood homer
~ must see her-this girl who
bought my home-tell me where can
| locate her" he begged.
i "she has gone away for q month.
! but II you will leave your address !
promise 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 q months time:
Dear Mr.. Ranger-I wouldn't think
Of taking the only home you have ever
known away from you. and your moth
er was my dearest friend. I spent
many happy hours with her. Why, I
took the house you will never know.
hut am giving It hack 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 at the
key to the door he noticed that It was
ajar and he could hear someone NOV
Ing around. He let himself in quietly
and there before him was the real es-
tate little lady enveloped In an apron
with 4 duster In hand and hummIng
softly as she busted. She uttered an
"OhI' as she espied Tom In the door
way. Then because she didn't know
what to do or how to escape she burst
Into tears.
"why. Miss Hammond, I don't IN.
derstand I" and Tom waited for an az.
PLANTATION.
II didn't think you would come 20
soon and I just wanted to have every.
thing ready and comfy-you see your
mother loved me NJ dearly as I loved
her. came to see her quite often.
but would never allow her to talk
Of me to you. had reasons Of my
own. She made me promise that -
that ="
"Piease 60 on, Miss Hammond. Any.
thing that concerns. or concerned,
mother: you don't know how"
This time the tears fell fast a. the
| girl answered.
swell. she wanted me to keep the
home for-for-well for you and me,