Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-23

Beautiful, amt they, Hiramf' Ihe
scowI between Mr.. Thomas Graham ;
eyes disappeared for the moment
"Wonderful. amt it now, how these
come TO life again in the springtimeF
| He patted the flower box, fragrant
with bright blossoms, as he spoke.
"They are lovely, Tom; lovely In
deed" the other man answered. he
came quite close and put his hand on
Grahams shoulder, studying him for
moment from under his Dushv
! brows.
You're coming to church tomorrow,
aren't you, Tom?' he asked, abruptly
Instantly the frOwn returned to the
other mans face; he drew back BIZ
stitfly, angrily.
NO" he answered, steadily. u
amt"
"And. what's more" he continued,
"it's no use to keep asking me, anu
asking me, because I'm never going
,agaIn. I'm always glad to see YOU
Hiram, but when you come as Dea-
con Hiram Brown, pass this house
up. will you, and I'll be obliged TO
you?"
"TOm, you've got to listen to me for
q second. l ought to he mad at you,
but I'm not. We all ought to be mao
ar YOU. but we're not. But I'm going
10 fell yos something the rest of them
are afraid to tell you. ..r
you've turned souri, Tom, sour
Trouble has visited your household
and you've gone down under II. Why'
don't YOU know that trouble has come
TO US all in the little village and we've
had to bear it?
you're not the only one who has
a boy asleep somewhere in France.
Shame on you, Tom Graham; you re-
joice because your plants, seemingly
dead. are alive, and you won't Apply
the same truth to your boy" Ihe
gate beneath the mans hand swung
open softly as he turned to 60 Dut
again he paused. -
"Tom." he added, earnestly, "dd you
remember when the boys were klds
and Mhen Easter morning came, their
shining faces In the chOir? DO you
remember the lump that came in our
throats as they sang? He's singing in
a choir today, your hoy, and my boy
Don't let bitterness keep you away
from Gods house, Tom" The gate
clicked after him. =.
"If you are coming tomorrow, call
me up, Tom; we want an extra usher.
Don't let your wife come alone"
He passed his hand wearily across
his forehead. AS If for the first time
he saw the gentle patient figure OF
woman, the boys mother, as She
went scrcnely about her daily tasks,
Why, only this morning she had told
him.
tom, you'll be coming to cEurch
with me tomorrow morning, It's
Easter, dear"
And he had answered bit less
gruffly than he had answered Hiram &:
I'm not agoing, Lizzie; 1t isn't
Easter to me-"
And the woman answered gently
"Some day, dAar, when you feel
that you are strong enough, read the
lads last letter. You have never felt
that you could do so. Some day You
will. and when that time comes, you
will find it under the Bible"
He arose suddenly and entered the
house.
"Limie," he called, gently, but no
answer came save the tick of the
great clock on the wall. Lizzie" he
called again, and then stopped short
on the threshold In low rocker by
the window sat a woman.
The mans great hand closed over
her frail little one as silently he took
the letter from her fond clasp, ana
he read:
Dearest Mother and Dad-EasteE
day in the trenches. And some OF
the boys were singing, and it made me
think of home, and those casters long
ago when we all got up so early III
the morning. And you. Mother
scrubbed my face and ears till they
actually Shonc. | can see your nat
bright with flowers, and Dads smiI'
ing face as he uShered tie people
But oh Mother, most. of all l can
hear the anthem we sang, for by a
strange coincidence that's what the
boys were singing this morning
Awake, thou that sleepest.'
"A hit Of q solemn thought per
haps for me, but I thought of the
long rows of crosses, and | said to
myself, 4 know the fellows lying
asleep have heard that anthem and
: they are awake, indeed
And so, dear folks, if I should
never come back, l say if I shouldn't
nj Easter time when you 90 to the
service and they sing the dear old
anthem, smile and say To yourselves
Tom heard the message for l shall
Mother l shall"
The letter fell from the mans
trembling fingers.
"Lizzie," he whispered, his face was
wet with tears, but his eyes were
shining like stars.