Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-05-27


scOwl between Mr.. Thomas Graham
o. eyes disappeared for the momen
: Wonderful, amt it now, how thes
= come 10 life again in the springtime
+, He patted the flower box, fragran
with bright blossoms, as he spoke.
, 'They are lovely, Tom lovely IN
deed" the other man answered. Ill
came quite close and put has hand OF
Grabam's shoulder, studying him fol
moment from under his bushy
brows.
You're coming to church tomorrow
aren't you. TomT' he asked, abruptly.
Instantly the frown returned to the
other mans face; he drew back a bit
stfliy, angrlly.
mo" he answered, steadily. 81
amt"
And. what's more" he continued.
MS no use 10 keep asking me, and
asking me. because I'm never going
again. I'm always glad to see you.
Hiram, bur when you come as Dea.
con Hiram Brown. pass this house
up, viii you. and I'll be obliged to
your
TON. you've got to listen to me for
second. / ought to be mad at you,
but I'm not. We all ought to be mad
AT you, but we're not. But I'm going
TO tell you something the rest Of them
are afraid to tell you
You've turned sour, Tom, sour.
Trouble has visited your household,
and you've gone down under IT, Why,
don't you know that trouble has come
10 MS all in the little village and we've
had to bear lt7
You're not the only one who has
a boy asleep somewhere In France. |
Shame on you. Tom Graham; you re- |
joce because your plants, seemingly |
dead. are alive. and you won't apply |
the same truth to your boy" The
gate beneath the mans hand swung
open softly as he turned to go. but
again he paused.
"TOm" he added, earnestly, edo you
remember when the boys were kids
and when 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 boy, and my boy
Don't let bitterness keep you away
from Gods house, Tom" The gate
clicked after him.
IF you are coming tomorrow, cali
me up, Tom; we want an extra usher
Don't let your wife come alone"
He passed his hand YEARLY across
his forehead. As II for the first time
he saw the gentle patient figure of
a woman, the boys mother, as she
went serenely about her daily tasks.
Why, only this morning she had told
him.
"Tom, youll be coming to church
With me tomorrow morning, it's
Caster, dear"
And he had answered a bit less
-ruiily than he had answered Hiram;
I'm not agoing, Lizzie 1t ISM
laster to me-"
And the woman answered gently. !
Some day, dear, when you feel |
hat you are strong enough. read the |
ld's last letter You have never felt
hat You could do So Some day you
IN, and when that time comes. you o.
III find II under the Bible" a
lie arose suddenly and entered the +,
ouse.
Lizzie" he called, gently, but no Is
nswer came save the tick of the {
reat clock on the wall. Lizzie" he !,
'lled again, and then stopped short
4 the threshold. In low rocker by ~,
lie window sat woman. n,
The mans great hand closed over
# frail little one as silently he took bs
e letter from her fond clasp, and A.
read =,
Dearest Mother and Dad-Easter
" In the trenches. And some of ~
e boys were singing, and 1t made me
Ink of home, and those Casters long 81,
o when we all got up so early in -,
e morning And you, Mother, sh
rubbed my face and ears till they th
tually shone. can see your hat,
light with flowers, and Dads smil .,
: face as he ushered the people. -
Il oh J Mother, most of all | can II.
ar the anthem we sang. for by a
ange coincidence that's what the hr,
VS. We're singing this morning. ~,
wake. thou that sleepest.' ah
A bit of a solemn thought per. m,
os for me, but / thought of the nc
< rows of crosses and | said TO .
self, I know the fellows living I'M
eep have heard that anthem and ain
y are awake. indeed 81
And so, dear folks, II l should ore
er come back, l say If l shouldn't. a
Easter time when you go to the Tx,
vice and they sing the dear old q.
hem. smile and say to yourselves. .,t
N heard the message, for shall NJ
her. / SHALL -,
he letter fell from the mans :.
milling fingers VIII
Lizzie" he whispered. his face was in
with fporS ~