The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-10-07

eyes ulSappedFeu lOr ule holhch''
Wonderful, amt it now, how these
come to life again in the sprlngtimeY
He patted the flower box, fragrant
with bright blossoms as he spoke.
"They arc lovely, Tom; lovely in
Decd" the other man answered. He
came quite close and put his hand on
Graham's shoulder, studying him for
moment from under his bushy
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 bit
stiffiy, angrily.
NO" he answered, steadily. Il
amt"
"And, what's MORE" he continued,
its no use to keep asking me, and
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
youW
"Tom, you've got to listen to me for
q 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
to us all In the little village and we've
had to bear it?
You're not the only one who has
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."I 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 choir2 Do you
remember the lump that came in our
throats as they sang? He's singing in
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, call
me up, Tom; we want an extra usher.
Don't let your wife come alone
He passed his hand YEARLY across
his forehead. AS if for the first time
he saw the gentle patient figure of
a woman, the boys mother, ms she
went serenely about her daily tasks.
Why, only this morning she had told
him.
TON, you'll be coming to church
Faster, dear"
And he had answered bit less
gruffly than Ne had answered Hiram:
I'm not agoing, Lizzie; 1t isn't
Easter to me-"
And the woman answered gently: |
Some day, dear, 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 1t under the Bible"
He arose suddenly and entered the
house.
Lizzie" 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, and
he read:
Dearest Mother and Dad-Easter
day in the trenches. And some OF
the boys were singing, and 1t made me
think of home, and those Casters long
ago when we all got up so early in
the morning. And you, Mother,
scrubbed my face and ears till they
actually shone. l can see your hat
bright with flowers, and Dads smil-
ing face as he ushered the people.
But oh Mother, most of all 1 can
hear the anthem we sang. for by
strange coincidence that's what the
boys were singing this morning,
Awake, thou that sleepest.'
"a bit of a solemn thought per-
haps for me, but l thought of the
long rows of crosses, and I said to
myself, 4 know the fellows lying
asleep have heard that anthem and
they are awake, indeed
And so, dear folks, II I should
never come back, I say If shouldn't
at Easter time when you go to the
service and they sing the dear old
smile and say to yourselves,
Tom heard the message for / shall,
Mother. l shall"
The letter fell from the mans
fingers.
Lizzie, he whispered, his face was
wet with tears, but his eyes were
shining like stars.
Lizzie, oh my dear, is it too late
to get some daisies and peoples, and
buttercups, and trim up your hat
bit for tomorrow You know the boy
loved flowers so. And Lizzie, I'll just
step over to Hiram Browns and tell
him I'll usher, he needs another man."