The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-11
A pncEMnin NIGTr IN 40.

1t was not Oklahoma thon; II was Indian
Territory, The scene. a lonely. yet comfortable
pioneer homo upon ono OF tho great prairie
wastes; miles 60 the nearest neighbor. Night
was coming on apace. and with It blizzard
such as was wont 20 aweop the prairies In those
days
Presently the snow became 30 dense that II
was impossible to see distinctly moro than
fow feet. Then THE wind died down completely
and only weu-nlgb solid sheet OF snow fell
from tho clouds which hung low over the land
scape.
A mother ana her children were all abuHtlc
The day one OF unusual import for the
head Of the family due to return from
long absence. His the contract with the
government 60 discover and remove TO tho
national cemetery tho union dead OF the war
but lately Fought. And over the great wastes
OF tho Indian country he went with suitable
helpers, gathering these pawns OF tntcrnocno
strife. Tonight he was coming home.
There had been no telegram. no letter. no
telephone announcement Of the fact As
the custom Of tho frontier days, when he had
departed. his trip had been chartcd, on this
day. ~ all wont we--and there were many
possibilities of things very III In those days
no was due 10 arrivo at home. And again
rarely enough failed An eager, waiting fam
lily looked forward TO the event.
As tho night drew on the clouds lifted. Down
below tho farm house thousands OF prairie
chickens from troe top and fence noislly com
plained over the snow. foot deep which
robbed then, OF their evening meal In tho
morning there would be goodly number of
these in the corn-staik traps crafuly set by tho
older boys From Big Cabin hard by came the
rauoous throaty call OF mallnrd to mallard
There was duck hunters paradise! And. as
tho stars oame out upon an endless waste OF
whiteness from tho dlstant horizon tho plain
Awe note OF the restlesa coyote carried It's mes
rage Of alarm to barnysrd and corral
II was twilight To the eager ears gathered
on the front porch. there came tho distant
cluck OF a wagon far out on the prairios.
chorus OF voices shouted gladly 1T Is ho," For
there was a. means Of detecting friend or Zoe
oven In tho Cluck OF wagon, the sound OF
horses noots or the walk upon tho porch Back
In the dining room. busy hands engaged thcm-
selves IN setting a etcamiug supper upon tho
table. Feed was in the troughs for the horses.
Tho chores were done, All was In readiness
FOR tho coming OF thc traveller
But presently the cluckng wagon sound died
away IN the distance. disappointment writ it-
self largo upon tho faces Of old and young
But Iiarli There It is agalnl Coming nearer,
too All were suro OF that wagon. None other
groaned as did g. And vet again the sounds
grew more dlstuut until they faded into tho
grim yet sweet silence Of the pralries
And thus dime after time Presently tho
younger folk were given their supper and put
TO bed, poignant disappointment gnawinE at
their little hearts. Papa" had not come homol
The supper was put back che stove TO keen
warm against the later coming. But the faith
ful wife and mother kept vigA, Aud. ever and
anon. throughout the hours from far out on
the snow-eovered waste came the cluck, cluck
OF a wagon, now clear and distinct, now aim
and fading again into tho silence OF the glorious
but bitter cold night
Then as the clock chilned the hour OF mid
night once again eager ears at tho door caught
the sound. This time II did not fade, but grew
more distinct and more familiar. Aud, while
tho waiting heart beat in fond anticipation, st
rumhled into the ford of the creek mile away
and thus on, over nearer ana nearer, A troubled.
perplcxed soul, -hopelessly lost Tor hours
upon the snoW.coyercd pralrios, almos, frozen
and suffering acutely, had at last schooled him
self to let his faithful horses have their head
and thus, against his reasoning and Judgment
they turned directly away from tho direction
In which hc thought homo Jay and brought him
al last 10 his own dooryard and tho faithful
watcher who bad mover given up hope,
That Was a wondorous family rcunion--ln the
stun, Hrren hpsrs OF a December morningl
Today ALMOST upon THE Identical spot ot the
wAyfarsrs wandering upop the nnow.eoyero,
prairis there rianas one Of tha inono,, nm, ,oO,u
~ the okiahomA We KNOW '~"' '0"'''