The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-01-18
Fiction Story
No. 7
By ANTHONY REIMERT
(G. 1922. Western Newspaper unionD

| &c, 1922. Western Newspaper Union
The pleasant-faced woman who
opened the door of the farmhouse
looked encouraging to Henry. Jus;
the type who fell for any of the stock
stories.
Gould you spare poor man bite
of bread, Iady?" Henry asked.
There's liquor on your breath,
said the woman, little ominously.
| Henry was prepared for that. Fic-
ton story Number met the occasion
with pleasant-faced women at farm
house doors.
Il know it, lady," Henry whined,
"but / git so despr'it at times, thinkin'
Of the old home in Rhode Island. and
the dear old mother who looks so
much like you, lady,"
The woman beamed so pleasantly
that 1t never occurred to Henry that,
while tramps are specialists in the
types of women whom they meet at
farmhouse doors, the women at farm
house doors are also specialists in
tramps
well, come ill.," she said reluctantly
There amt no wood to be chopped.
COS my husbands gone into town to
buy load, but I guess can give you
bite Of breakfast"
few minutes later Henrys spirits
we're sensibly reviving under the slim
illus Of coffee, porridge, and bacon and
eggs.
Tell me about this old mother of
yours" begged the pleasant-faced
woman.
Henry had to pay for his meal.
"Oh, lady, she's the finest mother a
Teller ever had" he began. zone Of
them dear old ladies up in Rhode
Island, you know. She's a saint, that's
what my dear old mother is. Never
misses church on Sunday, and al
ways brought me up fit and proper.
ut was craps did 1t, lady. I got led
away by bad gang in infancy and
then ulster steal apples and run away
from Sunday school. And by-and-by I
took to smokin' and drinkin'.
II broke me poor old mothers heart,
lady. And so when lost me job,
jest couldn't bear to 60 home and see
her setting so patient and prayerful
In the chimbley-corner"- sounded
mastery to Henry-"waitin' for me to
reform, and so I beat it.
LADY, me poor old mother thinks
got fine job as a travelin' man, and
when I got the price of a paper and
envelope and stamp I write to her
tellin her how we'll I'm dom. But,
lady, we who have fallen knows too
we'll the bitter fruits Of sin''-another
touch which Henry had got from an
educated tramp he had once encoun-
tered
Eyes, lady, there's many dear old
mother settin' In her chimbley corner
wondering where is her wandering
boy tonight"
"That's true" said the pleasant
faced lady, wiping away tear. "And
you have no hopes in life?"
"Ah, lady, know too well the fruits
of sin now, and If 1 had a old suit
and pair of boots and nickel or two
to get job with"
"I'll see what my husbands got"
said the pleasant-faced woman. "You
set there till I come back"
She returned presently with fairly |
decent looking suit of clothes and a
pair of boots. She pressed a dollar
bill into Henry's hand.
Heaven will bless you, lady"
Henry began.
I'm doing it," said the pleasant
faced lady, because Of what you said |
about many a mother wondering
where is her wandering boy. My poor,
dear Charley-he went away six years J
ago. and 1 haven't had line from him. !
Often and often wonder, with all
love, where he is"
"Oh, he amt come to no harm, lady.
| guess your Charley'll turn up one Of
these days, as fresh as paint.
Heaven grant It'll" said the pleas
ant-faced lady. "a mothers love is
everlasting, you know. My poor boy,
90 back to that old mother of yours.
say Mother, I've sinned'-"
"Ah, lady, lady, you don't know how
I'd long to"
"She will forgive. A mothers heart
always goes out to her son."
II will, lady, will. God bless YOU"
"And then, if my poor Charley never
'eturns, 1 shall have restored one son
o his mother"
The tramp took the hand she offered
lin and made his way down the pike.
1T the turn of the road he slapped his
high.
"Easy, Henry, easy ">he soliloquized,
vinking in the direction of the farm
louse "They always fall for it, that
ype of dame"
The woman stood at the farm house
loor. Il hope Brother Tom won't be
nadI gave those clothes away" she
aid. "Guess 1 almost believed l was
married. and had a boy when l was
cling about him. They always fall
or that tale, those hoboes that come
long this way"
Trees From Historic Verdun.
(tl,oetp11t trace arc t0 ha GROWN i'm