The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1924-01-04
He Was Going
Home

BY ELLA SAUNDERS
%. 1923. western Newspaper UnIen. }

~, 1873, western Newspaper Uni0n.)
0rTROUBLE? No trouble at all, MI
= Ourrant, bless your soul - ex
y claimed the poorhouse infrmary ma
. iron.
. She went up to the doctor. "rha
old Mr.. Durrant is too good for thi,
place." she said emphatically.
Maybe" replied the doctor, ''bul
what can we do about it?"
He's the kindest old man here, al.
ways willing TO do his best for the
I other patients and think It's shame
he should have had to come to 1t in his
old age. He's got rich relatives, too,
from what he tells me-"
Jim Durrant had been a rich man In
his day, too. His daughter Esther had
married young mining engineer and
lived In Wayfleet, fifty miles away.
Old Jim had remained alone on his
little farm after his wife died.
mo, my dear, I'm. not coming to live
with you" he had told Esther. "You
| young folks don't want an old man
moping about your house. l can &c.
through the winter comfortably, and
when the spring comes Wen see"
But that winter saw Durrant In the
throes of an attack of acute pneu-
monia. He. weathered 1t alone, unat-
tended, but after that he was unable
to do any work on the farm and his
money was at an end.
His son-in-law, Cyrus Brundage was
well-to-do, but Durrant had that pride
that makes a man ashamed to ask a
favor of a relative. He would have
starved sooner.
And he did starve until neighbors
told the village authorities, who came
and found the old man on his back
with pleurisy.
Once the Durrants had been hon I
ored in the town, but that was In the |
past; nobody knew or troubled much |
about the old fellow, and, since he
refused to give the names Of any rela- |
tives, he was taken to the poorhouse.
Once there, he stuck 1t out stubborn
ly. When the spring came he would
try to put In one more year of work
upon the place, before selling out. Only
poorhouse In his old age
They often tried to get his daugh-
ter's name and address from him. but
The old man was stubborn.
I'D kinder like to get home for a |
'isit," he told Mrs. Higgins do you
hink they'll let me go? It's getting
Iuite spring-ilke now, and there's the
'lanting to do.
"Oh, they'll let you go home as soon
s you're well enough, Mr.. Durrant,"
answered the matron.
She told the doctor. "He'u never /
cave this ward" she said. IF only we | b
ould find where his folks live"
Il guess maybe they wouldn't thank
for It," answered the doctor. Leave
ell enough alone, and Jolly the old \
ian along.
Old Mr.. Durrant was too weak now
do much for the other patients. He
It all day in his bed, propped UP with t.
Flows, his long white beard falling
Ter the bedclothes.
I'm sure getting better" he said. Z
guess they'll let me out soon. To- IL
orrow, II feel as much stronger as @
do today, I'm going to get up" :,
one Sunday evening motor car
npped at the poorhouse door. and
Wish woman, accompanied by a man, N
I out. ~
'you have patient here named "a
urant? Yesf Well. he's my father en
The matron was not very gracious, wi
she thawed when the daughter told
r story.
we hadn't any idea all wasn't well fo'
IN father. He insisted that he was at
ong enough TO live alone on his en-,
m. Then when he DIDN'T write Won
imagine how worried we got, and
last | went cut to see him and Of
rned the truth.
On, It's the moat terrible thing that's
7 happened. Il want to take him 'p'
ne at once. and I'll gladly paw pla
rything" con
es. II wonNc make any difference"
the doctor. to the matron. "Wrap rI
up well and let him 20. He's III
on going home"
he led ulem into the ward. Old
Durro1st lay among his pillows
his eyes closed Esther uttered
tie cry and ran to him. Father |"
exclaimed.
if Jim Durrant did not respond.
lad gone home already. IRE