Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-04-29

Ten years of missed happiness, and
not many more to come. At seventy
Eve one does not look forward to a
great deal The old man wept
Presently, moved by an uncontrol-
able impulse, he took up a pen and
paper Dear Tom, | am sorry for
everything" he wrote, and thrust the
scrap of paper into the drum.
lie glued the broken ends together
lightly and went out with bowed
head,
The next day wonderful thing hap
pened to little Jimmy, His GRANDPA
Their gave him n drum.
1t was so amazing that he was quite
incoherent when he got home with
his treasure. He showed 1t to his
mother.
"What did he say2' she asked, ex-
cltedly.
Nothing, mamma. lie just put 1t In
my hand. Look what fine drum
Give me something to hit 1t with,
mammal !"
That evening, when the little boy
was asleep in bed, she told her hus-
band and showed the drum to him.
Tom looked and looked at it.
"It's my old druml" he cried. ~
recognize it. Jean, do you suppose
the old man means anything by itf"
1--WE can't tell, dear" she answered
"oh, Tom, If only you could say you
are sorry"
"And I'd give everything in the
world IL could, Jeanle," answered
her husband. but I can't. It's a
physical impossibility for me now, be-
cause I've never said 1t. used to try
to when I was boy, and never
could"
Perhaps your father is the same
way" answered Jean.
"Well, there seems to be nothing we
can do" said Tom "But I wonder
why he gave Jimmy that drum"
He took 1t In his hands, and as he
did so the glueing came apart. The
drum parted; out dropped the little
heap of old letters. Tom stared at
them speechlessly as the memory of
them came back to him.
What Is this, dear?" asked his wife.
Look Dere father, am sorry I
sat on yOre hat"
81 wrote them" answered Tom grim
ly. 81 used to slip them In there. l
couldn't say 1t to his face"
"Why, they are all confessions,
Tom" said Jean. "And who wrote
this. Dear Tom, am sorry for ev-
erythlng'T"
Tom took the paper in his fathers
writing and looked at It. Gently he
laid 1t down. When Jean looked at
him she saw that his eyes were full
of tears
81 guess we were both the same
after all" he said.
"Tom, dearest"
"Pm going to him."
And, twenty minutes later JOSIAH
Spence, implacable, answering
opened the door, to see Tom and hi'
wife standing there together. He con
trolled his emotion with violent eff
fort, and waited. But the words died
on Toms lips. Then Jean stepped
forward
"He can't say 1t, but l can" she
said Hes sorry. Tom, aren't you
sorry, dearT
Tom nodded.
"And you, father2 Aren't you q
tiny little bit sorry?" she continued,
| to Josiah.
"Sorry7 For what, MADAME de-
manded the old man.
Jean wasn't feazed. "Never mind
your tongue-Just nod" she said.
you're both the same, you men. Now
aren't you tiny bit sorryf"
Not In the least" Josiah answered
and nodded. And with cry Of hap
piness Jean drew the two mems hands
together.
Jimmy Is nine now, and he has al
most forgotten the days when his
grandfather did not speak to him.
They are the best OF friends and spend
hours together In the fields and coun-
tryslde. Then there are the happy
evenings by the fireslde, when grand
father tells wonderful stories of Toms
childhood. On the wall hangs the
drum. 1t Is cracked and broken, but
sometimes grandfather will take It
down and show Jimmy how Tom used
to march when he was little boy OF
his own age.