McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-07-24
A BIT OF GRASS.

1t was a very small lawn, indeed-so
small as to make that title seem rather
absurd, but cottages in the suburbs of
cities must, or should have sslawns. {"
And, small as it was, the name and
the thing were dear to little Meta
Sayres, its mistress. Her brief wifehood
of three months has as yet brought no
relaxation to the first fine arder Of mat
ronhood, which courted housekeeping
as joy and perfection-the shining
mark for duty to aim at. Everything
inside the simple establishment was
daintily appointed and most beautifully
tended; everything outside would
been the same could Meta busy fingers
and energetic spirit have accomplished
it, but fate and climate were against
her.
For the sad thing about the elawn"
was that no grass grew upon it. 1t
had been. Metals chronic despair. St.
Louis is hot place, as all the world
knows, and that spring the heat had
come earlier than usual. Meta and her
husband had begun sowing grass seed,
early in March, when the frost was
barely out of the ground. They had
once more the last of April, and now,
on the 10th of May, there was still no
sign of promise, and the little inclosure
lay as bare and naked as ever. The
vines on the piazza were dense with
unfolding leaves. The hedge was be-
ginning to flower. The deutzias and
weigelias and the single bed of pansles
were full of blossoms, and only the
rake marks on the smooth earth showed
that any care had been bestowed on the
grass plot, which lay hopeless and I'M
lovely in the glare of the sun.
marian Ashurst says its no use,"
Meta said, one day at dinner. ''No-
body can make grass seed grow here.
She says it's too hot. If burns up di-
rectly it sprouts-if it ever does sprout.
told her ours hadn't sprouted at ali,
and she said that was just the way
theirs did when they tried the expert
ment the first year they were here"
"Still people do have grass in St.
Louis, remarked her husband. ''Look
at the park. The grass is splendid.
And look at the private places. Many
of them have excellent turf"
"Yes; Marian says we must sod our
lawn-that's the only way"
ssIsn't sodding rather expensive?"
asked John, doubtfully.
eyes, very expensive. [ went to the
gardeners this afternoon to ask about
it, and he said it would cost $50! Just
think-for one little yard! But 1t looks
dreadfully as it is, and will be worse
still in August, John"
"That's very true. Grass is almost
necessity in climate like this for
people who stay on here for the whole
summer, as we must do. If sodding is
the only way to secure it, why we will
Just sod; and, as for the money, We'll
economic in something else, hey,
Metap',
s'Yes, you always say that, but 1 have
observed that when it comes to the
something else your notions are rather
vague, John dear!" replied Meta with
saucy smile. "However, all you say
is true. I'll invent way of saving
money; you needn't worry about it,
dear"
John looked very little likely to worry
about that or anything else, as he sat
comfortably in his arm chair, eating his
strawberries and looking across the
pretty dinner table at his bonny wife.
She was one of those fair, little, wo-
manly little women,
'sNot too bright or good
For human nature daily food
who captivate the imaginations of men
and hold their affections captive even
more than regular beauties do. Her
face and voice were full of sweetness,
and they were the index of sweet
nature Full of sun and cheer and
bright fun, capable to her fingers ends,
only those who knew her best detected
the deep power of affection of which
she was capable, and the high and loyal
devotion to what she believed to be
right, which was the main spring of her
character. John Sayres had drawn
prize in his wife, how great prize he
only half comprehended as yet. 1t was
reserved to him as to many another
husband, gradually to realize and bless
his good fortune during the long years
of long and happy life.
So at the dinner table that night it
was voted and carried mem con-, that
the little yard should be at once turfed
at an outlay of $50, Meta, in rapid
characteristic way, had decided in her
own mind how the money could be
spared at the expense of little sacri-
flee to herself and none at all to her hus-
band. The bare yard had been no small
trial to her. Used to the verdure and
shade of the large country place in
which all the summers of her girlhood
had been passed, her eyes hungered for
green outlook, and had missed it every
day of the spring.
Chow fortunate that those two big
naples grow just outside our fence"
she thought. "They will shade the
grass al the afternoon, and John will
water it with the hose every evening. 1
am sure we can make it grow. I'll
order the sods early on Monday.
There's no time to be lost now that we
haze dacidad tn have them >,