The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-05-23
A BIT OF GRASS.

"Iawns." And small rs it was, the
name and the thing were dear to little
Meta Sayres, its mistress. Her Driei
wifehood of three months had, as yet
brought no relaxation to the first fine
arbor of matronhood. which counted
housekeeping as a joy and perfection
the shining mark for duty to aim at.
Everything inside the simple establish
ment was daintily appointed and most
beautifully tended; everything outside
would have been the same could Metals
busy fingers and energetic spirit have
accomplished it, but fate and climate
were against her.
For the sad thing about the "lawn'
was that no grass grew on it. It had
became Meta's chronic desire. St.
Louis is a hot place as all the world
knows, and that spring the heat had
come earlier than usual. Meta and her
husband had begun sewing grass seed
early in March, when the frost was
barely out of the ground. They had
sown it again the last of March; and
once more the last of April, and now,
on the 10th of May, there was still no
sign ofpromise, and the little enclosure
lay as bare and naked as ever. The
vines ON the piazza were dense with I'M
folding leaves. The hedge was begin
ing to flower. The deutZias and wei
gelias and the single bed of pansies were
full of blossoms, and only the rake
marks on the smooth earth showed any
care had been bestowed on the grass
plot, which lay hopeless and unloyely
IN the glare of the sun.
Marion Ashurst saws it's no use, :"
Meta said, oneday at dinner" Nobody
can make grass seed grow here. She
says It's too hot. 1t burns up directly
it sprouts-if it ever does sprout. /
told her ours hadn't sprouteda at ali, and
she said that was just the way theirs did
when they tried the experiment 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
or them have excellent turf"
Eyes; Marian says we must sod our
lawn-that's the only way"
Isn't sOdding rather expensive ?"
a asshhedd john, oaibbttffTaiiiiTT.
Yes, very expensive. l went to the
gardeners this afternoon to ask about
it, and he said it would cost thirty dol
larsl just think for one little yard
But it looks dreadfully as it is, and will
be worse still in August, john"
aaThat is very true. Grass is almost
q necessity in a climate like this for peo-
pie who stay on here for the whole sum
mer, 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 econo-
mize In something else, hey, Meta2"
"Yes, you always say that, but 4 have
observed that when it comes to the
something else your motives are rather
vague, John dearlp replied Meta with a
saucy smile. However, all Won say is
true; I'll invent q way of saving money /;
you needn't worry about it dear"
John looked very 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, wom-
manly women,
Not too bright or good
For human natures daily food
who captivate the imaginations OF men
and hold their affections captive ever
d thar1regnfar beauties do. Her
fate and voice were full Of sweetness
and they we're the index of a sweet ma
ture. Full of sun and cheer and bright
fun, capable to her fingers ends, only
those who knew her hest detected the
deep power Of affection of which she
was capable, and the high and loyal de-
yotion to what she believed tobe right
which was the handspring of her char
acter. John Savres had drawn d priz'
il his wife, how great q prize he onl,
half comprehended as yet. 1t was re
served to him as to many another hus
band, gradually to realize and bless hi
good fortune during the long years Of
long and happy life.
So at the dinner table that night ]
was voted, and carried mem. con,
that the little yard should be at one
turfed at an outlay Of thirty dollars
Meta, III d rapid Characteristic way, ha
decided IN her own mind how the none
could be spared at tho expense Of
little sacrifice to herself and none at q
til her husband. The bare yard ha
been no small trial To her Used TO th
verdure and shade Of the large countf
place III which all the summer Of hi
0lrihood had been passed, her eys
nungercd fox q green outlook, and ha
misSed il every DAY "a the spring.
IlIiio~ Fortunate thai those two b