The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-07-28
Selfrf Sth1y.
BYERs' FOLLY.
A PRIZE STORY.

''What did We say yer name was ?"
We stood on' side the wire fence ,Geor.
gle and l, and looked at The old man
who leaned on bis plow surveying us,
while the Two shaggy HOSES attached TO
ii languidly hung their heads as il inten.
ding fur,ive nap.
I'm Charline Boyd; this is Georgie,
nv little brother We've come all the
way from Kansas. City: we're your own
grandchildren; mothers dead; father
sent us here; he's gone to Arizona to
work in a mine"
He looked dazed.
"Clarissy dead, n you her children ,
Wal, it do beat all! An you sich big
gal. sn' him her Twin pictur, an not
KNOWN she was gone. Come in dears ;
the gates be,ant, but ve kin crawl under
The wires.s Therel Now lemme look at
yer. Laws, child! don't try to kiss me
my face amt none too clean"
He was a plessant.faced, blue-eyed old
man with long, curling white bair; his
teeth we're gone, but other wise be SEEM
I'd unlike old men, for be Was strsight
and tall, his arms brawny and strong.
His clothing was neat, but neglected.
looking, the buttous banging. with little
tears widening into large rents Iwss
only fourteen but mother had taught me
to do grown woman's work; beside,
Geotgie Was Eve, and such q baby made
me feel older.
"Where's grandmae" | asked.
For answer he pointed hi sthnmb ct q
mound away at the end Of the level Geld
where rude wooden cross was planted
"She's thar she wect year ago I've
lived alone seuce, an it's the blessin' Of
Providence you children is come. o..
entimes I've feared might grow desprat
out o. sheer lonesomeHess an sorrer.
Maybe you didn't know't, but Clarissy
an mother qusrreled in years gone an
never got frenzy, which was becansc yer
ma married yer pe, wich seemed TO me .
good man 'nufi; but wimmen is queer, ,ap
mother lot ked high Tor Clarissy."
II 80 hungryl' cried poor little Geor.
gle, his lips quiverlng and bis round eyes
filling with tears -
"B.ess bis little heartr' said grsndfs-
ther recovering himself and patting my
cheek softly. "Here you be, jest of q
long journey an me keepin' yer in the
cold an meanderin' ON as.if thar want
no to.dsy, but all yesterdays. How'did
yer come 2" be asked, embarrassing the
horses.
by rail to D.; then gentleman
gave us q ride here In his 6ne carriage
We came in the tram With his dsug hter,
Miss Bessie Little; be owns big ranch
near here"
"A fine young lady" broke in grand
father. She was like darler TO yer
grandma. en- though She lived miles
away she was over night an day, a.gaI
l"pin' cross the plains on black horse
as is q thoroughbred. an q fine specimen
OF horse flesh 90 Is seen in ,hese parts.
She kin ride too, an ain'l afcard Of moth.
in',. Mother set sight by her,"
We we're now ct the house, neat lii.
tie one-story cottage containing four
rooms. A comfortable barn and yard
for the cattle we're near and = well close
by the door. There vas cosy kitchen,
q sitting room and two bed-rooms-one
.be 'spsre room grandfather said proud.
ly. It looked neat and precise but was
as cold and damp as the tomb. The lone
ly old man had faithfully swept and dust.
ed, and kept everything where his wife
had placed it, even her work.basket with
q needle sticking in the halt finished
gingham sleeve.
George and I took the spare room
and I built . FIRE and aired the bedding
10 few davs grew competent to take
charge of the house, put things where
she had placed them and cook the sim.
pie meals-and these we're very simple
for grandfather was poor. Two old
horses, two COWS and calf comprised
the stock.
Il don't hev no luck. wi..poutry, Char
ley," he said. He called me Charley for