River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-08-20
A FAMILY FARCE.
Why Farmer Grayson and Uncle
Norman Enjoyed It

Norman Enjoyed It
The yellow sunshine Of a September
morning shone in at the open windows
of GravsOn's connections farmhouse
The family We're at breakfast Mr..
GraysOn. a fresh compls NiUr "a. genial
voiced man Of fOrty-tiyr. his we'll
fieshed form encased in business suit,
ready for an early start to town, sat at
the head OF the table. lie wore neatly
brushed side whislScrs. carried dim
pie in his chin and a twinkle in his
blue-gray eye
His wife would faye seemed tall
should she have risc1 from her seat he
hind the coffee urn. ..cr dignifiel pres
ence. together with the height Of her
aristOcratic nose and a slight backward
pose Of herhcad. Indicated administra-
tive qualities. while the softness of her
dark eyes and the sweetness Of her
vell-mOtulated voice marked her an
attractive general Of the household
forces
Her mother. a sprightly little old
lady, engaged in supplying the mani
fold wants of two half-g-Own boys.
was at her left. The oldest son. now
nearing the end of his first college
vacation. completed the group
said Mr.. Grayson, drawing an envel-
one from his pocket: 4 " II take occa-
sion while in waiting for thu>e muf-
rms 10 read you the letter which
received last night from Unc.e Nor
man.
Yes. by an means let n hear it,
spoke Grandmother Dent: II am anN-
ious to know how Brother and Sister
Norman receive the news of our pro
jected visit
Mr.. ttruv>uu pruceedC6. To- read:
DEAR NJ PHEw. NlEtt. SISTER ANp All
We are "a /. state Of t-oisttfous htiarity. Alter
ali these star- 70 be- a~>aft1 IL harturing the
whole crowd % You and that right early, i not
90 b. taken CA mis-.
our house Is tumuIt o. preparation from
Earret to cellar and the women % nv family
are a state Of excitement bordering on the
extreme Welcome Thrice welcome 10 Sweet
Flag farm
You certainly - well 70 t.y the trip across
fhe country az this season d VIII probably
increase your appetites, but wife will be- ready
Tor you
About tHe bushes. George. am glad that
you mate me - advantageous a sale You
speas of bringing the money with YOU Now
beg - y0u DO not tax tine risk Four Thousand
dollars Is too large az amount To b. bothered
with on an excursion. Express . from Cambria
Yours in affection. SAMUEL. NORMAN
GRANDMOTHER Dent spoke quickly;
s'IIc j. right, He Is right son George.
You should not think % carrying the
money yourself with your careless
habits. should You object to express
ing il, give il to me. often in my
husbands lifetime have carried large
amounts in the pockets Of my petticOIt.
Money Is always safer with a woman"
NONSENSE, mother, Just a. though
am not capable Of carrying package
Of money a distance like that. W risk
whatever. II would bc folly To cx-
press II !"
Remember the affair Of the EpwOrth
notes. George. said his wife. pleasant
Nv. .'of course we know that You are
fully capable Of taking care Of the
money. if only You were not 50 absent
minded I think myself that il might
be wise - let Donald carry il if You
insist upon not expressing IL
NV dear, my dear. cried Mr. Gray
soa. in impatieuce This i foolish
ness. Relieve your minds of this mat
tfEr ENAtA I''f'AFtS- AAt AAARtltt-N StAutA
reach uclc Norman in safety"
soon Mr.. GraySou set out for town.
while Mrs GraysOn and Grandmother
Dent continued their preparations for
the visit upon which they were To start
three DAYS later All sorts of cooking
was soon in progress tO fiji the capa-
cioUS lunch baskets.
How fortunate il Is. Clarinda. said
grandmother. a. she deity cut up
chicken. that you and have just had
those alpaca petticuatS made White
Il - soon ~oiled IN a Journey And
those pockets that had put in will
b. 81 hsndy How wish tseorsc
might have been persuaded t. let me
carry that money in mine. There is no
place like pocket in a petticOat for
valuables.
Just then Donald came in. Donald"
said his mother. could You not man
are e. gain possession of that money
in some way be- l-e we st onto II
will DESTROY my peace Of mind entirely
II your father carries IL Dear man. he
i entirely unconscious how careless he
Is
- don't WORRY about II. mother. I'll
look ont for father replied he with
that little air Of Importance which
often betrays "A freshman
When Mr.. Graysnn returned he laid
some strong linen envelopes ON the
mantel. saying: .'Clarinda. / bought a
package of these. although OF cours,.
only needed one for the money. They
may be useful sometime.
Let me have one. said tran 2 mother
Dent, that Is Just what p,ed t. hold
the mullen for my asthma will put
the envelope and the pipe in rny pocket
where they will be handy + ] should
have AN attack by the way"
The Journey e. Sweet Flag farm was
an awkward one by rail. but across the
country il was a distance ~ only fifty
miles of go1d roads The Graysons
had resided IN this part of the state
only a compare lively short time and
this was consequently their first visit
to the family Of GRANDMOTHER Dents
sister for many years.
They were a hilarious party a they
drove along behind the handsome bays
IN the three->cated light wagon The
weather was IN one Of her most per
feet mouds of autumn musing Mother
Nature, Il would seem. leaned back in
her chair. smoking her pipe III the ir-
reverence NAV he parionedl and
dreamily gazing through the haze at
her peaceful haudiwOriS.
Toward night they reached an old
stone inn 70 which they had been d.
rected They were informed that only
two beds were at their disposal. a a
troupe Cf travelling singers had engaged f
several and yuung man. Just arrived.
smother Here the young man men
TONED. a frauk. manly fellow in ap-
Pcarance, came up and offered the half
of MS bed 10 either Donald Or Mr.. Gray
son
- viii sleep with the stranger Don I
AID said Mr. tiray son i could never (
rest with those two youngsters. You f
may take them in change and .s.is will .
leave bed for vour mother and grand /
mother
ne TEX morning il was ascertained 4
til5t tbs young strauger-James Grant 4
H.