The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1893-11-04
NEVER TOO LATE.
How the Old Folks Proved the
Adage True One.

the boys were willing to lift the mort
, wouldn't pay, they said-and the
father and mother would have to end
their days apart
Because" said Matilda, the young
est, sit wouldn't do for any one of us to
try to take care of them both together.
We've always had to live in the quarrel
and jangle ourselves, and to have the
example of 1t before our children would
be downright sin"
Jane. the older daughter, said moth
ing. but she thought to herself that if
her husband were worth as much as
Matilda's was she would take both par
ents to her home and risk the example
they might set for the third generation.
But ever since Matilda had first
lisped her voice had settled family mat
tiers, and so father was to go with Jane
to the city and mother to move over to
the great red-brick farmhouse which
was Matilda's home
Mother will be right handy about
the work." Matilda said to her hus band,
when he showed some inclination to
object. And there isn't better hand
in the country with children. We won't
lose anything"
So the September morning came
when the couple who had never parted
in fifty years bade each other fare
we'll, much as mere acquaintance
would have done.
Father dressed in his best clothes,
muttered ''Good-by' in defiant sort
of way and hobbled out to the spring
wagon, while Jane paused to kiss the
little old woman who sat looking out
of the window in an Indifferent way.
'Good-by, mother. I hope you will
be happy with Mat. Won't you come
to the door and see father off?"
COIL dunno as it's with WHILE" re-
turned the old, lady, and then Jane, too,
was gone
When she was sure the spring wagon
was out of sight Mrs. Paine put on her
bingham bonnet and walked over to
the cemetery just up the hill.
The graves where she paused were
not well tended--no engraved stones
marked their places and the grass was
cut away only enough to outline the
mounds. Two were small, those of in
fants; one was that of mans size, and |
they were all her children, two daugh-
tiers and one son. The son was her old |
est child and he would have been
forty-eight or forty-nine years old now.
He had died while studying for the
ministry. She had seven children liv-
ing, but in her times of trouble aud |
sorest trial she had always wandered
over to this sacred spot ever since it
was first made thirty years ago.
To-day she sat down in the sun-dried
grass and cried for some time.
SHE might a-said something more"
she sobbed to herself And then she
heard Matilda calling and hurried back
to the house.
The months passed slowly. At Christ
mas time there was some talk OF a re-
union, but the talk did not materiaiize
Letters came from Jane saying fa-
ther was tolerably contented, but missed
his loafng place at 1.-THE Corners"
He sent his regards to mother Jane
always added that of her own accord,
for father never sent any word to any
one. But when Matilda answered the
old mother always told her to inquire
after fathers health and to send her re-
spects.
1t was one warm day in March that
the little old lady's cup seemed full to
Matilda had gone to town.
and the children were unusually quar-
-elsome and boistrous- The grand
mother had reproved them mildly, and
1t last she spoke little sharply.
Brothers and sisters shouldn't ,,
wrangle the hull time! You ort to say
| decent word to one nuther onct in
awhile, anyways!" she said.
Lucy, the chief culprit, tossed her /. .
read disdainfully.
II guess you needn't to talk, grand !
nal Mamma says you and grandpa al
ways lived like cats and dogs"
"And you're livin' off papa, now, !
co." added George, emboldened by his
ister's example, and not particular as
0 whether his remarks were called for
T not :
Mrs. Paine sat very still for a mo-
lent Then bright red spot famed
n each cheek, and gathering up her !.
hitting she slowly went to her room =
pstairs.
Yes, it was true. But what had
aused it? They had married young q
nd Tor love only, for neither had any y
'orldly wealth. How had the trouble q
She could not remember =
yactly, but the children were the !
lain causes. The babies came fast and 81
he mother had to work hard. Sick u
ess and hard work do not sweeten a
oman's temper. The father was i'm Sc
itient and easily rebuffed- that was te
wv it commenced OF
Then the jarring eliminated in one
eat quarrel, when Henry, the oldest, Ell
as sent away to school. His father az
anted to hire him out when he was be
venteen, but the mother was ambi- Tn
'us and Henry had finished the course
the village academy with high hon
@ ex