The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-29
What He Forgot.
Mary E. BAN ford.

Mary e. BAN ford.
II did think that Oscar might offer
to 60 for that yeast-cake," stated Mrs.
Hi chcock.
She and her daughter Alice were
walking home together In the moon
light. They had been visiting q neigh
bor, and, on their rising to 60, about
half-past eight o'clock, the neighbor,
Mrs. Knapp, said:
"You wait a minute, and I'll walk
, down with you. I've got to have a
yeast cake tonight"
Her son Oscar, young man, was
sitting by the table, comfortably read
ing the evening paper.
"You're going down this time OF
night to get a yeast.cake =" commented
Oscar In a seornful tone. "You'll find
the store shut"
"No," returned his mother, going
into the next room for her shawl, mot
yet" ., .,
"Yes, you WILL" insisted Oscar" II
hope you will Serves you just right
for going down as late as this for q
yeast cake!"
"I've got to have It," replied his
mother, patiently. ~ must wet up
some sponge to night and bake bread
Tomorrow. We are almost out OF
bread"
"The store'll be Shut" repeated o.
car. q,
IT know that the grocery stores are"
explained his mother, pinning her
sha vi, "but the fruit store where get
our Yeast. cakes won't be shut. It al
ways stays open till nine o'clock, or
after"
"Ohw returned Oscar.
He sat there comfortably with his
paper, and let his mother 60 on the
errand. He was used to letting his
mother do all such things. She could
remember when 1t was such rest,
sometimes, to have little boy to run
errands for mamma" but someway
Oscar never offered nowadays, and
Mrs. Knapp did not want to ask him.
She was not sure but he might refuse,
and she would rather 60 on any num-
Der of errands than have him do that.
The fruit store was open, as Mrs.
Knapp had said it would he, and she
got her yeast-cake, and Mrs. Hitch
cock and Alice walked part of the way
back with their neighbor. But after
they had said ''good night" to Mrs.
Knapp. and had separated from her.
Mrs. Hitchcock made that remark
about thinking that Oscar might have
offered to go for that yeast-cake.
"He ought to" agreed Alice; II
isn't fair, the way Mrs. Knapp has to
do everything. Don't you know how
she came into our house the other day
with that butter? She said they had
to have 1t for dinner, and she had t0
20 down. And she did look 30 tired ~
"She works too hard" returned Mrs.
Hitchcock. "Now, I know she was
all tired out washing to-day, and to-
morrow she's got to iron and bake.
She ought not to have had to 60 down
for that yeast cake. I suppose Oscars
got 90 old she doesn't like to ask him
to do errands."
"Well, he isn't as old as she Ia, and
he ought to think about her being
tired w charged Alice, Indignantly.
"He's strong and we'll. Don't you
know you asked him the other day II
he didn't get tired Sundays, having to
walk 30 much, being one Of the ushers
In that big church, walking 80 contin-
ually to seat people? And he said be
didn't mind It at all. He wouldn't
have had to walk bit more than
if he'd gone down to get yeast'cake
tonight ~
Meantime Mrs. Knapp was hurrying
home alone. She FASTENED in at the
gate, went around to the kitchen,
Soaked the yeast-cake, sifted her -four
made up the bread to rise over night
put molding. board over the pan, and
drew tired sigh as she looked around
the room.
"I do believe I'm through at last"
she sighed.
Her eyes were on the great pile of
clothes folded and ready for tomorroW's
ironing.
But to-morrow's work was not to-
davis. She took her lamp and turned
toward the dining-room. As she did
go, she saw, by the little kitchen clock,
that it was half.past nine.
"Mother p called Oscar from the
dining-roOm.
"What is it9" asked Mrs. Knapp,
wearily.
"Have you made that case for my
slide-trombone yet?' asked oscar.
mo, I haven't had time" answered
his mother.
"Well, can't you do it tonight ?"
questioned Oscar, with little impa'
thence in his voice. "I'm going to or
chestra rehearsal tomorrow evening,
and I want something to carry that
trombone in."
Mrs. Knapp hesitated. She was so
tired! But what time would there be
tomorrow to make that case?
"Well," she answered.
Oscar did not notice how tired the
voice was. He watched his mother 20
to clothes closet and get some green
cloth for the case, and he directed her
about cutting it out and sewing IL.
He was very particular about the LOOKS
OF the case, and Mrs. Knapp had to DO
some of the work second time be-
fore he was satisfied. At least, how
ever, the case was finished.
II guess that will do," said Oscar.
He took the case and small lamp,
and ran up stairs to his own room.
Mrs. Knapp turned and looked at
the mantle CLOCK. 1t pointed to elev-
en-.
She was alone. Upstairs she could
hear Oscar moving around in his room.
He would not come down again to-
night. His father, tired with the days
work, had gone to bed long before.
Mrs. Knapp put her head down on
the table. A few slow tears cropped
on her hands.