The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-04-28

EepFOacnes, and a SAID all the sharp
things her indignation could suggest
or her tongue frame, he had listened
IN abashed silence and had put his
arms about her and said contritely,
It's all true, Lefty, and it's a pity
you ever tied yourself to such a poor
stick"
She remembered his unfailing kind
ness to his children, and how patient
and gentle he had been with little Joey,
who had been one of the most peevisd
of babies during the fist two years of
his life.
She remembered how Joel had cared
for the fretful child through many a
long and weary night, that her own
rest might be unbroken.
And when Lucy had the diptheria,
Joel would allow no one but himself to
care for her. He had even shut Lucy
out Of the sick-room, because her
throat was naturally sensitive, and he
would not allow her to subject herself
TO the cOutagjOn.
She remembered so many things she
had not taken into account when she
determined to leave Joel. She was not
Indifferent TO his comfort and she
thought Of, what a wretched time he
must be having trying to 80 for him
self"
She found, too, that her active, noisy
children disturbed her father. 1t had
been years since there had been a child
IN his home, and be was what some
people cali "lussy." Il annoyed him
10 see even a book out Of It's proper
place, while order was an unknown
quantity to his two harum-gcarum
grandchildren
There were times when their mother
almost loDged for the careless freedom
OF her " home, and she missed Joel's
CHEEKY laugh and his unfalling smile.
she wrote to Joel frequently, but his
replies were few and brief and he did
not even suggest her return to her own
nome.
AT the end of six weeks she an
nounced her intention of going to her
h,ms, and her father did not oppose
her He admitted frankly that the
children worried" him, and that he
was too old TO adapt himself TO this new
order Of things in his home.
Lefty c uld not tear her love for her
clildren's father from her heart. She
did not write to Joel of her intended
return. IT was but a ten minutes
walk from the railroad station to her
own home.
Sac half feared that Joel might for
Did her return If he knew OF 1t, and the
surprise would be all the more com
ple5e and delightful if he wanted her to
come back.
1t was about ten in the morning when
she reached the station near her own
home after an all night ride. Her home
was but half a mile from the station,
and she had walked hat the distance
With her children when she suddenly
met Joel face TO face at a sharp turn
In the road. 1t had been years since
she had seer him SO neatly dressed.
He had a new sarchei in his hand, and
MS fir85 words were:
why, L~tUy, I was on my way to
take the 10 IS train to fetch you
nome"
He knelt down in the dusty road
with an arm around each Of The child
rem, and kissed them with fearful
eyes.
I'm sorry I went away as I did,
Joel" said Lefty, quietly.
And I'm glad" said Joel. you'll
know why pretty soon"
He put his arm around her as they
walked homeward with the children
running on before them.
Another turn of the cad brought the
house into full view a few rods from
them.
Why, JOEL" said Lefty, in the ut
most surprise, for the house she saw
bore no resemblance to the house she
had left.
Behind a snowy white picket fence
stood a little cottage shining in it's new
coats of white and straw colored paint.
A broad piazza ran along the entire
front of the house, the ~dooryard was
ne Wy sodded, and all the unsightly
litter of years had been removed.
Under the old oak tree III the yard
was a new pump, to prove that Joel's
long intended" we'll had become a re
alIty.
The house had a new roof, and not a