Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-06-24

| Then there came floating in from the
adjoining room sweet strains OF music
"a mingIing of sweet young voices
with the vibrations Of the piano, and it
| soothed and rested him Then he
looked at Smith with his jolly, broad
face and his beaming smile, and he en-
We'd him. Simon could not but contrast
the surroundings-the air of sweet con-
tent and peaceful quiet-with his OWE
life.
did you lose anything by the Her
ringtons?" Slime asked.
Not a cent Smith replied, though
1 might if I'd had the money to lend.
AS it was, used all had TO spare from
the farm in repairing and furnishing
the house. hear you lost quite sum,
and you have my sympathy"
II dom want no sympathy" Simon
said. I've been er fool all my life, an
now I've come to my senses, an dunno
if it hain't a good thing fer US that the
money is gone. Some people won't
never learn norhin' 'thout payin' well
fer it, an I'm one O. that kind"
Shrimp returned home more cheerful
than he had been for years, and Mrs.
Shrimp wondered at it, but Shrimp kept
his own counsel and said nothing.
The next morning early he hitched the
horses to the big lumber wagon and
drove off TO town, but before leaving he
came and put his arms around his wife
and kissed her-something he hadn't
done for so long that it startled her,
and the tears came to her eyes.
Il pears to be mighty light-hearted,"
Simon unused as he logged along the
lanes, up hill and down. Il hain't felt
so happy for years, an 1 reckon some
other folks II feel lifted up tonight
when l git back"
For hours old Slime poked around
among the stores in the city, and some
how everybody looked happier and
lighter-bearted than he had ever seen
them.
Looks like the ole world is gittin'
brighter, some way" Simon unused, as
he drove homeward in the cool of the
evening. Il never see the sun shine so
bright, an even the little brook down in
the edge of the woods sings merrily
long its way. 1 never noticed that
afore"
1t was getting dark when Simon
drove up over the last hill on his return
home. Mrs. Shrimp and the girls were
out at the gate watching for him, and
when at last they heard the rumble of
the wagon, and looked up the road.
they saw that a great box filed the
wagon bed.
Wonder what Shines been er buy.
in'?' the mother said.
Looks like big box" one of the
girls replied.
Yes, know, but there must be some
thing in it,
'Oh, l reckon it's just to put the
wheat in when he threshes. 1 heard
him say he would need ONE
Hi, Their" Shrimp shouted. "Clar
outten the road an open Their gate thar.
l gotter drive inside with this ere box.
Here, you boys, fly erroun', you ras-
Gals, an help ter git this out" And
Shrimp tried his best to appear as sour
and cross as possible. but made a miser-
able failure of the effort
What have you got, Sime?' the wife
asked.
''Nuther box fer ther wheat. Jest
Their thing 1 need"
Feels mighty heavy" one of the boys
remarked, after lifting at an end of it.
Must be something in it,
Simon was unable to hold back the
smiles any longer, for his happiness
kept bubbling up, and refused to be
kept down.
Its pianer," the boy shouted. Its |
a pianer!"
And it was piano, as they soon dis |
covered when the great box was rolled |
ont and opened. For moment they all |
stood about speeches., motionless. |
while Simon watched them, a smile |
playing about his features. Then one |
by one they came and kissed him-the |
good patient wife and the uncomplain- |
ing daughters, and Simon was so happy |
that he actually cried.
''Ther is more things" Simon said at |
last.
And a search revealed a newScarpet /
for the best room, and some dress pat
terms, and some clothing for the bows.
How did you come to do it. Sirne?"
the wife asked as they were retiring
that night.
Wall, Liza, it wuz them Herringtons
an what l seed yistidy. I've been
ponderin' over matters, an concluded
I've done enuff for Bob Herrington's
folks, an it wus time to do somethin'
fer my own family. So l determint
ter turn over er new leaf, an frum
this on I'm in fer enjoyin' some NV
what we earn, Std o lettin' other peo-
pie hev it all, while you an Their chill
dren work an slave and git nothin'.
I've found power of happiness in that
pianer, LiZa-mor'n I ever found in all
the Ian l ever bought. an it hain't
nigh over yit.'-Woman's Journal.