The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-01-21

IudD, tCO. EG dShtu- NA-~
who could work lots better than me-
mo, haven't work for7wo'hands."
The eager countenanoe fell.
81 thought maybe you would" and
Bob began to Climb over the fence de-
jectedIy. 1--WE wouldn't ask much
wages, AN we'd work like anything"
''Is he some of your folks?"
"My dad"
"U'm. Well. there'll be no trouble
about work, guess. Good hands are
scarce, an your father could git plenty
to do in the neighbour cod. Perkins
hires help, an so does Brown an
Thompson. I've got an elh here that
I'll rent to you cheap, an yoC. : move
in any time you like an SC 10 work.
I'll keep youstiddy be mis- ) glad
to Git rid of onion weedin'," grimly.
But pob's face did not brighten as he
expected.
81 don't b'leve dad would come, 'cept
he was sure of gettin' work" he said.
eve went cut in the country last
summer an tried lots of farms. but
nobody would hire him. n.Gd said he
wouldn't try again." Then, il answer
to lock of incredibly. he added, with
a sudden flush comirg into his face:
"You see, IFS just this way. Dads the
best man in the world, an he's 4 sp,en
did worker but he's that easy like an
pleasant he won't say no to robcGy.
He didn't drink any fore motherhood.
an he often goes weeks without il row
he did when [ was sick last summer.
Him an me is all there is. an some
times he tries to give it up Cn my
count; but most folks like him, an
there's ten whisky shops in sight Of our
door. 'Tain't easy for 4 man to go past
al! of 'em. Dad says he just can't do it.
If we lived way off in the country there
might be some show"
IF he only drinks now an ag'in,"
said the old man. reflectiyely, ''it seems
sort of strange that he, can't git work
nowhere. | know a good many hired
men who drink little"
Bob flushed and looked EN- barrassed.
''You see, he-he can't stop when he
once gets started" he explained; hes
so awful easy an'-an' good-natured."
"Um! Drunk most Of the time eh 2"
Bob remained silent, but shuflled his
feet uneasily along the rails.
''No, I don't want him. said the
old man, decidedly; 81 amt reformin'
drunkards."
HE amt no drunkard!" cried Bob.
fiercely. Hes easy; an we've lived al
ways among rumshops. He smells
whisky just as soon as be steps on the
street, an there's plenty of men to give
him drink. He can't stop, but | tel
you he amt no drunkard. He amt, he
amt! he amt! guess l know, for Tn
most always with him. I sit up with
him nj ghts, an | foller him when he goes
out. | wouldn't be here now, only he
went off with a lot of men for two
weeks, an 1 couldn't go long. [
thought maybe there'd be chance for
us out here; an / worked for you just
as hard as ever could, an hoped you'd
be willin' to help me- give him a show
He amt no drunkard, an he don't use
no swear talk, an he don't fight. He
never struck me in all my iife-not once.
Even if he does drink he's good man,
an he amt no drunkard--n0, not if
nobody in all the world will hire him."
Farmer Brownlee's face had lost its
severity during this explosion. Now he
laid his hand detainingly upon the boys
arm.
mo, I don't believe your pa is all
bad" he said, gravely; can maybe I
T -
over tonight, an you come round
again in the mornin'. / once had
brother who must a-been some like
your pa; but that's long time ago.
Well, goodnight
Bob watched him until he was lost in
the shadows, then he slipped down from
the fence, and went across toward the
Perkins farmhouse.
In the morning he was back again
long before Farmer Brownlee was astir.
When the old man appeared he was ex-
aiming the beets and carrots.
HIN! more weedin' for YOU"
chuckled the old man, as he approached.
We'll, about your pa. How'd you like
to farm it little for yourselves?''
Bob looked at him wonderingly.
How can we?" he asked; 1--WE amt
got no land"
I'll fix that. I can't hire you an
your pa both, but I've lots of idle land.
l can let you have that house an about
10 acres round it for almost nothin':
an you can work the rent out. III hire
you all the time, or both you an your
pa part of the time, an you'll be able to
git considerable work among the neigh
bors. Spare days you can work your
own land. If you're careful, as 1 b'lieve
you will be. you can lay up money. An
as for your pa, there amt liquor shop
in nine miles. Does that suit?''
Bob did not answer; but the look on
his face made the old mans eyes twin
kle, then suddenly grow misty
"U'm!" he said, as he turned awav.
abruptly, 's'pose we go over an look
at the house; then you can 90 to the
Perkinses an tell 'em you're goin' to
stay with me after this. When it's
time for your pa to git back you can go
to the city an bring him DOWN.. Y.
Independent.
Ten thousand live oysters formed
the queer cargo recently delivered from
a Sn1DiSh SchOopor. 70 +1,o or1o .