The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-08-12
Farewell to the DobSOns.
By MAY ROBERTS CLARK.
TN EVERY community, no matter how


morality, but is due, almost entirely, to
the general shiftlcLsness of the neglect
ed family. Often the judgment of the
neighborhood is just, but it is not al
ways so.
Mrs. Dobson once said, bitterly:
How 90 they know? We never had
any chance here in Nebraska. We were
as good as the best where we come
from, and Pm sure I've worked hard
enough TO be somebody; but what can
a woman do with seven children, and a
man as lazy as the Platte rivcr?"
Mr.. Dobson looked up with a good
ratured grin, but said nothing. APP
parcntly be took no more notice of his
wife, VINO went eff to spread her meager
washing on the gum weeds. He tilted
his rude chair back against the trunk
Of a giant cottonwood, and looked over
the landscape with lazy enjoyment
From his position he could see down
long vistas of dark, shining, blue-green
corn stalks and beyond them the Platte.
"Abner,' called his wife, plaintively,
''iust look at me. l reckon Mrs. Bar
we have. She don't get pricked to
pieces when she goes to spread her
washing. / do wish you'd" but she
stopped hopelessly.
mis- Barnard don't have to spread
her washing" corrected Abner, dog
gedly; she's got yards and yards of
clothesline and pins and baskets and Il
machine"
Melvina Dobson glanced at her hus-
band anxiously. Never before had he
seemed uneasy or envious. 81 reckon
Mis- Barnard has her drawbacks" she
admitted, generously.
yes" answered her husband, mood
lily, ''and Barnard amt no more willing
than I'd be if | was him. His paw left
him money, and mine didn't. l know
one thing, though, if I was Barnard,
Mis- Barnard wouldn't wash, if she did
have a machine. I'd sell the pigs first"
Melvina looked at him gratefully. 81
know it, Abner," she answered, sooth-
ingly, "you always have been good to
me. If there amt money enough for
both, you always want me to have it.
L reckon faint your fault that we are
so poor; I don't care for myself, but the
children"
She broke off suddenly, and went in
to get the scanty dinner. Abner took
down his rusty hoe and passed reluc-
family into the neglected potato patch.
He was working with great delibera-
ton when his half-grown daughter
passed. without speaking.
"Sallie!" he called.
The girl seemed not to hear him. She
held her head with an air of offended
dignity, and looked neither to the right
nor to the left. A second call from her
father brought her to a defiant pause
Il say he called, lazily, what ails
you? Have done anything?'
Reckon not" she answered, sullenlv
and your NAV don't seem natural.
Is she ailing?"
The girl looked him full in the face.
and her eyes were not pleasant. ooh.
maw," she answered, sharply, "why
nav is kind of worm out with church
seclals and things, nav is. It's most
made her sick, sewing on her new silk
dress, and doing up her hair. And now
there's the party at Sansen's."
"Sansen's?"
Yes, when they move into the new
house. Everybody has been asked, even
Mis- Jenkins, 'cepting maw Nav has
such fine clothes and is so stuck up. that
she wasn't bid"
ADner turned the hoe in his hands,
ana watched potato bug travel calmly
from one hill to another Something in
his attitude touched the child Sudden
ly she lost her look of defiance. and
said. brokenly:
Nav couldn't go, anyway, she's cot
ho'hIn' to wear. Her old gray dress
turned yellow in the sun wears ago.
Mrs. Barnard gave me some dive for
Easter eggs. and when I heard abouf
oansen's party, | thought I'd color
maws dress and have it ready"
a tragic silence followed. Abner
looked up questioningly.
she can't wear it no moren an
Swered the girl, unsteadily: sit turned
Drown and green, and went all snotted
and speckIed."
for minute the silence was heavy.
then Abner said, gently: ''Never mind
same; I'm real proud of you for trying.
Now you run along and help your nav.
You're a good girl, Sallie.''
Inc enid went back to the shabbv
sod house with smiling eyes, and left
her father tc his own devices. Fro,
the force OF long habit he sat down to
cultivate his thoughts, while the buos
and the weeds waNed strong among the
potatoes. What he thought to-day was
something new and strange, and not
agreeable. Often his mind reverted f.
the coming party.
when the company finally assembled
at the Sansens' they repaid Abner Dob
son for his speculations by freely and
frankly discussing him and his.
"Oh, folks like the Dobsons don't
care insisted Mrs. Samson: "they could
get ahead if they wanted to. Sansen
ana me didn't have anything but a mort
gage when we started, and now look at
the farm and its improvements"
The rest of us amt far behind"
laughed Mrs. Early. "Only IA years ago
we drove into the state with = span of
horses, a wagonlo.ad of furniture and
two dollars
we are all better off," suggested
somebody else, than our folks we left
behind
Except the Dobsons," corrected Mrs.
Sansen.
why are they so far behind?" asked
Mrs. Barnard. in the tone of a new