The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-02
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Ms Higgins. don't see how you live
with no curb to that well: and you with
al these grandchildren runnin' round the
yard sh'd think you'd be crazy expectin
one Of EN- to fan in
Mrs. Higgins looked beyond the depart
ing caller on the step and regarded the
cufbsess well with mild solicitude on her
grandmotheriy couutenance. We'll. II has
worried me some" she admitted. Henry
has been meansn' tn fix IL this long time.
but he don't seem to get to II. 3 you say,
l get kinder world about the children,
specially Clay Ambrose so ventersome.
He seems bewftched 20 dip up water an
I've thought more'n once he'd toppie
over
fred with ambition at hearing this refer
ence to his dipping procilvitiss. imme-
diateiy seised q pail and ran to the well.
He nattened himself close to the edge upon
his little stomach. with his bare legs wav-
ing wildly In the air AZ aids to his valiant
efforts to dip up . pailfui Of water just
beyond his reach. Hts mother. wife TO the
her knees from side to side to quiet the
nerves OF her youngest born. who lay
stretched across her lap whimperinE over
q new tooth.
II tell mother she's foolish to worry
about the children az she does. I don't.
because I've told 'em time an agen they
mustn't 60 near the well
She smiled reassurinsly at the visitor
as she made this placid statement. and
her eye. wandering beyond. fell upon Clay
Ambrose's expressive legs
We'll. declare! Clay Ambrose! Clay
Ambrose. You come here this minute!
The times I've told tina, child to keep
away from that well. You want me to
come there an get your A desperate
struggle Of the legs was the reply, and
Clay Ambrose triumphantly assumed the
upright position and trotted hack to the
house with an overlooking pail.
HIS mother settled back in her chair
with restored placidity. HE scarf me
most to death. thought sure he was
goin' in that time. Don't you never go
near that well axen! You understand
Clay Ambrose nodded In token that he
comprehended. Here, gramma," he said.
and held up the pail OF water with both
hands.
Mrs. Peckham gathered up the reins and
c.ucked to the horse after she and Mrs
Dayton returned to the rafting wagon
and amid cordial Instructions to Come
agen soon. and Yes. we will. an you
must come an see u.s." they ratified away
II never saw such an easy-goin' critter
az that wife o. Henry's Is. Mess twas
Henry himself. Oh Mis- Higgins = the
only one IN that family that's cot one
spark OF real get up an get along. an she
amt any more idea Of COVER ment than
old tabby cat that alers would take care
OF her own kittens and the young cats
kittens. too. an let. both sets torment the
life out OF her" Mrs. Peckham handed
the reins to her companion and tucked
her green bonnet strings inside her dust
cloak secure from fading. before she as
scented.
We'll. It's largely Henry's bringin' up.
don't know as he oughter be blamed Alto
gether. But she always did do ev'ry thing
for him when he was boy. an let him
set round, and now he's grown UP an
has this greet family Of children on his
hans he don't seem RELY to know how
10 manage"
Miss Dayton slapped the reins on old
Whitey's back and hurried him around
the corner. then checked his progress
while she carefully spread . blue barege
veil over her bonnet and gathered the
corners under her chin. There! know
this bonnet's getting Just as full OF dust
as 1t can hold. and there won't be ray
OF color in II with the sun beatin' down
on II this way. But Florette makes such
fuss II I don't look JUS so when we're
out ridin' that don't dare put on veil
nor hardly buster. believe that
clouds gone round an we shan't have
shower after all. Get up. Whiteyi''
Whitley logged down the hill and into his
own door yard. where Miss Dayton's
brother. the man OF the family, was
tinkering q one-horse moving machine
Meanwhile Merwin. Mrs. Higgins older
grandson. gazing down the road after the
retreating caller. had been reused by n
bird-iike call apparently falling down out
Of the fieecy-fiecked blue above. He
hesitated not "A moment in locating IT,
His sister Melissa was perched In the
cherry tree over the wall and trilling
clearly as signal for him to Join her
In another moment ne was swinging
himself up TO the bough above her, where
he settled to her occupation of pulling
generous handfuls OF the ripened fruit
and slipping them out OF sight as quickly
as possible. Thus happily engaged he
entertained Melissa with an account Of
the afternoons social pleasures. She
nodded her head appreciatiyeiy az he
ended
II don't think that wells real safe my
self; one of the stones slants right down,
an it's drerul slippery when you sflash
water on it
''Sho"' grunted Merwin. with mascu.
line loftiness. II amt 'fraid"
Well. mebbe there amt for you per-
sisted Melissa. but some OF the chill
dreu'n be fallin In, sure's fate, an then
! shall have EN- to take care of. I wish
pad fix 1T
We'll, he won't yet awhile. cos he an
mas ko.n' up TO Pettipaug 70 Aunt
Loizy's tomorrow 10 stay two or three
days. / bet you anything they won't be
home for q week And Melissa did not
offer to take the bet.
II.
The next afternoon Grandma Higgins
stood in the door OF the strangely quiet
house and looked out for q Rrandchild.
Henry and his wife had ridden away In
the early morning with the baby In lap
and Clay Ambrose tucked down I'm front.
and Merwin and Melissa had been out
of sight 20 long that the silence began
In grew oppressive.
Il want 4 pail Of water. cid get 1t
myself = wells not, but I'm 'fraid them
children re up In that cherry tree.
hain't heard nothin Of EN- since dinner.
/ expec nothin' but they'll tumble out
one OF these days an break their bones
on that stun wall. guess I'd better go
an call en- She took the pail from
its shelf by the door and Amhled OF over
the lush June grass.
A little later Merwin and Melissa slip