The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-17

You snail not go NOME ii SAtP NHA W So
gregory Knox shook his lead slowly. :
And lose my job, little one? Then
who'd get the bread and butter? No.
no: I'm having my lark today with you.
I'm satisfied. We old fellows at the store
have TO stand by the ship while the
young bloods are having their outings.
It's the Law. Besides, q place like this.
nv dear. wouldn't DO tor me. Think OF
your ma. No. no; I'd rather go 10 the
trout brook at home and lie on the banks
and fish
Yes, Daddy. yes-go on Her eyes
were on his kindled old face, and his
were on a feck OF white sail in the OIL
ing. He began to speak again dreamily,
and to himself.
ia like to see Simeon, again, too. We
always went trdutin' together-he and
me-but | could haul in the most fish.
Every time-Sim warn't much OF an ang-
Ter. He'd lay with his eyes SHUT and
saw poems to ne. Poor Slm-thats
about all the poetry he ever had, or me.
either. 1t would e like revieWin q
poenl. though. jest to go back and lay
under the willows at home. Shady?
Wei, | guess. And cool? There amt q
cooler place anywhere, IN the neat 0
summer than on the bank Q that old
troutin' stream was-no, sir. And you
could near the Stluuy SOIS y AHe "dAtI
it never stopped and smell the pine
needles, he't Up with the sun in the mid
de o. the day. Smell good, did it? |
get 10 hankerin' after that smell, hot
DAYS behind my counter, among the
stockin's. Yes. sir, when the good Lord
gives ne a whole week off I'm goin'
home 10 go troutin' with my brother
Sim
He woke out Of his day dream q min
ute later, in time TO see Peggy skim
ming over the beach toward one OF the
looming hotels in the background Of the
sea. She had forgotten all about her
dip in the surf. She came back again,
by and by, with the paper bag of lunch.
and they ate it together in the lee of the
big boulder. Daddy was very gay and
| scarcely noticed Peggy's preoccupation.
She said goodby to him in midafternoon
and he waited alone for train time.
Ma" Peggy said, coming upon her
suddenly, with her novel, on the broad
hotel veranGah, MA, it's played out.
I'm going up home. I'm going tonight
this very tonight that ever is. 7 guess
daddy'll be glad to see me. and I've got
| enough of this place. I'm too young to
firt around with the girls, and I'm too
old TO dig in the sand with the babies.
That's what I'd like-to have a little
red pail and a shovel and dig. That's
living. But as long as | cant, | guess
I'll go home. I'm going upstairs now
and pack up
Ma folded down the corner of a leaf
to keep her place. She was used to
| Peggy's whims, and was un~astonished.
But Peggy, it's only half through
the month-there's two whole weeks
left" she said, slowly. In her heart
ma was relieved. Peggy's ways were
apt to be disconcerting, and she would
be safe and we'll with pa. She'd be
company for him too-poor pa!
Without any objection Peggy was al
lowed to put her things together and
go. When the train was we'll under
way she went ahead to daddy's ear to
| surprise him. He was sitting by himself
in the front of the car. The paper bag
of lunch remnants was in his hand, and
he was ~absently twisting and untwisting
it. Peggy saw the tragedy coming. She
got there just in time to see daddy re-
garding the torn bag in dismay, white
fragments of ham sandwiches oozed out
and dropped to the floor.
I'll pick EN- up-don't stoop, daddy"
she said, quietly.
Peggy Knox,' cried daddy.
Don't mention it-Sh, I'm travelling
incog," whispered Peggy. Then they
both laughed and settled comfortably
for the trip home. Peggy explained
rather ambiguously that she thought
she'd run up home for a day.
Take my day off, you know, daddy
she said, gayly. You won't mind hav-
ing me keep house for you a day, will
you? I can boil tea to perfection. and
III make you ~fritters for breakfast.
Then I can do some shopping between
times. If you're a very good old daddy
indeed, III buy my stockings of you,'
On the next morning but one Daddy
went down to Bruce's with a long face.
1t was the morning Peggy was going
! back to ma and the girls. He had taken
it for granted, and it filled him with
homesick misery. 1t had been so pleas
ant to have the child at home. She had
taken his lonely old heart by storm.
He hung UP his hat and began me-
chemically to s%traighten some CT the
boxes in one Of the tiers, behind the
counter. lie had not thought to say
good morning to old Adam, as usual. 1t
was Peggy-gay, little. harum-scarum
peggy-Daddy was thinking of.
. l say, Mr.. Knox, good day to you.
SIR" some one out in the aisle was say
ing. 1t was the boss. He leaned over
the counter and pulled his sleeve. I say.
Knox, you don t look pulled together yet.
You need another day off. Why not take
say, a fortnight, and go somewhere trout
Observation-Disclosures way, you know? Can
as well as not-don't say a word, Fact is.
I've made arrangements with somebody
to take your place and you've got to go.
Cant help yourself. Stay two weeks,
and-er- you needn't trouble about your
pay. Ihatll so right on, YOU know.
Might as we'll go today-why not?'
lie was gone before the astonished
little man behind the stocking counter
had recovered himself. Old Adam was
regarding him with a grin.
&C your walhin'-ticket, eh?" he
drawled. We'll, you deserve it. You