Holbrook argus., 1900-09-01
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low her, on the steps, was a young
man whose shoulders were straight and
broad, and whose locks were not gray.
But his eyes were brown like the wo-
mans and the line of his lips was mod
eled from the older feminine ones.
Come, mother, 1 must look about the
old place and you must go with me. 1t
seems only yesterday, L lettings
look so natural. Here's the corn foot
high-just as twas when 1 went away
the cherries tempting the robins just
the same, and the clover smelling like
honey. Come along, mother, now do!
1 want to see the spring house and the
hen coops. Like as lot they need some
carpentering, though twas only yes
terday, it seems like, they were good
enough"
Yielding to her sons persuasion, and
the delight Of his return after many
years absence, the old woman descend
ed the steps and walked by his side out
through the barnyard into lane lead
ing to the pasture
Seems like l ought to stay in and
fix the fire for supper, David. Now
got you home again, l feel as though
I'd kinder like to get a meal. You al
ways made it worth my while to cook,
David. Are you still partial to fried
chicken and corn bread?"
"AmI 1? Do 1 look as though I'd pass
by on the other side?"
The pair laughed with the harmless
happy appreciation of a homely joke.
"Now here's the old board between
the tulip poplars, by jung! Let's sit
here, mother, and smell the hay.
want to hear all about your life while
was gone"
Slanting shadows fell over the
ster mounds in a corner, and through
the June air came the fresh, clean
scent of blooming elder. The old wo-
man began:
"After you went west to seek your
fortune, was the forlornest woman in
these parts. Father, he just moped,
too, and how those first lonely days
dragged can't say. Everything seem
ed to NOPE, too. The hay was spoiled,
the rust got into the wheat, and that
year father had to put the first mort
gage on the farm. Along about Christ
mas time 1 was as near discouraged as
could be; 1 just pinned for you, David.
That's the time Ellie Martins parents
died, and the child had to be sent to
the poorhouse. Never'n 1 forget the
morning that little girl came a-running
into my kitchen:
"'Oh, Mis- Allen she said, let me
stay here with you. Don't let 'em take
me to the poorhouse?
"And the tears were running down
her cheeks. She took hold of my
apron and wiped her eyes with it, and
looked at me so pitiful- like 1 just
couldn't keep from crying myself.
"I'n be just as useful she said. 4
can skim milk, and feed the chickens
and, oh, lots of things
81 stood stock still there a minute
thinking how hard times were, and
now the cows were sickening, and the
chickens, too, for that matter. Then
1 looked at that orphan, and thinks
What if that was my David? Father
sat by the stove, and says he, 'Motheri
We looked at each other and then ]
took Ellie by the hand and says: Stay
right here, Ellie; 1 guess we can man
age The little thing was that happy
she Just hung on to me the rest of the
day, and we hadn't any more tears
from her till she went to Kansas las
| year."
did you miss her much?" asked
David.
Miss her? Well. since she left
| seems like father and me had grown
old. 1 guess you couldn't understand
what kind of a girl Ellie grew up t.
be. Why, she was the busiest, hap
| piest child 1 ever saw. We never hat
cause to be sorry for keeping her gu
| Of the poor house. Father and 1 go
| to feel she was our own, and it wen
long ways toward filling up that gaI
you left. And prettyl How that plain
| little black-haired thing did blossom
| Pity you never saw her, David
| Him." said David. 1--WE seen SOM
mighty pretty girls out west"
"But not as pretty as our Ellie, sure
| 0u6 " CO1lC oOlllG
| You know how she came to CO."
''Tell me that" said David. h,
leaned lazily back against the popla
and surveyed his mother.
| ''Well, you know her fathers broth
er, who disappeared so many year
| ago? Well, he turned up and took tn
greatest kind of fancy to Ellie. H
had a family out in Kansas, and moth
ing would do but Ellie must make then
visit. She was set against it, ant
wouldn't hear tc leaving father ant
me. Harvest time was coming on ant
all the extra fall work. She shook he
head every time going away wa
mentioned, but noticed how keen sh
was to hear all the interesting storie
her Uncle Reuben had to tell. Ono
1 heard her sigh and say: 1T must b
grand to see the world That settle,
pe. l just made up my mind she'd go
: to go. 1 wasn't going to stand in tn
way when she had the chance to Sc
SQmetpS outside orr COW nasture"