The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-09-20
The Lost :.
HOmeStead.|

~ GORGE tn0ugnL dL uLob HO
would tell her as soon as he
\ 1T reached home, but when ne
~ came to the house he drove on
to the barn. He would put up the
team and do the chores first The
team was embarrassed and fed, all the
chores were done, but still he did not
20 to the house. He got hammer
and mended the gate, he put another
round Of rails on the pig pen, he |
shucked corn for the morning feed' |
and then he got the hammer again |
and hammered awhile-a long while
at the barn door.
He turned to the house at last, walk
ing slowly, as one very weary. lie
went into the sitting room, already
dark with the shadow of the coming
night. His wife was busy with prep
arations for supper, and singing as
she worked. He fumbled around the
mantel until she called
George, what are you lookin' forF
and started to bring the lamp
"Nothin'," he answered hurriedly'
and went out through the kitchen
door and carried in an armful of wood,
then took the bucket, already full OF
water, threw it out and filled it again
Then he dropped into a chair by the
kitchen door and rested his chin III
his hands.
..Whats the matter, George? Are
you sick?" asked his wife.
"Nothin'," was his reply. "MollieF'
ne said directly.
She set down her pan and came over
and stood by his chair.
"What, George?
"This place amt ourn," he answered
slowly
'Not ourn?"
@No. When I went to prove up the
said my claim had never been put IN
and the land had been sold severa
months. Guess the mans been waitiI
for me to get the crop nearly mad
before he makes us git out"
Mollie went back to her work witt
out a word. She kept her face turne
from him as she busted herself wit
the supper.
They both tried to eat, but faile
He left the table first, and went ar
sat down on the door step. She trit
for a time to clear the table, but foul
she was only carrying the dishes
the kitchen then back to the tai
again. She left them and went a
sat down beside her husband. Meth
smoke. The baby was asleep and t
house was very still. She slipped b
hand through his arm. At her tou
his head dropped little lower, but
spoke no word.
The last light of day had died
the tops of the Ozark's highest hi
The moonlight came. From the 1
est crest Of the mountain to the W
It crept down until 1t touched the d
step. and then fell upon the grove
wild plum trees that grew along
branch Of the valley field Now
lighted up, the whole valley, and
soft south wind of May brought
Derfume Of the growing corn,
they sat In silence.
1t had been five years since
came in the joy of their simple hol
moon to the little cabin George
built In the wild forest 1t was
eminent land, and he thought he
homesteaded it. Five years Of b
est toll and care followed. Now t
was an open field of eighty acre
vo1ng orchard, barns and a neat,
Portable cottage 1t was their h
and a good home they had made It.
"How plain you can smell the c.
Nollie said at last
"Such good corn" he said brok
sand forty acres Of It."
George" she said quite ca
"we are young yet; we cleared
farm and built this house; we ca
1t again"
He only shook his head. Her
brought no comfort to him. lie
thinking of the five years Of ceai
labor, the best years Of his
manhood, which could never
called
George. simple minded, good
Cd had always been the best ma
and most harmless fellow in the
During the days that followed
,, 7,,oroea and crabhed lie s.