The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-22
A Point of Knucklin Down
ByELLA HIGGIKSON.
By E L L H | G 6 ] N ) U

+ turn her out, anyhow. I only told CT
VILE this house wa'n't big enough Ter
els mother an me, an that neither o
Us 'ud knuclke down. SO he'd pest take
his choice. You'd ought 10 talk!
well, if l egged you on, I'm sorry LEI
L" said Mrs. Endey, solemnly. Ever
eence that fit O. sickness / had a month
ago. I've felt kind o. old an no-account
myself, as if Id like to let all holts 90
and jest rest. l don't spunk up like /
dst 10. No, he didn't 90 to PetersonG-
he's GAVIN right on. My land. | wonder
T it amt old Gran'ma Eliot; she had a
bad speIl-no, he didn't turn that corner.
[ can't think where's he's goin to-?
She sat down with a sigh OF defeat.
A smile glimmed palely across Emar-
ire's face, and was gone. Maybe II you q
20 up in the attic you could see better,
she suggested, dryly.
oh. Emarine, here comes old Gran'1n&
Eliot herself, Run an pen the door Ter
her. She's limpin' Worse'n usual.
Emarine flew to the door. Grandma
Eliot was one of the few people she
loved. She was large and motherly. She
wore a black dress and shawl and q funny
bonnet with a frill of white lace around
her brow. Emarine's face softened when
she kissed her. I'm SO glad to see you,
she said, and her voice was tender.
change. Usually it wore a look OF doubt.
if not of positive suspicion, but now 1t
fairly beamed. She shook hands cordially
with the guest and led her to a comtorta-
ble chair.
~ know your rheumatic is worse" she
said cheerfully' because you're
limpin' so. Oh. did you see the under
taker go up by here? We can't think
where's he goin' TO. D. you happen to
know"
mo, l don't, an l don't want to,
NEITHER" Mrs. Eliot laughed comfortably.
Mis- Endey, you don't ketch me foolin'
with undertakers till / have to- She sat
down, and removed her black cotton
gloves. I'm gettin' to that age when |
don't care much where un~dertakers go
10 50 longs they let me alone. Fixi1'
fer Christmas dinner, Emarine. Gear?"
Yes, ma'am,' said Emarine III her
very g~entlest tone. Her mother had never
said dear" to her. and the sound OF it
on this old lsdy's lips was sweet. Wont
you come an take dinner with us?'
The old lady laughed merrily. cob,
dearie me, dearie me! You don't guess
my sons folks could spare me now, 10
you? l spend ev'ry Christmas there.
They most carry me on two chips. My
sons Wife Sidonie, she nearly runs her
feet off waitin' on me. She can't do
enough fer me. My! Mrs. Endey, you
don't know what a comfort a daughter
in-law is when you set old an feeble!'
Emarine's face turned red. She went to
the table and stood with her back to the
older women; but her mothers sharp
eyes observed that her ears grew scarlet.
can 1 never will said Mrs. Endey
grimly.
you've got a son-in-law, though, who's
worth a whole townful of most sons-in-
law. He was such a good son, too. Jest
~Worshipped his mother; couldn't bear her
out O. his sight. He humored her high
and low. That's jest the way Sidonic
does with me. I'm getting cranky's l
get older, an sometimes I'm reel cross
an sassy to her; but she jest laffs at
me an then comes an kisses me, an I'm
all right again. It's a blessin' right from
God to have a daughter-in-law like that"
The. knife IN Emarine's hand slipped.
and she uttered a little cry.
"Hurt you?" demanded her mother,
sternly.
Emarine was silent, and did not turn.
ecu you, Emarine? Why don't you
answer me? Aigh?" =
"a "little,'' said Emarine. She went into
the pantry and presently returned with
q narrow strip of muslin, which she
wound around her finger.
well, l never see. You never will
learn any gumption. Why, don't you
iook what you're about. Now go round
Christmas with your finger all tied W.
ooh, thatll be al right by tomorrow"
said Mrs. Eliot, chcerfully. "WCnt t.
Emarine? Never cry over split milk,
rIrc I'n5nu. II y, oIoc n hCivy cO+ ,,ri,l-no-
too fast. O. course. Orville's mothers
ccnin' to take dinner with you, Ena-
rine?"
Dear mel" exclaimed Emarine, in a
sudden futter. Il don't see why them
cranberries don't come. | told Orville
to hurry EN- up. I'd best make the
ftoatin' island While ] watt
Il stopped at Orville's mothers as l
came along, Emarine.'
"HoW?" Emarine turned In a startled
way from the table.
Il say I stopped at Orville's mothers
as 1 came along"
OH
"She well?" asked Mrs. Endey.
mo, she amt. Shakin' like she had
the ST. Vitus dance. She's failed horri-
bic lately. She'd ben crying. Her eyes
was all swelled up"
There was quite a silence. Then Mrs.
Endey said: What she ben cryin'
about?"
why, when I asked her she jest LATED
kind of pitiful, an said: 'Oh, only my
tomfooiishness, O. course. She said she
always got to thinkin' about other Christ
masses. But | cheered her up. / told her
what a good time I always had at my
sons, an how Sidonie jest couldn't do
enough for me. An [ told her to think
what a nice time she'd have here t Ema-
rine's tomorrow"
Mrs Endey smiled. "What she say to
that?"
"She didn't say much. l could see
she was thankful, though, she had a sons
TO go to. She said she pitied all poor
Wretches that had set out their Christmas
alone. Poor old lady, she amt got much
srunk left. She's all broke down. But /
cheered her up some. Sech i Wishfl,l
look took holt O. her when l pictured
her dinner over here at Emarine's. 1
can't seem to forget it. Goodness, l must
! m I'm m NV yynJ 10 SiI@,;1,.Z 49, ~