The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-06-05
@:@-@:@.@.@:@:@.@:@
q Father Harlan's @
gT Notions. ~
8 BY Mary Morrison. g
@.@:@.@.@:@.@.@


ffVES, I'm goin'. I've made up my
mind" Father Harlan looked
up into his daughter-in-law's face
o~bstinately. you'll have to hire
somebody to weed out the beets and
the pa'snips. It'll cost you a little
something" A shade of subtlety
blended in with the obstinacy.
81 amt seen Abby in 20 years" he
went on. "She is a good cook and a
good housekeeper. Abby always
made a new rag carpet for the sitting.
room every other year: she never let
nothing go to waste" He looked
critically over his spectacles at the
rag carpet on the floor. 1t was one
Nancy had made. He had always
made it a personal grievance that
Johns wife did not feel equal to rag
carpets.
Sarah Harlan sighed. When Father
Harlan made up his mind it was just
as well to acquiesce peaceably, but
her heart misgaye her when she
thought of the long wait in Milwau-
kee after the boat got in, and the
change of cars in Duluth, and Father
Harlan had never been so miles out
Of Dumfries in his life.
cit was high time he had, them" he
told her. Nice thing for you to
think of after I'm gone and you and
John is enjoyin' the fruits of my
labor-to think you've kept me
cooped up here year after year a-pur-
pose to tend the garden and milk the
cows and do chores when L might
phave gone out and seen a little Of the
world. I shouldn't wonder if I made
up my mind to stay to Abby's. She
makes good tea-not dishwater,"
he added, ~beligerantly, when she
yentured to voice her fears.
After that she made no objections;
but she did not allow Father Harlan's
criticisms to disturb her peace of
mind. She went on frying the pota-
toes for supper and brewing the tea,
which the doctor had cautioned
Father Harlan against using strong.
She and John liked strong tea, too,
but they had been willing to forego
their preferences in view of the doc.
tors advice. Father Harlan was past
60. It vas a pleasure to care for
him, yet she wished sometimes that
he could realize this better. That
night when John came home, she
went out to the barn where he was
taking care of the team.
"Father has made up his mind to
go and see his sister Abby in Wis
consin at last, john" she said.
"After all we urged him three years
ago, he's just took a notion to go, eho
And he said he wouldn't stay away
over night for the whole state of
Wisconsin. That's just like father
SWELL, he seems to be real set about
it now. l wouldn't say anything to
discourage him, if I was you. He will
think we begrudge him the time or
the money or something. Father
seems sort Of childish lately"
mo, W. won't discourage, him now
he's got in the notion of it. He might
have gone long ago if he had only
thought so. I'm afraid he'll feel u
little strange when he really gets
started, though"
The anxious lines on Sarah's face
deepened perceptibly at this remark.
You don't suppose there is really
any danger of his getting lost, or
anything?" she asked.
John laughed. Gather get lost! I
couldn't imagine such a thing" he
said.
.sWell, I'll write to Aunt Abby to-
morrow, so she will come to meet
him. Perhaps she will getsas far as
Duluth" But she did not write, for
Father Harlan insisted upon starting
the next day.
mo use in dilly-dallying, now I've
made up my mind" he told her.
Might get off the notion. Il s'pose you
think, if I waited a few days." and
Sarah put up the pen with an injured
look. "AbbyM see me when I get
there, and if she don't know me, FIJI
tell her who / be. 1 guess I shan't
need no credentials along to identify
me-.
Nevertheless Sarah surreptitiously
tucked card in the breast pocket Of
his black broadcloth coat with his
name and address on it, when she
brushed it and pressed it. They'll
know where to send him if anything
does happen" she thought.
His notion lasted until he had
said good7by n John and Sarah and
stepped onSboard the cars at the
station. He sat down by the window
md watched them unite the horses