River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-01-22
A Mise r'S
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By Z. III c r . 8 ..

baTIME is money" was Aaron
Burch's pet motto. This par
ticular morning in late June, he ate
even more rapidly than usual, for
breakfast was ten minutes late and
that time must be made up.
His daughter, Hannah, watched
him furtively struggling for cour-
age to breach the subject she had
in mind. At last, as her father rose
from the table, she spoke.
Father, have you thought over
what / told you about Franks boy?'
Yes" grimly; 81 thought it all
over, and told the selectmen to take
him to the poorhouse."
Your grandchiId!"
Hes no graDdchild of mine; I dis
owned his father and | shan't adopt
the SON"
"Then / shall"
Hannah rose and faced her father
For a moment they confronted each
other in silence. Both were tall,
thin, angular, with long, narrow
cheek bones, and lips firmly COM
pressed; both faces were scanned
with lines engraved by toil-flled
days.
Aaron Burch's face filled 18th
establishment and anger. 'Wna-
what are you going to do with him?'
81 am going to take care of him"
"You shan't bring that child here!"
"Then l shall go where / can have
him At the hotel | can get good
-,
Hes nothing but a little hunch-
back cripple! Never'll be able to
earn his salt, and you'd waste money
to feed and clothc him! 'TwouId be
different if he'd ever be good for
anything"
lie is good for something now;
I'll take care Of him as long as I'm
able to work, and I'll love him all
the better because he's helpIess.''
Hannah Burch! OF all the foolish
talk Want a plaything, do you?
Look at this big farm, and money
out at interest. All going to be
yours some day. I'd like to know
what better playthings you want"
What do / care for your money!"
fiercely. 1T was your miserliness in
getting it that drove Frank from
home, and killed mother! And look
at me-only 27 years old, but look
so! See the wrinkles on my face,
my hollow cheeks and sunken eyes!
Look at my gray hair! Look at my
hands!" She held them up; the long,
lean fingers were large at the joints,
the palms calloused, and the skin
roughened by hard work. Look at
my clothes-patches on faded calico!
These are all | get for my hard
work, and you even begrudge me
the food l eat and the clothes /
wear"
But think of the property, Han
nah; you'll be the richest woman in
the county"
Il want frankie, now, and I'm GO
ing to have him, property or no
property"
Then 60" were the words that
trembled upon Aaron Burch's lips
but before they were spoken, he re-
membered that once she had left
him, and he had been obliged to pay
out his beloved dollars for help
that had wasted more and demand.
ed more in week than Hannah had
in year.
"You know / can't help myself;
I've got to have you" He burst out
angrily, and left the room.
Anger filled his heart all that fore
noon, while he worked in the corr
field, and his anger had not abateC
whit when he went home to his
dinner. AS he reached the dooryarC
he looked up, stopped short anc
stared Surely time had stepped
back 40 years, for there in the door
way, in his little high chair, was
his pretty, fair-haired boy, his first
born, waving a tiny, welcoming hand
Love of money had not then driver
love. Of wife and children from his
heart, and he smiled his answer tt
the salute-then remembered.
Hello, grandpa, I've comet" criet
frankie, as his grandfather stepped
in. Come and shake hands with
me, won't you. grandpa? You see
[ can't go to you"
He had not intended to look at, OF