Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-09-23
The Journeys End.
2.s'.*.:..s..s.-s..s..s..s.s.s..s.s.'

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Nn RS. SKINNER paused upon
IMVI the step and looked at the boy
who was advancing.
"Well, what do you want?" she de-
manded.
"Can do some chores to pay for
my supper and place to sleep to-
night?"
ooh! You're a tramp, are you?
Pretty young to start out that way"
81 asked for chance to work for
all you let me have"
81 don't know as I'm going to let
you have anything" She took anoth-
er step and scowled with pain. eff
you can find the old hen-turkey, over
there in the meadow, and drive her
and her little turks into the barn, may
be I'll give you a bite. She ought to
have eleven little ones; if you don't get
every one I won't give you a mouth
full. Hyper along now; there's big
thunder shower coming"
| eff it wasn't for this rheumatism, I
wouldn't waste a supper on that boy,
just for getting those turkeys in," she
| muLleIeu, OuI IL mdhe AAIu "oih IL
out"
So soon as the, turkeys were under
cover she set the boy at work in the
! woodshed splitting wood until supper
was ready.
After they had finished their sup
pers Mrs. Skinner asked the boy:
whats your name?'
Crank Withee" He wanted to ask
her name in return, but she looked so
angrily at him that he did not dare.
"Where did you come from?'
"From Clockville, New York"
"How did you get here?"
"Walked the most Of the way; once
in a while I got ride"
"Its long ways from New York to
New Hampshire. Whatever possessed
you to start on such a tramp-run
away?" asked Mr.. Skinner.
mo, sir; haven't anybody to run
away FROM I've come to take my
grandmother out Of the poorhouse -
His face flushed, and he added quick
lily: "It isn't her fault that she's there
She had a good farm and home, and
all the children she had was my faith
er and his sister, suppose she's my
Aunt Susan, but I'll never call her
aunt"
Mr.. Skinner moved his chair to the
window and looked out into the black,
rainy night.
'The farm was going to be faith
er's," Frank explained, "but he said
he'd give up his share to his sister if
she'd take care of grandmother as
long as she lived, and she promised to.
Then last year she put grandmother
into the poorhouse. I'm going to see
her and tell her what 1 think Of such
mean business" He clenched his fists
and squared his shoulders, as though
in anticipation of the meeting.
"Whatever put it into your head to
come such an amazing distance just to
take care of her?" asked Mr.. Skinner.
T promised father than would. He
was sick a long time, and we had to
use the money he had saved to come
and get her; then he worried about he1
until I promised that I'd come here
and take care of her"
!, "How old are your" asked Mrs
Skinner, looking sharply at the boy.
"Most II; I'm small for my age but
there's lots Of things I can do. I've
, got $50 that 1 earned myself, and faith
:. er said grandmother is great mana
!. ger, so 1 guess We'll keep off the
town."
IT guess you'll find that $50 won'1
t 90 far toward keeping two people; yor
: better keep your money and take care
s of yourself. or there'n be two Of vol
e on the town instead Of one."
"Why, 1 must take care OF her!