Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-06-04
Leaving the FARM.
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n + was Sunday afternoon. Hank
Peters, dressed in his best
clothes, was making a neigh.
borly call at Deacon Pepperton's home.
But somehow conversation Jagged. in
spite Of the visitors brave attempts
to keep up q cheerful flow Of words.
The deacon's face was unusually long,
and every now and then he sighed
dolefully.
"What's the matter, deacon?" ven.
tured Hank Mt last. you seem to
have the blues to-day"
"Mebbe have-'tain't surprisln'."
Lets hear about It," said Hank,
alphabetically.
"'Tain't nothing new" returned the
deacon feebly, with another sigh.
''l'm Jest sad, that's all-sad, an
q bit lonesome at times. Mrs. Pepper.
ton is lonesome, too. Sos the farm
an the pony--an' the dog. Every
things lonely. Jest you wait till your
own boys an girls leave home-then
you'll understand how we feel"
For moment. there was silence.
Mr.. Peters. thinking his own thoughts,
looked curlously at the speakers lug.
ubrious couhtenance. There was sym.
pathy In the look, and yet, combined
with sympathy. there was something
else In the grave blue eyes that studied
the deacon's face.
"What made 'em all leaveY' ask.
ed Hank ut last. quietly.
II dunno. First John went, then
Mary, then Tom. Now Harry's gone,
an there's nobody left 'ccpt Mandy
and mean the dog an the pony an
the farm. Well, the youngsters have
all got work In the city, an they're
scrapin' up bare Twin there. guess,
but they could "a done better round
home on the land calkerlated to give
'em. But no. they wouldn't stay
said they'd enough O. farmin' to last
them lifetime an longer. Why, to
hear them youngsters talk you'd think
that a farm amt At or a pleasant
place for boys an girls to liver
"Some farms are not"
"Eh?" said the deacon, looking up
quickly.
But Hank had an innocent, far.awny
look in his eyes that disarmed suspi-
cion.
The next day was Monday-wash
day, Of course. In the midst OF the
usual festivities incident to that week
" occurrence, Mrs. PeppertOn made
the discovery that her supply Of soap
had run out"
"WhatIl l do" she demanded, rs
she rushed to the back door and an
nounced the discouraging fact to her
husband.
"Shoo-o! You don't say! Is all the
ten cents worth bought you gone a.
ready?'
"Yes; an I've got to have more
right away"
Suddenly his face frightened. r'll
20 over an borrow some ut Hanks
house. They buy by the box, an are
sure to have plenty"
And away he went across lots.
Presently he returned, his hands full
Of soap and his head full OF news.
"What dye think?" he began.
Mrs. Pepperton snatched the soap,
and retreated to the kitchen, mutter-
ing that she was too busy an ius-
tered to think Of anything 'cept the
washin'."
But the deacon. eager to unload his
store Of news, followed her into the
house.
you'll never guess what Hank Is
ND to now, woman! My! ! never see
sech Teller for fool ideas"
Curiosity conquered hurry. Mrs.
Pepperton's lips and eyes bulged full
Of questions.
"Well," said her husband. after a
dramatic pause, you may'nt believe
II, but that Teller Is Jest Dustin him
self maxim a croquet ground out In
his side yard under some apple trees.
He's diggin' an levelin' an haulin'
clay, an pOundln' 1t down. An he's
bought a croquet set an big. red, two
seated swing, an two hammocks. that
hes swung close together under q
spreadin' tree, an. don't know what
else--I didn't stop to see any more"
And, painting and growing, the
good deacon subsidized into chair and
tanned himself vigorously.
'For the land sakes" calculated
Mrs. Pepperton, her mouth wide open
with establishment.
"An' there's worse yet" continued
her husband. "Bill Waddle told me
this mornin' that Hank Peters had
bought a rubber-tired buggy, SOS his
youngsters could have 1t to ride IN
whenever they pleased"
"You don't say! Why, those ere
Peters yOunsters already have bicy
Giles, an everything else that heart
could wish for"
"Yey. 1t looks like fool business, y
commented the deacon. Somebody
Oughter warn Hank against sech
extravaganza. Why, our own young
sters had no sech pamperin' an GIN
cracks when they was at home-no
sir.eey'
Somehow that last sentence mad4
ArA PsOpsrto hek suddenly sobsl