Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-11-30


day-not long enough to find whath-
er you like 1t or not" demonstrated
Henry, in tones Of perplexed vexation.
Yet his father, searching his face.
saw a fash of something like relief
pass over it, and having key to an
inner chamber of his sons mind, he
did not blame him, but gently per-
sisted.
Its an old folks notion, boy, no
use to fight it. We're as homesick as
dogs, and we will stay all night with
you, and then, start back to the old
place. It's a mistake when folks as
old as we are think of transplanting
themselves to new place."
Father, l cannot bring myselfto con-
sent to this-this most unreasonable
desire of yours and mothers being car
ried out" the distressed young man re-
piled. Come with me down to the
station and we will have your things
taken to the house and nicely placed,
then you will feel more at home, and
so will mother and all will be right
and pleasant"
But no. Henry Cross saw that it
was useless to try to persuade his ia
Their to alter his decision.
They went to the station, but it was
to arrange for shipping their boxes
back home, all but one.
''This is filled with ccantry things
xxvI;oL xyo,1r ,,,ofbo,. on1 +bo,xcb&
might like-apples from the cid trees
you used to like best, and few extra
nice vegetables"
The old man sighed as he thought
that, having sold all their fruit and
vegetables, they would be obliged to
buy more to keep them through the
winter months.
Henry's wife was delighted with the
contents Of the box, but her husband
could never bring himself to relish the
vegetables when they were prepared
for the table; they seemed to choke
him, and the sight of the well-remem-
bered fruit brought tears to his eyes.
The information Of the change in
II6 PlduH VI tllC Olu pCOplC was re-
ceived by Henry's wife with unfeigned
disapprobation.
Not until the old couple were we'll
On their way home did the reason of
their sudden return there dawn on the
mind of their son.. Then he said:
Helena, do you care to know why
your father and mother-in-law did not
make home with us, as they first in
tended"
She noted the bitterness in his tone,
and said nothing, but waited with
questioning eyes for what he had to
say.
"They overheard your learned dis
QUESTION on the subject Of grandmoth-
ers-the danger of allowing them to
nurse or caress their grandchildren"
Helena Cross blushed a fiery red.
She knew her husband was right, and
she would have given much to recall
the words which had worked so much
mischief.
She was not so cruel or hard-hearted
as not to realize what she had done
and to regret it from the bottom of
her heart. She was young, and felt
the Importance Of wife and mother
hood, and had listened to too many
well-meant but false and foolish teach
ings, and herein lies excuse enough for
Henrys wife, whose punishment was
quite adequate to her fault, or so her
husband decided, when a few hours
later saw her eyes swollen and red
with weeping.
AS for the father and mother who
had so suddenly changed their mind,
no tongue can tell how blest and sweet
and altogether lovely the little old
tumble down house." which had been
SO calmly deserted by them four days
before, appeared now, as, in the golden
light Of an October sunset, they stop
ped before it.
"Oh, I'm SO glad l didn't tear up or
down anything" sighed Hester, softly,
YEARLY, yet delightfully."-, as she
stepped inside the dear old kitchen
door. Jacob, are you too tired to run
over to Benefits and get the cat?
They'll give her up-it don't seem
quite like home without her-why,
there she is. l might have known
she'd see us coming. And now we'll
unpack the things Henry made us
bring, and have supper. Do get out
from under foot, puss, till get fire
builtw
And Jacob, splitting pine kindlings,
kept his face turned aside from Hes
ter, that she might not see the happy
tears in his eyes.
No one to welcome them, only the
old cat they had deserted, yet for Hes
ter and Jacob Cross it was a blessed
homecoming.
Letters came at regular intervals
from Henry during the winter, and
each one was filled with news of the
little child-all her little ways and
wiles-bitter-swee news to Grandma
Hester. But through all ran an inter-
Jude Of sadness baby was not strong.