Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-21
Leaving the FARM.
2 r was Sunday afternoon. Hank

Peters, dressed in his best
clothes, was making neigh
borly call at Deacon Pepperton's home.
But somehow conversation Jagged, in
spite of the visitors brave attempts
TO keep up a cheerful flow Of words.
The deacon's face was unusually long,
and every now and then he sighed
| dolefuliy.
What's the matter, deacon?' ven
tured Hank at last. You seem to
have the blues to-day"
"Mebbe l have faint surprisin'"
Lets hear about it, said Hank,
sympathetically.
'1ain't nothing new" returned the
deacon feebly, with another sigh.
I'm jest sad, that's all-sad, an
a bit lonesome at times Mrs. Pepper
ten 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
your understand how we feel"
For Il moment, there was silence
Mr. Peters, thinking his own thoughts
looked curiously at the speakers lug,
ubriOus countenance There was sym
pathy in the look. and yet, combined
with sympathy, there was something
else In the grave blue eyes that studied
the deacons face.
what made EN- all leave" ask
ed Hank at last, quietly.
Il dunno First John went, then
Mary, then Tom. Now Harry's gone,
an there's nobody left 'cept Mandy
and mean the dog an the pony an
the farm. Wei, 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 ! elaborated 10 give
EN-. But no. they wouldn't stay
said they'd enough o farmin' to last
them n lifetime an longer Why. TO
hear them Youngsters talk you'd think
that farm amt fit or pleasant
place for boys an girls to live"
Some farms are not
"Eh?" said the deacon, looking up
quickly
But Hank had an innocent, faraway
look in his eyes that dSarmed Suspi-
cion.
Tho next day was Monday
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"
"What'l | do she demanded. rs
she rushed To the back door and an
nounced the discouragng fact to her
husband.
"Shoo-o, You don't say! Is all the
ten cents worth bought you gone al
ready"
YES; an I've got to have more
right away"
suddenly his face frightened I'm
go over an borrow some at 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 fius-
tered to think of anything 'cept the
washiu'."
But the deacon. eager TO unload his
store of news, followed her into the
house,
You'll never guess what Hank is
mp to now, woman: My never see
sech Teller for fool ideas"
Curiosity conquered hurry. Mrs,
repperton's lips and eyes bulged full
of questions
Well said her husband. after a
dramatic pause, you may'nt believe
Ii. hut tat Teller is jest Dustin him
self maxim croquet ground out in
his side yard under some apple trees
He's diggin IN levein' an haulin'
clay. an poundn' it down. An he's
bought a croQuet set an Il biz red. two
seated swing. an two hammocks. that
he's swung close together under
spreadin' tree. an don't know what
else didn't stop to see any more"
And, painting and growing the
GOOD deacon subsidized into chair ana
famed himself vigorously.
For the land sakes" calculated
Mrs repperton. 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 rubbertired buggy, SOS his