Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-01-09
Naomi's Legacy.

(7N OSE, Chliuichi 49,
lf7 father comingT"
SS Mr.. Jobson fell. metaphorical-
Iy speaking, like a wet blanket on the
bosom of his family. They all trem-
bled as he came in. Charley dropped
the Robinson Crusoe" that he was
reading, and deity substituted an
arithmetic In It's place. Juliet sewed
harder than ever at her patchwork.
Mrs. Jobson made haste to fling an
other log upon the fire, and the old
grandmother In the corner drew her
knit wooden shawl closer around her
shoulders with a little shudder.
Dear mel" said Mr.. Jobson; dear
me! It's Just as 1 said. There's an
other cold wave coming from the
northwest, and coal is two shillings a
ton higher. Goodness knows what's to
become Of us all"
Presently he looked around inquir-
ingly.
"Eh? How? What's that l smell?
Chickens? Actually chickens roasting!
Where's the cold pork that was left
from yesterdays dinner?"
81 thought" said Mrs, Jobson apollo
g~etically, that as we had so many
young chickens coming on"
EVERY one Of those chickens" said
Mr.. Jobson, speaking slowly and
counting off the syllables on his fin
gers, twill be as good as a crown
piece when the holidays come on. Poul-
try is going up-up-up. as steadily as
q rocket, and here you are roasting It
for an everyday dinner. 1 never saw
such an ~extravagant manager as you
are, Jane. Hereafter 1 shall count the
fowls, and if one Is taken away, /
why. And those in this house who are
too dainty to eat cold pork may live on
bread and cheese"
Mrs. Jobson murmured something
about trying to do what seemed right
always" and a gloomy silence fell over
the whole group.
There's the wing Of the old kitch.
en-" said he. "I've put Naomi Brush
out Of 1t this morning"
Mrs. Jobson looked up In surprise.
"Put Naomi Brush out?' she repeat
ed; land what is the poor soul going
to do?"
That's her lookout" said Mr.. Job
son; "she has preyed long enough OF
me and mine. I've got an offer Of {
crown a month from Tom Diggs fol
the old room. And 1 may as well say
now, that l don't at all approve OF thu
way you women have been going Oh
about old Naomi. 1 never could teacl
you the necessity for being economical
How am l ever to pay Jones the tw'
hundred pounds that 1 1--WE him, If thi
is the way we are to go on2 How
But here the old grandmother spok
out in a mild tone.
mot by being economical at the ez
pense Of other people, Calvin" said sh
gently.
"God has said, Give, and 1t shall b
given unto you He has not sai(
'Scrape and pinch, and grind the face
of the poor, and you will get rich
Naomi Brush is solitary and friendles
and when you turned her from the so
shelter she has, you did a cruel and III
generous thing"
And, taking up her knitting, the GOO
old woman went quietly out of IL
room.
The children all stared.
Mrs. Jobson looked apprehensive
at her husband, and Mr.. Jobson hir
self turned all manner of colors.
THAT settles the matter" said M
Jobson hoarsely to himself, as he wal
ed out Of the house with his hands
his pockets. at isn't every son-in-la
who would have borne the burden
a helpless old woman as cheerfully as
have done. But when Mrs. Price U
dertakes to dictate to me, she assum
a little too much. I'll tell Jane, Il
afternoon, that she must find sol
other home for her mother. 1 suppo
she'll cry and make a great fuss oy
It, but l can't help that. Grandmotf
must go. 1 don't at all doubt that 1
she who has been putting Jane up
all this senseless extravaganza In
matter of charity.
In his intent self-absorption he
most stumbled over a portly little N
in a fur-trimmed o%vercoat, who h
ben coming In his direction with a +
olute step.
"Oh, it's you. is 1t. Squire Jones
said he o~bsequiously.