Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-06-07
Leaving the Farm.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.


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 a 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 at last. You seem to
have the blues to-day"
'Mebbe l have-'tain't surprlsin'"
Lets hear about it," said Hank,
alphabetically.
'''Tain't nothing new" returned the
deacon feebly, with another sigh.
I'm jest sad, that's all-sad, an
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 a 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 deacon's face.
What made 'em all leave" ask
ed Hank at last, quietly.
Il dunno. First John went, then
10, -
an there's nobody left 'cept Mandy
and mean the dog an the pony an
the farm. Well, the youngsters have
all got work in the city, an theyr
scrapin' up bare Twin there, guess,
but they could IA done better round
'em. But no, they wouldn't stay
said they'd enough O. farmin' to last
them a lifetime an longer. Why, to
hear them youngsters talk you'd think
that q farm amt a fit 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-away
look in his eyes that disarmed suspi-
cion.
The next day was Monday
day, of course In the midst of the
usual festivities incident to that week
ly occurrence, Mrs. Pepperton made
the discovery that her supply of soap
Aad run out"
'What'll l do" she demanded. 5
she rushed to the back door and al
nounced the disccuraging 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 a 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 flus-
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
NJ = 7
sech Teller for fool ideasl"
Curiosity conquered hurry. Mrs.
Peppertons lips and eyes bulged full
of questions.
well" said her husband. after a
dramatic pause. you may'nt believe
it, 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 poundin' it down. An he's
bought a croquet set an big, red. two
seated swing, an two hammocks. that
he's swung close together under a
spreadin' tree, an don't know what
else-I didn't stop to see any more"
And. painting and growing, the
good deacon subsiied into a chair and
famed himself vigorously.
"For the land sakes." calculated
Mrs. Pepperton, her mouth wide open
with astonishment.
AN there's worse yet" continued
her husband. "Bli Waddle told me
this mornin' that Hank Peters had
bought a rubber-tired buggy. SOS his
youngsters could have it 70 ride IN
whenever they pleased"
you don't say, Why, those ere
Peters younsters already have bicy-
cles. an everything else that heart
could wish for"
''Yey, 1t looks like fool business"
commented the deacon. Somebody
oughter warn Hank against sech
extravaganza. Why, our own young
sters had no Sech pamperin' an gim-
cracks when they was at home-no.
sir-eeF'
Somehow thai last sentence made
AIRS. Pepperton look suddenly sober
and thoughtful The silence Of the
big, empty house seemed all at once
TO crowd into the kitchen. The clock
licked nervously. insistently
Darn that clock cried the deacon.
irritably. He, too, seemed 70 Feel the
stiffness that had suddenly pervaded
the room.
he looked at his wife; she looked at
him. There was long pause; her
face fushed-grew pale. Hesitating-
lv she crossed the room TO where ne
sat. his eyes fixed moodily on the fioo-.
A moist, soapy, wrinkled hand slipped