The Globe-republican., 1904-04-14
AeIICllLi,I|[,E !
GRASS
.A7s4N BY
W. BYRON WlLLAM5


T" =
Cloyed with the slckening life Of tho
city, weary Of It's unnatural demands
Upon brain and flesh, Frank Scott
turned his back upon It and as tho
trucks of the speeding train beat a
monotonous grumble at their seryi-
tude, he dreamed Of the countryside
country, fresh with air redolent Of
health, with wild flowers blooming in
tangled wildwoods, Of gurgling brooks,
Of simplicity that charms and, most
Of all, quietude where he could relax
and dream ,iP tiia Sill lH]ggJ
AS the train pounded along the
graveled way, he wondered II he would
ever return to the fetid mart Of the
CITY, crazed with grabbing and
clothed In hypocrisy.
No, he never would. Was 1t not
better to grow weary Of ones self In
the country occasionally than to burn
out on the spit Of mad rivalry In the
metropolis?
He consulted his watch. 1t was
1880 Wednesday evening. Far away.
out in Iowa, In the little church,
prayer meeting was in progress. He
could mentally see and hear the tes-
tinony of Old Aunty Squiggs as she
told in her piping voice Of her sins
and her repentance. IN
"And God willing want to lead a
better life, a life closer to the Lord
Jesus. Pray for me, brethren and Sis
ters, that | may be steadfast in the
Lord" YU 2lf
Many time he had heard her sup
plication when boy. Now her hair
was white and her voice had the quak.
ings and breaks of second childhood,
yet testified she on of the goodness Of
God.
After all, is 1t not better so?" he
mused, ito live simply, trusting in
divine uplifting at the end, than to
steep in the dregs Of ambition and die
in the worship Of Mammon?
"Blest he the lie that binds
Our hearts In Christian love!"
He could hear the wayering, drag.
ging hymn, led by Deacon Hampton
in his sonorous voice, and then the
benediction. "And now may the Lord
watch between me and thee while we
are absent one from another"
"Amen!"
"And amen."
1t was daylight when Scctt arrived
in Duncombe At the train was John.
ME Gallup, the busman. Johnnie had
driven the gray and the bay since
they were colts. Now they were old
and stiff, hoary hairs standing about
their deep sunken eyes.
At the hotel Colonel" johnson had
a familiar look that somehow i'm
pressed Scott as pathetic.
And the stores! There was little
change since he left, except that they
seemed squatted and shoddy.
The faces were for the most part
familiar. Indeed Scott recognized
Grandad Wilson's long tailed coat,
once black, now yellow, but still i'm
parting something of dignity to its
wearer.
"Glad t. see ye! Glad t see ye!
Daown to New York livin, | hear.
Right smart place, take it. Coin t.
stay long er just maxim fyin' visit?"
and Grandad clung to the visitors
hand and shook IL vigorously, holding
it long
The younger men, youths when
Scott left Duncombe, seemed little
changed, and yet there was sort of
revelation in them to Scott. They
didn't appear like this in his dreams.
Was it really that he had changed? I
He went fishing where in youth he
caught 'lunkers," and managed to
catch a small crappie, a yoracious
sinner and wet feet. Bathing in the
old swimming hole was impossible.
1t was scarcely knee deep.
He returned to the hotel disgusted.
The evening Of the third day found
him aboard the limited express. en-.
Enthusiastically bound for the city.
after ALL" he reasoned, Il sup
pose there are worse things that
might happen a man than a residence
in the metropolis"
Moral-If you love the countr,, stay