Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-12-07
Judith of the Plains .., MARIE .!!; MAN. MANNING ..!::.
 Copyright. 1905. by Harper a Brother.


Wltn tneu1. Ilu they eNeI ldil oL tuei heads when they were babies, Mrs. Yellett:'
 Not more than common. Ali babies fall on their heads. It's as common as colic."
 Poor boysw said Mary, with man. ner that suggested they were miles away rather than within a few feet of her. "Poor boys! I've never seen anything like it. They try so hard, too yet they can make nothing of work that would be play for child of three. They must have fallen on their heads harder than you supposed, Mrs. 1el- lett
 Perhaps their skulls were a heap Trailer than allowed for at the time" said Mrs. Ye!lett. with similar remote ness. yet with twinkle that showed Mary she understood the situation.
 An infants skull doesn't stand much knocking about, ] suppose, Mrs. Yellett:"
 Not a great deal, if there aint plen- ty of vinegar and brown paper handy, and seldom had such fancy fixings ill camp. It's too bad my boys should be dumb n account of little thing like vinegar and brown paper.''
 "Maw, they be dumb as Injuns,'' de clared Cacta, preening herself, while selves to their dinner with ostenta- tious interest.
 Well, we'll" said Mrs. Yellett. fit be hard blow to me to know that my sons are lackings. There's mothers I !.now as would give vent to their dis appinted ambition in ways I'd consid- CT crool to the abSentnindeI Now, hearken, the whole outfit of you. Any offspring of mine now present and for ever after holding his peace who proves feeble minded by the end of the coming week takes over all the work, labor and chores of such offspring as demonstrates himself ill full possession of his faculties, the matter to be re- ported on by the gov
 No sovereign issuing proclamation of War could have assumed more formidable mien than Mrs. Yellett. squatting erect on the prairie, crowned by her rabbit skin cap. Mary and Ju dith, with bland. impressive eXpres- Sions, noted the effect of the mandate. There was not the faintest symptom of rebellion. Each Brobdingnag ac- cepted the matriarch's edict without d murmur.
 With all air of further meditation on the efficacy of brown paper and vine gar at the crucial moment, Mrs Yellett suddenly observed:
 "The lacking. like the dog, may be taught to fetch and carry book, but to learn it he is unable"
 Nav, does it say that in the Book of Hiram?' asked Clematis
 Tt says that an more too It says The words of the wise are an expense but the lovin' parent don't gruGge 'em'"
 Mary Carmichael had noticed as her alien presence came to be less of q check on Mrs. Yelett's natural medium of expression that she was much ad- dicted to species of quotation with which she impartially adorned her con- versation, pointed family morals or administered an occasional roprOof. These family aphorsms were some- times semilegal, sometimes semiscrip- tnral in turn of phrase, and built on foundation of homely philosophy. They were ascribed to the Book of Hiram and never failed of salutary effect in the family circle But the apt quotations that she had just heard piqued Mary's curiosity more than be- fore
 Do you happen to have copy of the Book of Hiram. Mrs. Yellett?" she asked. in all innocence. supposing that the homely apothegms were to be found at the back of some patent medicine almanac. Judith Rodney listened in wonder. The question had never before been asked in her hear ing.
 II lost mine" Mrs. Yellett folded her arms and looked at her auesti0ner with something of q challenging micn
 What pity! I've been so interest, make from it.
 What's the matter with 'em: she demanded. pride and apprehensiol equally commingled
 Judith Rodney rushed to the rescue
 Nothing is the matter with them. Mrs. Yellett." she said. with her dis arming smile, except that there is not quite enough to go around"
 The matriarch had ..e air of gath ering herself together for something really worth while Then she tossed off
 Faint always the quality of the grub that confers the flavor. but some times the scarcity thereof"
 Perhaps it has been the good for tune of some of us to say word of praise to an author, while unconscious of his relationship to the book praised. Mark the genial glow radiating from every feature of our auditor! How we feel ourselves anonted with his ap- proval our good taste and critical fac ulty how commended. 1t is a luxury that goes d long way toward mitigat-