The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-07-30

corn stubs. Lemon colored straw sticks
were bleaching into softer tones i'm the
autumn sun. Ripe apples weighed down
the bOughs in the orchard across the
road-dark red winesaps, freckled
rambos, great yellow bell flowers. The
sugar orchard across the clearing was
q blaze Of oriental yeliows, puppies and
scariets.
The two old men were sitting on the
top rail of the old worm fence along
the roadside. Back Of them stretched
a belt of hickory timber that was to
them present source of discomfort.
They had driven out to Beecham
woods, bringing with them their daugh-
tiers, Lily Jane and Nancy Ann to
spend the day in gathering nuts The
mornings search had been disappoint-
ing, and the two old men had climbed
TO the top rail to rest, while the women
sat in the shade near the spring wag-
on, and discussed things which are Of
moment to housewives.
Uncle BiIly's disappointment gradu-
ally dissipated under the soothing in
fluence of fah- landscape and peaceful
atmosphere.
I would not live Away; l ask not
TO stay softly quoted Uncle Billy.
still Joe, eff there ever was a time
! felt ! would like TO live straight ahead
forever, it's when anything looks like
thati' and he waved his cane toward
the orchard, the straw sticks. and the
flaming sugar trees across the clear
ing.
Uncle Joe nodded assent BE, too,
loved the autumn time. but was less
administrative than Uncle Billy. With
great elaboration he cut off a chew of
tobacco and passed knife and plug to
Uncle Billy. That worthy cut off a
generous chew and slowed il comfort
ably i'm his left cheek
BE keerful, Billy. That stuff sNells,"
cautioned Uncle Joe.
Uncle Billy's face creased into a
Wrinlded old smile
You've said that same Identical
thing ev'ry time Eye borried a chew
Of YOU fer the last sixty year and it
amt never swelled yit!-Ieas tways.
never but once. You remember ali
about that time. joe"
90 Pears like I DO, but / clean forgit
all the facts now. How was il. Billy
Uncle Billy spat and ruminated-
'Twan't much to tell" he at length re
Il swallereG it,
Bless my life. Made you might
sick
Like to a died, I'd been, havin'
chIlls for more'n d year. but that chaw
broke EN- up. Never had the ager
since"
They were silent for many moments.
Uncle Billy jabbed with his cane at
knot on a rail. Uncle Joe Whitfield on
d silver over in the shades the horses
stamped and ratified their harness
noiSily To rid themselves of persistent
flies. The old men listened while to
the sounds of the WoOds-to the quer-
ulous calling of the jays, the far-off
shoutings of boys along a creek, the
mingled iangle of cow-beu and tinkie
of sheep-bell and to the voices of their
daughters.
Joe. I never noticed afOre how much
Lily Jane voice soun's like her mas
used to. For half a minut' | almost
thought it was her. and you and her
and me and Mary all young ag'in.
There was plaintive tenderness in
Uncle JOe's voice as he answered:
I'm gittin' old, William. and at
times notice I'm a leetle mite fergit-
1ut- But my young days seem mighty
near to me yit. And when / think of
when we WAS all young together I feel
like I'd trade off my chances in Eter-
nal Glory to live them. days over ag' in
To live EN- over with her"
Uncle Billy rested his hand lightlA'on
Uncle Joe's knee.
she was as perfect a woman as the
Lord ever made continued Uncle Joe
"'aud as good. The best in sickness and
most helpin' to them as needed help.
And cook, No livin' woman cud beat
her maxim pot-pie, not even Lizzy
Jane
MY first wife was a mighty good
She was So But ! was always par
1icularly fond of pot-pie. and Lily
James ma was nigh perfect at maxim
one. And she was always purity busy
when she was alive. and she wasn't
much of "A hand to CAD round nohOw
But shores October come. jest that
shore she'd take notion in her head
that we had 10 make day of it in the
timber
Wed git up airly and she'd fry A
TrN nr- q TfrT,
somethin good 10 eat, and then I'd have
TO hook up a team and away to the
woods we'd go And we'd pick hazel
nuts and warnuts and hick' rynuts. And
we'd eat our dinner by the crick. and
shed be as lively and fun of fun as a
girl Blame me. William. / can't no.
wise talk about it."
The Lord gives and the Lord takes
away began Uncle Billy, 1t was one
of them dispensatiOns of an all-wise
PrOVidence-her removal"
UNCLE Joe sat moment doubtfully.
Then he replied. she caught her death
nursin' our little boy through his last
sickness. It was spotted fever and she
took IL and died. don't b'Iieve Provi-
dencc takes any in'trest in US mortaIs
LcaStwdyS not in that way"
This was assailing a doctrine pecu-
larry precious 10 Uncle Billy. So, to
Uncle Joe's skepticism. ne responded in
trembling. indignant voice:
Wy. Joseph GRAHAM. You're n
Eettin wickeder ev'ry day you live.
man at your age-with growed-up
grandchildren and spells Of rheumatic
bad as YOU hev sometimss-and taIkin'
like that Uncle Billy paused I'M i'm
potent righteous wrath.
What's the use i'm gittiu' riled up
Biliy2 You know I wasn't sayiu so to
Iile YOU I said so cause / think that
way"
But YOU orth't 10 think that way, It
souns Ike you was Soin TO the bad
right a. the end OF your days too"
Billy. I tell YOU it's jest the WAY you
look AT it. As fer as bein wicked. IF
. sou know Of anything right ra 'eI DOWN
right mean I've done fer-fer the last
ten years. say-wy don't be afear o.
hurtin my feeiin's. but speak right up
Uncle Billy hdgeted a little. Uncle
Joe was Known far and wide as a a good
man. Many a sack of -four bushel of
potatoes or side of bacon which found
its way TO the needy was paid FOR with
Uncle Joe's money. and though he open
~ fiouted at the spending OF money on
1he heatheB- secretly he was "a heavy
contributor 10 the cause.
1T amt that, Joe. You're one OF
them that thinks good works is what
counts. You amt got no realizin' sense
81 havin' been horned i'm state of sin
A. misery