The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-01-06

| y il
the amplight, and Ills wife was pour.
ing the coffee, Liz was still asleep.
The man rolled up the sleeves OF his
white shirt and sat down. He ate
heartily The bacon, bread ana coffee
tasted good; better than usual, he
thought, His wife watched him sleep.
| lily.
"Y'nll be home tonight, | reckon y
| she said as he rose.
Yes, lessen somethin' happens" he
| answered
| He took the lamp from the table and
went upstairs to dress. The light fell
about the bare little room, and he saw
the oyeralls lying on the floor. A collar.
white and clean, lay on the bed He
took his coat from the wall and, collar
in hand, descended the stairs. His wife
was getting breakfast for the boys us
he entered the Kitchen. Liz was up.
MA" he said, fix this darned thing
on
She took the collar and fastened IL
about his sunburned neck He put on
the coat and went out. The boys had
fastened the colts to the spring wagon.
Don't fergit tn turn my team out"
he said as he climbed H. Cit mr.
They opened the gate, and he turned
out into the road 1t was cool as he
drove along, and the horses pulled
strong on the bits. He let them go ana
enjoyed the rush of morning air that
brushed his sun tanned cheeks. The
leaves rustled in the hedgerows, and
the scent OF the sunfioWers came from
the roadside. 1t seemed like holiday
10 the work worn man. Daylight broad
ened as he went, stirring the birds 10
song and awakening life in the farm
yards.
He passed barn where sleepy boy
was just hitching for work. 1t was
Tom.
Late, amt yu?" he called as he
passed. The boy blushed guilty and
grinned, The man laughed
Far ahead the road wound slowly mp
ward to hilltop aud on over down in
10 the valley below. The horses slack
ened their pace as they felt the grade,
and the man clgcked to them cheerily.
They plodded on slowly to the top and
he let them stop for breath Down in
the valley the sun had just risen Its
golden light fell in long, wayering
beams beneath him and erept slowly
up the hillside 4 cloud Of sun tipped
mist hung above the trees on the riv-
er's bank and screened from view the
little town lying In the bend beyond.
For miles the farm lands led away.
dotted here and there with the gray
rooted houses. 1t was scene for an
artist for one who could see in it all
the perfect touch Of nature.
The man on the hill improved the oc-
casion to take chew. lie was not an
artist
on show en-" he said. Cit upr'
The colts trotted off down the slope
their shining coats rejecting the sun
light a breeze dashed the foam from
their bits and scattered the black
names in confusion. Out in the corn
rows a quail called-the bugle call of
another WaterIoo-but the man needed
1t not
"I'll show emr he muttered. "Git
up"
The convention was over, and work
for the day was nearly done in the
valley.
The drone of the moving machine
had ceased, and the tired teams came
from the fields. A thundercloud loom
ed in the west, and the sun was low on
the horizon Its beams rose In splen-
dor from the clouds and rested afar
off on the hilltop.
Up the road from the valley came a
tired team YEARLY dragging spring
wagon. They reached the crest of the
hill and stopped for breath. The man
driving turned in the seat and looked
back across the valley The sun pass
cd behind the clouds, and long shad-
ows threw their somber presence over
the farm lands.
The man sighed and took chew. He
looked tired, almost as tired as the
horses A wilted collar encircled his
neck, and a coat lay folded beside him.
Cit up" be said.
The team broke into weary trot,
headed for home. A cloud Of dust rose
beneath their dragging feet and drlfted
off into the sunhowers.
The old farm hay peaceful in the
evening shadows, and the sound of the
boys milking ioated upon the air. They
saw the cloud of dust down the road
and ran to open the gate Without a
word the man turned in and drove the
faded colts to the barn.
did yu finish the corn, boys?' he
said. at looks like rain"
"All done" they answered and began
to loosen the tugs.
The man took his coat and turned to-
ward the house. What would she say?
1t had been an exciting day. He was
tired, hungry and glad to get home.
The new clothes worried him now.
and he longed for the overalls. Supper
was over as be entered the kitchen, FOR
Liz was washing the dishes. His wife
smiled grimly. He saw that smile and
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