The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-01-20


They must have fallen on their heads
harder than Jon supposed. Mrs. Vel
lett"
"I'erbaps their skulls were q heap
frazier than i allowed for at the time"
said Mrs. Yellett. with similar remote
ness. yet with twinkle that showed
Mary she understood the situation.
An Infants skull doesn't stand
much knocking about, I suppose. Mrs.
Yeilett?"
mot a great deal, IL there amt plen-
ty Of vinegar and brown paper handy.
and I seldom had such fancy fixIngs ln
camp. It's too bad my boys should be-
dumb n account Of little thing ike
vinegar and brown paper"
NAV. they be dumb a. Injuns." de-
clared Cactn. preenlng herself. while
the Messrs. Yellett reapplied them
selves to their dinner with ostenta-
tious interest.
"weli. we'll" said Mrs. Yeliett, lit be
hard blow to me to know that ny
sons are lackings. There's mothers I
know as would give vent to their dis
appointed ambition In ways ia consid-
er crool to the absentminded. Now.
hearken. the whole OUTFIT Of you. Any
offspring OF mine now present and for.
ever arer 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 In full possession
Of his faculties. the matter to be re-
ported on by the gov'ment."
No sovereign neutrality-suspicious. ion
Of war could have assumed a more
formidable mlen than Mrs. Yeliett
squatting erect on the prairie, crowned
by her rabbit skin cap. Mary and Ju.
dith. with bland. impassive express
sions. noted the effect OF the mandate
There was not the faintest symptom
OF rebellion. Each Brobdingnag nc.
cepted the matrlarch's edict without a
murmur.
With an 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. ou,
to learn II he Is unable"
NAV. does 1t say that in the Book
Of Hiram ?"'asked Clematis.
1T says that an more too. 1t says
The words Of the wise are an expense
but the lovin' parent don't grudge
EN-"
Mary Carmichael had noticed as her
alien presence came to be less OF a
check ON Mrs. Yellett's natural medium
Of expression that she was much ad-
dicted to species Of quotation with
which she lmpartially adorned her con-
versatiOn. pointed family morals or
administered an occasional rOproof
times semilegal sometimes semiscrip-
tural 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
plqued Mary's curiosity more than be-
fore.
do You happen TO have Il copy Of
the Book of Hiram, Mrs. Yellett?" she
asked, In all innocence. surprising 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.
Il lost mine" Mrs. Yellett folded
her arms and looked at her questioner
with something of a challenging mlen.
What pity! I've been so interest
ed In the quotations I've heard you
make from It,"
whats the matter with 'em:' she
demanded. pride and apprehension
equally commlngled
Judith Rodney rushed to the rescue.
Nothing Is the matter with them.
Mrs. Yellett," she said. with her dis
arming smile, except that there IL not
quite enough to 20 around"
The matriarch hal the air OF gath
ering herself together for something
really worth while. Then she tossed
of:
faint always the quality OF the
grub that confers the flavor, but some
times the scarcity thereof"
Perhaps 1t has been the good for
tune Of some of us to say a.word OF
praise TO an author, while unconscious
Of his relationship to the book praised.
Mark the genial glow radatlng from
every feature of our auditor! How we
feel ourselves anolnted with his APP
proval. our good taste and critical fac
ulty how commended! II is a luxury
that goes long way toward mltlgat.
ing the dlscomfitures caused by the
reverse of this unctuous blunder.
To be continued