The Yale expositor., 1907-06-28


open door of the stairway leading
from the kitchen to the rooms above
Pa! screamed the voice.
Eyes, M'ri'."
You got them dishes done YETI"
Just about; but I've got the skill
let's to wash yet"
Seems to me you're turrible put.
terry this morning"
There was more dishes to wash
Than common. M'ri'," replied the old
man, in gently deprecating tone.
We'll, finish 'em up just as soon as
you can, and then mop up the kitchen
door and give the dining room real
brisk sweepin'. Venus start in on
our regular housecleanin' next week"
A suggestion of frown came into
he old mans rudy face. He hated
housework, and his aversion to house
cleaning amounted to real loathing.
Maria prided herself on her thorough
ness, and her warfare against dust
and dirt was fierce and noncompromis.
ing. When her mother died, Maria
had promptly decreed that she and
her family should live with Pa. The
old mans mild objections had been
roughly overriden, and in less than a
week after her mothers death Maria
and her husband and their four noisy.
unlovely children had invaded the old
mans home, his house being larger
and better than the home of the Pen
nys.
From the day of Maria's arrival In
his home Pa had been set aside" so
far as his authority had been con-
cerned. man of a gentle and yield
ing spirit, who loved peace and har-
mony in his home, he had felt that it
would be better to yield to the domi.
neering Maria than to be in a state
OF constant Notwithstanding" he
called it-with her. He rebelled in
spirit when Maria decreed that he
was now too old to be at the head of
the farm work
One day telegram came telling
Silas Penny of the death of his father
in town 80 miles distant. and Maria
and Silas departed to attend the fu-
neral. Silas, like Maria, was an only
child, and when he came home he
brought his mother with him. She
had felt that it would be better for
her to remain in her own home. as
she was woman of but Go years and
in excellent health. But Silas had
protested that it would be better for
her TO break up and make her home
with him. He had already figured it
out. with the help of Maria. that II
would be cheaper to have her live |
with him, for her small farm could |
then be rented and his mother could |
save up" the money and thus in.
crease the amount of the estate Silas
was to receive when she died.
Pas sympathy went out to Lucinda
Penny the moment he knew that she
was to be on inmate of her sons
home, and before a week had passed
Lucinda had come to the definite opin-
lon that 1t was a burning shame" the
way Pa had to work, to fetch and
carry" for his daughter. Naturally
the old couple soon began
70 give voice to their sympathy for
each other and to bewail the cruel
decree of fate that had placed them
n their unhappy positions.
Thus year passed, and Maria had
crown more tyrannical than ever. and
Silas grumbled openly if his mother
spent any of her small income. Luz
linda bore her unhappy lot in silence.
ma only she knew of the tears she
she'd in the secrecy of the poor little
Dom in the attic to which she had
'een relegated by Maria Pa was her
,nly confidant.
One day Silas and Maria announced
heir intention of taking their chill
Iren the following week and driving
'ver to Penrose, 20 miles distant, to
pend several days with a cousin of
laria's named Hugh Ray.
Il reckon, Mother, that you and Pa |
ould do for yourselves a few days, {
ouldn't your" asked Maria at the |
reakfast table.
Il should think likely" said Pa be. [
ore Lucinda could reply, and then he {
dded, with grim sarcasm: "Of course s
7e're poor, weak critters, who can't {
o much more than crawl to our I
'oodpile and carpet loom. but
eckon We might skeer up strength J
nough to skirmish around and git us I
bite to eat, feeble and worthless as q
re are" r
Maria's face flushed. and Silas 7
'owned and made a vicious stab at a a
lice of bread with his fork. bat. al. a
lough he would not admit it. he had 1
wholesome fear of his father.in-law.
nd did not care to cross SWORDS with Z
i'm. o
Almost numberless were the com. v
lands as to the things they must and
ust not do given to Lucinda and Pa n
Y Maria and Silas the morning they :
It home. X
The moment the wagon containing
las and his family started from the u
lrnyard a humorous twinkle came n
to the wrinkled face of Pa, and he h
look one fist after the retreating a
mily and said: b.
Scat" p
Scat" Il
~