Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-25
same, just because l wasn't here to
i keep you busy" she said to them in

dignantly.
There wasn't anything to do just
then, ma. so we ran down to the creek
We are building a sawmill, and oh,
ina. 1t is going to be dandy! Won't
you come down and see it some day
when we get 1t done?" Albert asked
wistfully.
Il haven't any time to waste on non
sense. Go and fetch the cows right
away. You and Charlie will have to do
the milking tonight she said. Her
tones were unsympathetic and discour.
aging, and the enthusiasm died out of
the boys face. After the work was
done she sat down and waited until
the clock struck nine, then she put a
shawl over her head and went out.
No one seemed to be abroad, and
she stumbled on over the lonesome
country road with feverish haste. Sud
deny she heard the sound of approach
ing wheels. The lumber wagon ratified
noisily on and she recognized the IA
miliar gray team Of near neighbor.
She sprang forward.
"Mr. Lowell, have you seen any
thing of Joe tonight?" she asked
Aoo, eAoic' VI, is IudL you, Mis-
Conroy? Yes, did see Joe spell
afore started home. He was with a
couple of fel!ers- strangers to me.
Amt worrying about him. be We? Well,
I wouldn't He'll be along afore a
great while, likely. Joe is gettin' big
enough to take care of himself; he's
pretty good chunk of boy"
yes, Joe is about as big as he ever
will be. but he is only boy, after all;
none to big to mind his mother, Mr..
Lowell"
"A boy never ought to be too big for
that is If he is as big as Golfer, Mis-
Conroy, but you see the trouble is, Joe
halfway between hay and grass. He's
got beyond the spankin age, and he
amt quit ripe enough for real good
fodder yet. Maybe that Is kind O.
mixed, but guess you can catch my
meann.' 1t amt best to worry about
him overmuch. He'll come out right
an make another good man like his
father was" he added, with rude at
tempt at comfort
I" 'Tain't best to take boys at that
age too serious. They amt exactly
'countable for their actions all times,
take it. Won't you get in an ride
home, Mis- Conroy? It's all Of two
miles to your place"
She hesitated a moment and then
climbed into the wagon. II suppose its
no use, my waiting out here. If Joe Is
all right, there isn't any need for me
to worry about him. He will come
home when he gets ready, and not be-
core she said.
That's jist the idee. l was a boy
once and know just what ornery
streaks boy gets once in while; but
they usually come around ali right
If body knows how to handle ZEN,
and don't crowd 'em none," he re-
marked sagely.
The boys were both in bed and asleep
end she sat down by the kitchen fire
to watch. Perhaps Mr.. Lowell was
right. He had raiesed several-boys Of
his own and they had all turned out
we'll Perhaps she had expected too
much of Joe.
True. he had seemed restless and
petulant lately, but Joe was almost a
man. She had never realized 1t until
tonight. Why, he was eighteen in
March-over six months ago. He would
soon be nineteen.
John had only been twenty when
they were married. A hot flush rose
to her cheeks as she recalled her
harsh, dominant manner. No wonder
Joe had resented it. Why. John had
left home at seventeen years for less
provocation. Mary Morrison in Moth
ers' Magazine.