Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-01-02


last two hours"
"Why, l don't believe IT," said Miss
Matte
mo more do l, but 1t seems like it,"
replied Red. Don't you want the fire
started? Come down and open up the
| house"
| When Miss Matte appeared at the
door in he strobe with an armful Of
wood, dropping 1t, man fashion, crash.
on the floor
"Skip out of the way" said he. I'm
show you how to build fire."
The early morning had been the most
desolate time to Miss Matte. AS the
day warmed up the feeling of loneli-
ness vanished, perhaps to return at
evening, but not then with the same
| absoluteness as when she walked
about the kitchen to the echo of her
own footsteps in the morning.
! Now the slamming and the banging
which accompanied Reds energetic ac-
| lions rang in her ears most cheerily
| She even found relish in the smoth-
cred oath that heralded the thrust of a
splinter in his finger 1t was very
wicked, but it was also very much
alive.
Red arose and busted off his knees.
''Now we're off," he said as the fire
began to roar "Whats next?'
IF you'd grind the coffee. WHIP" she
suggested.
"Sure! Where's the hand organ?"
| He put the mill between his knees
and converted the beans to powder to
the tune Of "Old Dog Tray" through
his nose, which Miss Matte found
very amusing.
She measured out the coffee, one
spoonful for each cup and one for the
pot Red watched her patiently, and
the rest of the contents of the mill
drawer II like it fairly strong" said
he In explanation.
"Now, Willw protested Miss Matte.
Look at you! That will be as bitter
as bonesetr'
"Thin her up with milk and she'll be
all right" replied Red
"Well such wasteful ways ! never
did see. Nobody'd think you were a
day over fifteen"
"Pm not" said Red stoutly, land"
catching her chin In his hand and turn
ing her face up toward him, 'nobody'd
put your score much higher than that
neither If they trusted to their eyes
this morning"
The compliment hit so tender place
that Miss Matte lacked the resolution
to tear 1t out: besides, it was so hon
est that it sounded much less like q
compliment than plain statement of
fact She bent hastily over the fire.
I'm glad look young. WILL" she said
softly
"So'm t. he assented heartily.
whats the sense in being old, any
how? I'm as timber and good for
myself as ever | was in spite of my
forty years"
you're not forty years oldw ex-
claimed Miss Matte. You're joking.
'Nary joke-forty round trips from
flying snow to roses since | hit land,
Mattie-why, you were only little
| girl when | left here-don't you re-
member? You and your folks came TO
see us the week before | left. ] got a
thrashing for taking you and Joe to
the millpond and helping you to get
food and wet. The thrashing was one
Vt the things that gave me banker
Ing for the west. Very liberal man
with the hickory, father Spare the
clothes and spoil the skin was his
motto. He used to make me strip to
the waist-phee-hew! Even a light
breeze rested heavy on my back when
dad got through with me- Say, Matte
perhaps l oughtn't to say so, now that
he's gone, but don't think that's the
proper way to use boy, do your
"No, l don't" said Miss Matte
"Your father meant well, but his way
was useless and cruel
"I've forgiven him the whole
sweep" said Red. But, d-n me
If had a boy wouldn't club the life
out of him; I'd try to reason with him
first, anyhow Makes a boy as ugly
as anybody else to get the hide whaled
off his back for nothing-once in
awhile he needs it. Boy that's got any
life in him gets to be too much oc
casionally, and then a warming is
healthful and nourishing. Lord, you'd
think was the father Of my country
to hear me talk, wouldn't you? II
somebody'd write a book, What Red
Saunders Don't Know About Raising
Children It would be full Of valuable
Information. How's that breakfast
coming on?"
"All ready-sit right down, WILL
go your cried Red. and incautious
" flung himself upon one Of the kitch
en- chairs, which collapsed instantly
and dropped him to the door.
Mercy on us! Are you hurt" cried
Miss Matte, rushing forward.
"HurtY said Red. TRY 1t! JUS
Jump up in the air and sit on the foo
where you are now, and see II you gel
hurtl Oh, mol I'm not hurt, but In
astonished beyond measure, like thu
man that tickled the mule. I'll take
my breakfast right here-shouldn't
wonder a bit II the floor went bacl
on me and landed me In the cellar. No
SIR! won't get up! Hand me the
supplies. know when I'm well of
II you want to eat breakfast with me
come sit on the floor. I'm not going t.
have my spine pushed through the TOT