The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-08-13
Simple Simon
His
Simple Life.

dOated down over lho AoesS 49,, |
across the fields to where William Douo
was working IN his garden A CLEAN
of satisfaction came over his face He
stood upright, his knuckles at what
might have been called by courtesy the
small Of his back and stretched MIN
seIf Then he got together his fork,
his hoe and his wooden garden basket
and went of TO the house.
He was round and short and elderly
Forty years before his pink tace' Wac
omen ewes. and air of innocent De-
wilderment had earned him the nalne
of Simple Simon from his fellow olerAs
at the London bank at which ne hau
been employed, and middle age hap
only served to make II more appropr'-
ate
He had on a pair Of striped trous-
ers very baggy at the knees, ana
tail coat Of a greenish hue, still BLACK
IN pieces He was wearing out the
cIothes he had at the time Of his re-
tirement When the time came 10 guy
another suit, It would be oil the pattern
called pepper and salt -
II was a fine sunny morning IN May
Iarls we're singing. poised somewhere
IA The blue over the meadows. simple
simon had been aware of them during
the hour In which he had been weed
ing He had also taken notice Oh 'ns
fresh sweetness Of the country arr VI
the smell OF the earth, Of the Vigor-
ous sprine growth that was going on
almost visibly around him, OF tne
bright colors Of the flowers on tue ~
ders of his vegetable ground.
He put his tools away in the sneo ny
had built for their accommodation
cleaned his boots on the iron scraper
outside 1t. and then went along the
bricked path 10 the back Of the MOUSE
and called out, NOW, then, motner'
Eleven o'clock" IN
Mrs. Dodd appeared at the uoor W.
a tray upon which we're jug, glass;
a hunk of bread and cheese sne' wv
was stout and round, and her come,
" face wore the same look OF placlu
Commandment as her husbands. Sh'
had Cd an immense apron over her ns'
stun dress. .,.o,
"Been making the arbor, faIherI
she asked as she deposited the tray %
n wooden bench by the door
~Arbor?" echoed Simple simon, YAK
,ng Ms seat beside the tray why
vorr wits have gone wool gathering
The arbor's from eleven till one. 20
inc 10 start on It now. What nave yo'
been doing?' .,,. q
80, come sense into that girl
head. Now I'm going over the gas
snd china cupboard till dinner Tune
an vou'n like that Lor, what
ne n lei Never o moment withou
something pleasant to 90 anu ON ~
body got a right to come aoHs 81
tell YOU to do something else. NY
mother. is It as good as we nsuIeu
ont or isn't it," -
go along with you'll" repnea MI
nod ~You know well enough wnal
gyon know we'll enough what
mink can't stop talking here
the morning" h.,s
49, hushand finished his morning
e,.oshment and sat for a few mi
-. ,Shhinq his hands on his knee
~ 900 turned toward the sun, IN
hsd already begun 70 color H. In
he cot I'D briskly aud went 70 ms su'
Tor another set Of tools.
simple simon was in his usual
.,iion Of hamngi usalized hfe'lo'
aim and 81 having gained as m .,
satisfaction from Il as he naa anu
pated.
when ne had married thirty ye'
before. with only the salary Of
vo,ne bank clerk upon which TO 4
nort himself. his wife and poss'
family. 1t would have seemed oul
fhe oues.ion, that his prospects Eo
nave enabled dim to buy ~
house with a large garden ID
country and live in It for me ~
fhat remained to him after his "
sbouid be finished But tnel
me end that he and bic wiie nHu
c,ew All through the years q "
ana middle asei and me emu
been accomplished.
rhey had saved a little every /,
rom he first. except n the see Z,
h,eh their daughter had been 2
.oa fhat other black year ~ y.
ehe had rheumsllc fever ano
IA nearly lost her AS time Ner
and simple simon's aalaiy 'ro'S g,
,.e, saved more u came % .'
pIsasure 10 do without things 1''