The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-07-30

Grandfather Hilditch sighed.
Here, jamie, don't you want to read
them?" he asked the young girl, who
sat at his feet reading her own mail.
The weekly budget from the uncles
and aunts? We are a methodical fam
lily, aren't WEI Your children are faith
full about these Monday letters, aren't
they, grandpa? know that every Sun
day father reminds mother TO write.
He isn't much of a hand at letters,
but he certainly wants you TO hear
from us, and mother has so much
time"
"Yes, the children are all good about
writing. 1t is a habit they learned
when they were away at school, re-
piled grandfather, and again he sighed
almost imperceptibly. Janet looked at
him curiously, and then began with the
letters.
She read them through, and then
read them again. There was one from
her own mother. hoping that Father
Hilditch was quite well, and that
Janet's visit of week would not prove
troublesome TO him. She concluded
with the information that all were
well, that the weather was unsettled
In Atlanta. and that there was no news
of interest.
There was a six-line note from Uncle
Sam, stating that il was rainy Ia Jack
sonville, and the mosquitoes still bad
but that all were we'll. No other news
Of interest.
Aunt Isabel wrote briefly that she
was suffering from a cold, that they
were having lovely weather in Ashe-
vile. and that nothing worth mention
had transpired since her last.
Uncle Toms letter was comprised
within a very few typewriter sen
fences, hoping that his father was well
and comfortable, and requesting to be
notified at once should there be any
thing TO the contrary. He added that
his family was well, and taking advan
tage of the fine autumn weather tC
make a little cruise with some friend:
on their yacht. There was nothing elst
worth telling, except what father haC
already seen in the newspapers.
Grandfather Janet sat up very
straight, after few moments of deer
consideration. Il wonder what peopl,
think they mean when they say, NJ
news Of interest?"
"Eh?" He laid down the paper ant
| regarded her over his glasses. News
you say, honey?"
"Yes, news. These letters seem t,
have so little in them"
"Oh, yes, yes. Except for the dates
they are pretty much the same ever,
week, but | am so thankful to heal
| from the children, and to know tina
they think enough Of me not to neglec
to write on the appointed day. 1 hav,
good children-and good grandchildren
too" He smiled at her. II tell you, 1
pleased me nightly that my youn.
lady granddaughter should come to tn,
old place in the country In her rount
Of visits, when the other places are al
80 gay and lively for young folks"
81 think it is lovely here" replied
Janet. absently: and then. returnin,
to the subject OF the letters. do 70,
write every week tC the others. as yol
do to US at homer
"Oh, yes, indeed" said grandfather
and then he proceeded to look owe
the death notices in his paper.
Janet sat with folded hands, trying I,
remember just what was In those thIl
letters that came weekly to her home
In their ready-stamped envelopes. Il
had been good while since she ha,
even taken the trouble to glance owe
one of them, and she knew how careles
the others of her family were. On
Tuesdays her father would ask at din
ner, Hear from father this morning !?
Yes, he is quite WELL" her mothe
would answer. There was nothin
else Of any Importance" And We
Janet recalled that the homely epistle
told Of the thriving and garnering o
crops on the old farm. of neighhorhoo'
happenings. OF the housekeeper's trit
ulatiOns with her feathered flocks, an
Of the outlook for the cattle and swim
little things, that made up so niue
Of life to the lonely old man. who pre-
ferred the independence OF his ow
vine and fig-tree to place in his Chi
dren's homes.
And these didn't tell him a singl
thingv' said Janet Indignantly to hei
self, and wondered why. A mischievou
little twinkle crept beneath her lowere
lids after she had pondered a while
"Grandfather," she exclaimed, sudder
", Il am going to stay four weeks wit
you. instead of one!'
Il $50? You think you can stand tn
country that Iong:" He put his han
softly on her head.
I'll love It. if only you will let m
feel that l am helping YOU"
"Helping me. little daughter? VIII.
Of course Yon shall do anything yo
like-you can drive me round the farI
and read to me in the evenings"
"And want to be your secretar.
too. See how your hand shakes. l.,
me do all your writing account
and ALL"
''To be sure, TO be sure"
well, then, this is your day to al
swer these letters. Tell me just wha
to say to them ALL"
Grandfather hesitated, and Jane
looked away. She knew well that 81
was asking him to giSe up one Of b
greatest pleasures.
"Why, let them know that am wei
! and tell them the news about the plac