Mexico Missouri message., 1909-03-18
CHAPTER VII.
Sweet Simplicity.

And 80 that's how they begun to live
the Natural Life, what Van called the
MISREPRESENTATION" kind. l says
they" but / ought to have said I'VE"
for was in II. was In It over head
and hands from that time on. didn't
mean to be. When / said wouldn't
emigrate to Horsefoot Ozone and be
cook and general roustabout for the
Heavenly Twins was Just as certain
meant what I said as a body could be.
NO" says l.
YES" says Van.
How can leave the Old Home
folks?" l says.
How can you leave u.s." he says.
But you've got James"
Yes but James hasn't got u.s."
But I can't afford to come" says /.
You can't AFFORD TO do anything
else" says he. And that's about what
It amounted to- couldn't afford to do
nothing else. The wages kept jumping
like summer folks bids at one Of them
auction sales Of antiques" | seemed
to be as valuable as grandmother's
busted hair cloth sofa. II I'd hung out
long enough cal'late the Heavenlies
would have Hxed me so I'd havesbegun
TO feel twas a crime to die rich.
give In first: want everybody to I'm.
derstand that.
"All right" says l. "Thatl do; I'll
come. But hope you'll pay me in a
dark room. I'll be ashamed to look
you in the face and take that much
money"
They said they was satisfied II /
was. was satisfied. all but my con-
science. Made me wish l could swop
consciences with Scudder.
Mates conscience wasn't worrying
him any; you can bet on that /
wan'n't around when he made the deal
Tor renting 'em the island. but, from
what heard afterwards. the price
would have been high II he'd been sell.
ing It 10 'em by the pound to scour
knives with. He agreed to get bedding
for EN- and tin things. and a pig, and
crockery. and hens. and groceries. and
boards to tinker up the barn with. and
anything else that might come IN
handy. Likewise he was TO fetch and
carry for 'em between the village and
the island; so much to fetch and twice
that to carry. And Hubby Ann was to
do the washing.
When the Twins told me about It
you'd think they'd just pulled through
one of them stock deals" Of theirs,
and come out on top.
Isn't It great?" crows Van, happy
as q clam at high water. We've ar,
ranged It all. Everything is provided
for and will be done"
could see two things that was go.
ing 10 be done-brown; but l didn't
say nothing.
TITS mighty good Of seudder to &C
eommodate us this way" says Hart
ley. Hes a gem. a rough diamond
"scudder." says Van, lis one OF Ma
lures noblemen."
OF course 'twa'n't none Of my funer
al; couldn't interfere. But I'm 9
democrat myself. so the nobility DOM
appeal to me much, and IL Nate scud
der's n diamond I'm glad l can't AZ
ford jewelry.
The next day was busy one for al
hands, each in his own particular
line. Nate commenced running "ac
cOmmodation" trains. 50 70 speak. be
tween his house and the village and
HorBefOot Bar-Ozone island, shoul,
say. AS for me, went up to the Oh
Home house right on. explained mat
ters TO the manager and cleared on
for my new Job. The Heavenlies rnoye'
over TO Ozone that very morning. Lor,
James went with 'em and the slmpll
! aaturalness commenced.
, Fast as Nate would arrive IN hi
/ dory with a cargo OF dunnaga I'd chr
It up to the Berry house and dump 1
, on. the piazza. Lord James was fiylnI
/. around, with q face on him as sour q
a cranberry pie. opening windows an
/ airing rooms and sweeping out, an
the Ike OF that The old shebang ha
/ been shut up for q couple Of year
and was as musey sud damp &c 4 n
, eeiying tomb. His lotdahip looked lilE
} the head mourner; this kind Of woE
|. Jared his dignity.
Look acre. Pratt" says he 70 m'
'"ow long do you think wo'rs going
stay 'ersY"