Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-09

to file in from The kitchen the Two
were standing by the window. talking
earnestly.
John picked up his hat.
"I'H come and see you as often as
can, grandmother" he said as he
moved toward the door. land it will
not be long before i have home for
you"
AS he went down the lane he could
not help contrasting his prospects with
those of the boy who had passed there
a short half hour before.
He thought of the long talks that he
and his father had had about his fu-
ture-the studies and college life and
the work to be done afterward.
Neither of them had ever dreamed
of the possibility of his relatives being
unable to provide for him. And here
he was penniless and his supposed
wealthy grandmother in the poorhouse.
He almost felt glad that his father
was dead and could not know.
At the head of the lane he paused
and glanced back at the rambling farm
house and its outbuildings.
Poor grandmother" he said aloud.
81 must not keep her waiting very
long"
Although 1t was still March. the sun
was hot and the snow nearly gone
Here and there in the fields be could
see farmers beginning their spring
work-picking up stones and mending
the walls and fences.
After awhile he went across to one
Of the groups and asked for work.
But he was too late. The farmer had
already hired all the help he wanted
A little farther on he tried again. At
last he found a man who said he was
just the sort OF boy he had been look
ing for.
One day in the latter part Of April n
farm wagon drove up to the poor
house, and a boy sprang lightly TO the
ground.
Sitting on the stone wall was the
same man he had met before. SLOUGH
ing across the barnyard were several
OF the dilatory hands.
"I've come for Mrs. Carter" said the
boy respectfully.
The man took a straw from his
mouth.
"Ctie \ dOh LIZ aus "CA~0
gruf1y. "D'ye think you can support
herY'
yes"
"Where We goin'?"
I'm working on the Taylor farL-,
and we're going to have the little
house in the lower pasture"
Thar contemporary. why. no.
body's lived in it for years. 'Tain't
fit to live in
"I've Fixed up a couple Of rooms SO
they'll do very WELL" replied the boy
quietly, land Mr.. Taylor says he will
have it repaired before another winter.
He isn't going to charge us any rent
until he has it fixed"
Shouldn't think be would. What
does he pay you?"
Three dollars a week and lets me
have a big garden where / raise all
the vegetables want"
-'H'ml Well, that's pretty fair wages
for a boy. If ye're clost / guess ye
can rub along. An 1 calc'late the old
lady will be mighty glad to git away"
He watched the boy as he went
across the yard and into the house.
Then he hurried his tardy workmen
into the field.
When the old farm wagon ratified
down the lane he was mending a gap
in his line wall. but he found time to
straighten up and gaze at them as they
rode away.
The boy was clad in rough jacket
and blue overalls that showed many
stains of the brown earth he was be-
coming familiar with. The old lady
had a fine shawl of some ancient pat
tern around her shoulders.
The man gazed after the wagon until
it had disappeared from sight.
cit beats all natur' how some folks
is contented," he solioquized as he
turned away Them two's as pleased
as though they was in a carriage in
stead OF Taylor's old rattle-de-baug
WaeonI"