The Press., 1910-03-16

s-tA care.
 .sI am seventeen" he answered stur- dily as he drew his strong young fg- ure to it's fuli height. Fl went with father to his work in the mountains every day. and he said was the strongest boy of my age he ever saw. | shall soon make nice home for you"
 "Never mind it's being nice. Jacky. A hoyel or woodshed anything to get away from here. And 1t will not cost so much to live. You have no idea how little we can get along with- we twc.'' Her eyes were shining now. and the color was coming back into her cheeks. 'l-I was afraid that l should have to live here always"
 When the rest of the women began to dle in from the Kitchen the two were standing by the window. talking earnestly.
 John picked up his hat.
 .'lll come and see you as often as l can, grandmother he said as he moved toward the door. ''and 1t will not be long before l have Q 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 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 dream of the possibility of his relatives being unable to provide for him. And here he was pennilssss and his supposed wealthy grandmother in the poorhouse.
 He almost felt glad that bis 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. ''I 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 fhe fields he could see farmers beginning their spring wOrk-pickilg 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 ne tried again. At last he found man who said he was just the sort of boy he had been look ing for.
 One day in the latter part of April a farm wagon drove up to the poor house. and boy sprang lightly to the ground.
 Sitting on ihe stone wall was the same man be had met before. SiOnch- ing across the barnyard were several of the dilatory hands.
 "I've come for Mrs. Carter" said the boy respectfully.
 The man took straw from his mouth.
 Well. I don't mind" he answered grnttiy. 'D'ye think you can support ber?'
 "Yes.''
 "Where ye gOin'?''
 "I'nl working on the Taylor farm. and we're going to have the little house in the lower pasture
 ''That:' cOntemptuously. Why. nO- body's lived in 1t for years: 'Tain't ft to live iu."
 "I've dxed up a couple of rooms so they'll do very welI,'' replied the boy quietly. ..and MV. Taylor says he will have 1t repaired before another winter. He isn't going to charge us any rent until he has It fixed"
 hok does he pay yOu:''
 ''Three dollars Il week and let's me have a big garden where raise all the vegetables want
 ''H'm: We'll. that's pretty fair wages for a boy. If ye're clOst guess ye can rub along. An l calc'late the old lady will be mighty glad to git away"
 He watched the boy us he went across the yard and into the house. Then he hurried his tardy workmen into the field.
 When the old farm wagon rattled down the lane he was mending d gap in his line wall. but he found time 10 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.
 ''It beats all natur' how some folks Is contented." he solilOquized as he turned away. Them two's as pleased as though they was in carriage inc stead of raylor's old rattle-de-bang wagon!i'