The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-29
When Pa Kicked Over the Traces
By GERTRUDE G. BLAISDELL.

Ma looks out of the window, fan
ming herself vigorously with her blue
checked Bingham apron.
1T beat the Dutch" she says to
Arvylla, the younger daughter. "It
does beat the Dutch how your Pa
tramps over to the neighbours for
water. Here's our cistern full and all
we need is drinking water brought,
and by actual count that's the elev-
enth time he has fetched a pail to-
lay"
why, Ma" says Arvylla, as she
drops the pea pods in the wide bas-
ket, and g~lances down the path at her
father as he plods along between the
banks of poisoning roses. why,
Ma, we don't drink no eleven pals of
water a day.
Land sakes alive, Arvylly, of
course we don't; he jist pours it out
and says he thinks he'll get some
fresh water. I'm afraid, I'm afraid,
Arvylly, that something dretful ails
your pa. Now his consin, Sallie
Brown, her that was Sallie Perkins.
died with some such an ailment, and
that is jist the way she acted, was al
ways thinkin' about fresh water,
would drink a hull pail at a time, so
they said"
The tears were coursing down Mas
placid face and Arvylla looked up
scared and white, ."Oh, Ma" she
gasps, Don't"
Meanwhile. Pa, the object of their
concern, plods along the path and
into the yard of their neighbor.
Thoughts and impulses to which he
had always before been stranger
surge through Pas gentle breast.
Heretofore life has held for him only
his "wimmenfolks." Ma and the
girls have been the sum and sub
stance Of his existence. When a
few years before they had decreed
that the old farm should be sold and
a home made in town, Pa had not de-
INJURED. Ma knows best" he said.
What if out behind the barn with no
n to see but old Rover, a few tears
had trickled down the withered old
cheeks. The "wimmenfolks" had
never known. He had said goot-by
to the dear old farm where his whole
life had been spent, to the COWS and
horses, the lambs and calves. No one
had known the cost to the poor old
man M 0nn ,n1acc ~ MO D1-or
who looked up in his eyes in such a
sympathetic way that Pa felt he I'M
derstood. even if Ma and the girls
did not. Poor Rover, town had been
too much for the farm dog and the
syringa bush had blossomed over his
grave now for two seasons.
Four weeks ago when Pa had gone
to the neighbours for a pail of water,
there, in the woodshed, curled up be-
side their savage little mother, we're
six of the plumpest, most winning
fox terrier puppies possible to i'm
agine. That was the beginning. The
puppies were very friendly and soon
would scamper to meet him, growl-
ing and barking and jumping about
him in delight and Pa enjoyed the
frolic even better than they.
Better take one. Mr.. Perkins,"
said the neighbor pleasantly. But
Ma and the girls had instantly We
toed such a possibility when Pa had
timidly suggested it.
What. a puppy trackin' over my
clean floors, well, l guess not"
gasped Ma.
One day when Pa went over there
were only five bright-eyed, frisky
puppies left. The next day Fatty was
gone. To-day there is only one, but
the brightest and best of the lot
thinks Pa as he grabs little Spotty
up. "Oh, Spotty, Spotty, I can't let
you go, l can't" he groaned. Then
something very like a twinkle
cleaned in the old mans eyes, and
he muttered TREMENDOUSLY: "I'll do it,
l will, I'll kick over the traces this
once"
If the "wimmenfolks' had worried
over him before they were in agony
about him now. His peculiar desire
for fresh water gives place to many
new but equally startling vagaries,
1t is a usual thing now when they sit
down to an unusually good dinner
and the old man has prepared the
meat and vegetables for eating to sud.
denly push back his plate, declaring
that he feels 'porely" and cannot eat
unless he carries his dinner out OF
doors. Seems like the smell of the
roses and SIGH makes things more
tasty" he murmIrs.
why, sure. father. dear says
Arvylla the first time this happens,
"Well set the table out under the
apple tree tomorrow ii YOU "a eat
better there" Her father shakes his
head, Il want to eat alone" he says
shortly