The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-02-02

chill wind. he walked homeward. He
knew he was already late, that Rose
would be anxious and the supper
waiting, but he would not take the
car Five rides instead Of six for
quarter as until tho change that
morning made a difference both In
his purse and in his temper. He was
angry and discouraged He swung
his dinner pail defiantly as car after
car passed him. The car company
wouldn't get any nickel out OF him
that night-not if he knew it!
Dark came early, and the street
lamps were afiare in the little suburb
where he lived in a small cottage
with his wife and four babies, the
eldest not eight. Tramping up the
walk, the cost of living renewed It's
grip on him-the struggle seemed
against him. Now there was Jones'
he was passing Jones trim little
house-he had some sort of luck.
House paid for, job as foreman
with better pay and little work. The
Jonses had dinner instead OF supper,
and the eldest daughter Elvie. had
quit working down town. Rose told
him that young Peters, son OF Peters
the big contractor was going With
the girl And Jones had not worked
any harder than he, Morris-and was
of doubtful promptness in bill paying.
AS he came up to his own back
door, it opened, and Rose, with the
children at her skirts, met him. He
was silent and rather gruff. He
brushed them aside, took off his cap
and coat and vest, and began splash
ing at the sink
I'm starved" he ventured from
the roller towel at length.
"Everythings on the table, an
swered his wife quietly.
She knew the mans moods and re-
spected them. The day had not been
easy for her. The children had been
talking turkey constantly, and three
of them needed shoes. Also the long
suffering doctor had sent in his bill.
She didn't know now to speak OF
these things The little family sat
down and ate the plain, well-cooked
food: the children were sleepy enough
to be quiet.
You're more'n an hour late. Sam.
Working overtime?"
mo such luck Even an hours ex-
ira work would count. | walked
home. See the papers? Carfare, like
everything else, has gone up q ncts<ss
Only five rides for quarter. | can't
afford luxuries" He broke baked
potato for Johnny, dabbled 1t with
gravy and resumed his eating. Rose
wondered what more they could pos
sibly do without! 1t was her bust
ness to make ends meet-thus far she
had done it. But the string wouldn't
bear further stretching.
Sam spoke like an answer-they
often thought in unison.
1--WE quit on butter and real milk
we have mighty little meat. We
never go to a show We barely keep
the kidlets in school and Sunday
school. You may have to give up
your furs and diamonds, Rose" He
laughed a little, but the woman did
| not-it was not her way. She was
waiting for some word of practical
comfort. And she did not say that
Mrs Jones, brisk and overdressed
for her station, had descended upon
her for a call that afternoon. Elvic
had a new pink dancing dress and
Young Peters was going to take her
to dance the next night.
After the children had duly chat
tered. and had been washed and put
IN bed. husband and wife returned to
the kitchen, which was also dining
and living room. She cleared up the
table and while she washed the
dishes Sam poured over his account
book. his brow in a scowl, his pipe
unlighted. He was going to give up
tobacco. He was glad Rose did not
know he took his dinner bucket away
and ate by himself, sensitive about
the plainness of his fare. The other
men must think him grouch-still
others ate alone; they might not have
noticed. Jim Farney, for instance
he was glad he was not Jim, who had
| five children, one cripple. and half
sick wife whose housekeeping. eveQ
when she was well. was scandal.
Well. ends had to meet someway.
Then Rose got her mending. and
looking up, he met her patient glance.
she gave him little tired smile-it
was Monday and she had WASHED
without help. Then he went on fgu1f
ing and she wondered just what they
would have for dinner on Christmas
The children must not be disappoints
ed. but turkey, or even chicken was
out of the question. Could she MANI
age nince pie and oranges and SONG
real milk? Then she slipped of to
/ answer the call of the baby, covered
the other children more warmly. and
went to bed hersen.
Tuesday dawned bleak, and passed
into night, still bleak and cheerless'
Sam was again late-for again Id
walked home. The little ones, warned
bv their mother, were silent on tho