Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-02-10
A Fresh Start
Copyright $50. BY Associated Literary Press

anxiously that her husband hroke an,
in sort Of anger.
We'll. girl. don't be afraid Of ma
know we have to have things! wen
manage somehow-dont worry!"
But he worried. and knew that sh>
did. They rose. and he lit the f,re.
and helped the children dress. A sort
Of gloom hung over the breakfast
table. and suddenly Johnny exploded
in tears. The little girls Joined A
sympathy. The child's grief, worms6
out Of him finally, was vested IN The
fact that the Jones boys were guinx
to have turkey an everything else.
an go to the show at the theaytsr
besides. Couldn't they, the Morris
children. have 'nothingr"
The mother comforted. the father
was little stern.
We'll have Just what we can e.
ford" he said. land not thing more
You young ones amt hungry nor cold
nor ragged like children on the street
every day. You keep still aud eat
what's put before you. Your mother
always has something good, and II Il
amt turkey. It win at least all yoa
up"
The father rose and took his dinner
pail. Rose had filled 1t Unusually
well with better food than usual Her
man. the breadwinner. should be the
last to feel any lack. He went to bis
days carpentering
When the three older children were
in school. Rose cooked for dear life.
She got plenty of good tender beef
and boiled 1t for pie, which should
be overlooking with gravy. and re-
plete with little carrots and onions.
parsley and ''hxiPs." She made
huge sheet Of ginger bread She
baked pumpkin pie. She nodded the
cranberry sauce in little forms. She
made a great plateful of molasses
candy in fancy shapes. for she was
clever through her love. There would
be mashed potato. and an orange q
piece and some nuts, too. Her day
was full. for the baby was wakefui
Supper was plentiful. though plain.
but after waiting long and vainly.
mother and children sat down and
ate alone. Finally the little ones
went to bed. At eight hs had not
come. nor at nine. At ten she was
stiff with fear What had happened7
An accident-she would have heard Of
that She conjured up fears. still
| oras,~ ~,o~h.,fo.ffv C<.,,ld h1 ho~..
begun to drink agar? There had
been some bad months in their FIRST
married year. But for eight years nos
he had been all a husband could be-
then the familiar step camo.
Sam came In, quietly. not to wake
the babies. He was painting for
breath, black with coal dust. his eyes
bloodshot. He sank into chair
Then he smiled at his wife. and un'
clinching his right hand put two Cd
yer dollars on the table before her.
For tomorrow" he explained. n
may get chicken enough--or small
turkey. I've unloaded coal since g.
The haulers have struck was glad
of the chance. See here. Rose. while
you get me q bite let me tell you
the news. We amt 50 bad of. saw
Jim Forney's pail. and he had Only
bread and q little cooked meat.
divided with him-and gave him tive
dollars. He's up against It, You don't
mind?"
She shook ter head and stirred the
IRE.
And there's trouble at Jonesa
He's mortgaged his place. and he got
fired today-some tricky business
about the material On top Of that.
young Peters is gcing to marry some
rich girl tomorrow. Elvie's all broke
up"
He went to the sink and washed,
} and, sitting down. attacked the bake1
beans and bread and coffee. She
} watched him. glad Of his returns6
cheerfulness.
"Other folks troubles makes q TEL
low glad for what he's got. I'm
ashamed Of the Crouch I've had on
You have the worst end OF this part
nership, anyhow. Girl. we win cheer
ND and take fresh start.
He rose and lit his pipe Then ne
came to her hair and put bis big arm
over her shoulder.
Il hope amt glad oil Jones's trou'
: ble." he said awkwardly Il know
I'm sorry for him. But--they gave
me bis job. That means s15 moro
every month. You glad?"
, She huggel her head down againz'
, his arm and nodded. She could not
: speak. After while, she took mf
silver dollars from the table.
sam, what you said to Johnny TN
morning was all right I've got =
good dinner planned and wen have
1 Just that and nothing more ms
4 money win get the boy his new shoes
/ He's got to learn to put up with unz.
!. we can afford. What do you say
r He puffed his pipe. turning his nea'
: lest the smoke get in her face