Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-02-09
VISITING
AT JIM'S

over the country. And she's real capa-
BILE. too. There's hardly anything she
can't do.
mo. didn't teach her any Of my
old recipes. She's been to cooking
school and she knows the why and
wherefore OF everything that goes into
the mixing bowl. She doesn't believe
In my way OF putting In enough -four to
make a stin batter and in seasoning
to taste Good housekeepers nova
days know all about the chemistry and
hygiene OF cooking, Merle says. She
declares that she won't keep a maid
who doesn't go at her work scientific
ally. could Just hear my Amanda
who's been with me ever since Jim
was little boy-sniff II ever in
quired Of her, as Merle did OF her maid
one day, II she had sterillzed the milk
and used anuseptics when she was
cleaning the refrigerator.
oh. yes. | enjoyed my VISIT so
much. Jim's home is Just beautiful.
even II 1t Is an apartment When
first got there Merle showed me the
guest chamber and said: You can
dress here, mother. and sleep on the
porch. II you want to-.
The porch!' exclaimed, feeling
kind of rufled, for 1t didn't sound very
loving or hospitable to me to be told
| could sleep on the porch.
Jim saw how | felt, and he spoke
UP and told me that they we're very
proud OF having a sleeping porch
| that lots of apartments didn't have any
outdoor place for sleeping. and that
people are getting to think that it's
not healthy to sleep in the house.
We'll. l said, I've got to be 81
| years old without any serious illnesses
contracted from sleeping in a bedroom
and | guess I'll risk it.
1T does seem an awful shame for
Jim to pay as much rent year for
| those small rooms as It would take to
! buy a real nice little home in Krog.
Vile But when l spoke to him about
1t he just laughed and said That's
all right. mother. but | couldn't earn
enough money at my trade In Krog-
vile to buy a chicken coop
You know. Jim's a lawyer, and
we're a kind OF peaceable neighbor-
hood around here, aren't weH | sup.
pose he is better OF there In the city
but sometimes since I've been home
get to feeling might sorry for him
and Merle, perched up there In the
eighth story of that building.
When found out that children
aren't allowed in that building l sale
to Merle For heavens sake, NOV,
70 some place where you can raise ;
family II you want to Merle JUS
smiled and said they were very com
portable where they were for the pres
ent.
Merle is always smiling and pc
lite. but she can be pretty firm wher
she feels like it. One day when I'C
been round to the drug store on the
next corner-that's as far as theyd
let me go alone-and / came into the
little reception hall all out of breath
Merle said: Mother. do believe you
walked all the way upstairs.
well, what of it?' | asked Aren't
my legs meant for use?
They aren't meant to climb seven
flights of stairs, and you mustn't do II
again. she said. Jim wouldn't like It,
Il had to smile at that, because
Jim's seen me running up and down
stairs and all over the place from
dawn to dark ever since he used to
toddle up to the attic chamber and
help me make up the hired mans bed
"'But, mother he said that night
when Merle told him of my feat, as she
called it. there's no extra charge for
/ the elevator service, and the boy who
runs It will feel that he isn't giving
satisfaction If he sees you walking up
the stairs.
"Of course, after that rode up and
down every time. and the boy seemed
so pleased-for he was always bowling
and touching his cap-that one day.
when Merle went out to her bridge
club and | was kind of lonesome, | lust
took my knitting and rode up and
down with him all afternoon. and We
got real we'll acquainted. | asked him
II he wouldn't like 10 come out here to
Krogville and work for his living on
farm or at the blacksmith shop, in.
stead of just idling his time away In
that elevator. He said Il didn't look
very good to him. but he'd think Il
over.
Society? Oh. yes. Merle has lots OF
society and she gave a stylish recep
tion to me and. of course, enjoyed
IL ever so much. Still. must say that
! never was so taken aback In my life
as | was when she began introducins
me to them as Mime. Reynolds l.
who. have been Mrs. Reynolds ever
since | was IT!
Just plain Mrs. Reynolds. jim
Reynolds mother from Krosvtlle. /
said to the nrst lady she introduced
! me to. Just as she was going to say
something another one =, came and