The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1912-02-08
PICKING UP
STONES
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. BY Associated LIT
sraTy Press.
b M oUAD

barnyard milking the one horned COW
when his wife came saunfering out.
She spoke about the new wagon shed
and the need OF a pump for the well
and finally got around 70 say:
Josiah. you won't be mad, win
your
Have you broke lot Of disbes7" be
asked as be looked up.
NO"
Then guess won't be mad. What
Is itY'
Jennie today. He's got back from col
iege He didn't stay but an hour. and
( was sittin' with 'em on the Teranda
all the time. Nothing 10 be mad about.
is thereY'
''Wall. no. but I should have talked
right up 20 him IL ] had found him
here. He knows / can't abide a lazy
man. and that be can never marry Jen-
ME with my consent II she runs
away 10 marry him. then she can new
er darker my door ag'in. So he's back.
ehT'
Yes: he's finished college"
wall. what's he goin' to do. now
that he's got through college7 Is be
goin 70 take right bold and work like
thunder 10 pay the old folks backg'
Josiah. I can't exactly explain what
he's made Of himself. but pickin' up
stones has sOmethin' TO do with IT, Jen-
ME knows. and after be was gone she
said II was a good trade. Did you
ever bear Of what they calls golgistY'
Never. by gosh. and don't want TO.
Coin 10 pickin' up stones. IL he7 Co
in' around plckin' up stones instead Of
usin' q hoe In the cornneid- You
needn't say any more. Sarah. can
see that he's turned out wuss'n pre-
dicted be would"
Three years previous 70 the above
conversation George Lee. q farmers
son. had come counting Jennie White.
He was twenty and Jennie a year
younger. He was called a smart young
man. and Jennie was something OF a
belle. and from the farmers standpoint
Il seemed 10 be a good match Il
seemed 20 until young Lee announced
that be was going 10 college. That
changed Mr.. Whites opinion OF him at
once. Colleges were for shirks and
squirts and one horse lawyers. They
simply spoiled farmers sons. Every
rascal be had ever read OF had been
college graduate. He didn't turn the
young man out doors. but be gave him
70 understand that the daughter would
be for some one who could tell cab
baee head from q burdock.
And unbeknown 10 him. though not
engaged. the young people had main
tained a friendly correspondence and
met occasionally. and now things had
reached a sort Of climax. George Lee
had boldly called AZ the house. and the
farmers wife had noted what she
called signs That talk in the barn
yard had been to prepare the husband !
and father for what might happen. for
she believed that something would
happen. George Lee didn't seem to be
a bit afraid OF anybody or anything. as
she expressed II 70 herself. and she /
noticed that Jennie was very fidgety.
Yes. something happened. II came
two days later. Afr. Lee called again.
and Just In time to catch the father
before going to the field for his after
moons work. He stood right mp like
man before father and mother and said
that be loved Jennie. hoped she loved
him. and wanted her for a wife. His
GOODNESS and dignity took the old man
back for a minute. but presently be
asked.
-Are ron going to run the farm for
your fatherT
no. Mr. White. I have something
better
Il heard It was goin' around ana
pickin' up stones in the fields"
u shall pick up stones and I shall
throw stones away That Is part Of
The profession. BY and by I hope
shall 6nd what I am looking for
Then you look for IL and when you
ind Il you can come back. Better
stay away TN you do. 1 don't want
Jennie 50 upset that she can't help her
mother make soft soap and put up
'ickied peaches"
Six weeks assed away. and one noon
when Farmer White came up from
he field be found young Lee waiting
'or him. At his feet was a heavy
block Of something done up In news
,aper
"You told me when found some
hing almost as good as gold or silver
o come again. said the young man.
But you hain't done II"
Il think so Here's a block Of build
ne marble that I've taken from the
idge back there. There's thousands
md thousands OF tons OF It. and Il is
N on your farm. There's a railroad
My a mile away and big city twen-
y miles OF. VIII you take $4,000 :
or your FARM
young man. don't try to be funny"
~wnl you take $4,000 o0.000T'
Il took Farmer white a quarter OF
n hour to understand the situation.
hen the young man said:
Il can sell the farm to a syndicate
or you. or can marry Jennie and
tay right here and boss things and
clip you make a fortune Which
fould you prefery
Farmer White studied for a moment