The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-07-10
All i'm the Family.

Perhaps Jonathon Higgs did not
know he was hard man with his.
family. 1t is possible to look at
things from a selfish angle so long
that you grow blind to everything
except your own wants. One day in
cary spring, when Jonathan was.
ready to drive into town, his wife
gave him thirty-tive dollars that she
had been saving for months from
her butter and egg money
GO to the furniture store" she
said to him, "and get the new par
lor carpet. They know the one, for
had them lay it away for me a.
month ago."
All day Mrs. Higgs went about her
work singing. But when Jonathan
came there was no roll of carpet in
the wagon; instead, hitched to the
back of the wagon, was a new cul-
tivatOr.
| II found just the cultivator I
needed" he explained, glibly. II
didn't think I could afford it until
you gave me that thirty-five dollars"
But my carpet?" His wife's eyes,
were wet, and she bit her lip to keep
it from trembling. sr
"Oh, the old onell do" he said
with light contempt. whats the
use of spending money for a carpet?
1t amt good to eat, ano it don't
make you any money. Now that Gull
tivator will make me hundred
bushels more corn"
But it was my money" Tears at.
her disappointment and her hus-
bands injustice could not be kept
back any longer. -..y
20 pshaw," said Jonathan, light.
ly, cts all in the family
The old carpet was full of holes,
so Mrs. Higgs tore it up, and left
the floor bare all summer. But
Jonathan did not mind at all. The.
crops were good, and one day in the
fall Mrs. Higgs and one of the girls
went to town to buy the weeks sup
plies. All the men were busy sowing
wheat s.. Hl
The farmer wrote check for a
hundred and sixty dollars, and gave
it to his wife.
MARIA he said, "get this cashedl
at the bank; then go to the hardware
store, pay them hundred dollars,
and tell them to send out that gaso-
line engine they we're showing me.
1t is too hard work for me and the
boys to pump water for all the stock
this winter. And stop at the cloth
ing store and tell Mr.. Jones to send
me that suit 1 tried on. Get him to
take off two dollars if you can. And
you can pay that thirty-dollar ac-
count at the grocery store, too
It was dark when Mrs. Higgs and
Mary drove up that evening, and
when Jonathan went out he was
astonished to see new buggy trail
ing along behind the wagon. And
there were other things in the wagon
that gave him further shock.
Maria" he asked, sharply, did
you order that engineer u
mo" f..
did you get my suit?"
NO." She handed the lines to 4
one of the boys. Nor l didn't pay
the grocery account" she said, cody.
"You can't eat suit nor gasoline
engine nor receipted bill, and they
don't make you any money
Il got new buggy to save wear
on the wagon, new parlor carpet
that will save coal by keeping the
floor warmer, and a new range that'll
cook food right. And l got a new
churn and lot of kitchen things to-
help me and the girls do the work
they will keep us from wearing
out, and save funeral expenses"
But it was my money, and told
you" gasped the amazed Jonathan.
ooh, yes,' said Maria, lightly,
"but It's all in the family. Take
hold here, and you and the boys get
these things unloaded.
There was something so resolnte
IN her tone that he took hold, and
held his tongue. 81 ssss,Ss
y FOR Jon WORk. q