The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1913-05-09
TRIP MADE TROUBLE
But Pa and Ma Stubbins Had a
Long Journey Before Them,
and 1t Was Their First.

Mrs. Melvina Stubbins threw W
both foury hands In horror. Pa had
fallen over something in the wood
shed. The cat shrieked in pain. Then
another crash added CONSERVATION to
the startled woman.
Mrs. Stubbins rushed into the
woodshed. Pa was down on the floor
with load Of stove wood about him.
His nose was bleeding and the water
from the overturned pail on the wash
bench was damned against his over
alls. The cat covered under the
washing machine, licking tenderly al
her bruised tall.
Josiah Stubbins, what be you O.
doin'?" shrieked Melvina solicitously,
grasping the PROSTATE man determin'
edly by the shoulder and striving 70
raise the groaning heap.
Il wuz-jest a-thinkin'-about that
trip Of ourn," he painted, gaining bis
feet, "an' stumbled over tn bootjack
Then the gol-darned cat got in my
way, an went down"
Mrs. Stubbins waved her hands des-
pairingly and sighed.
I'm 80 fdgety now from fist think
in of goin' travelin'," she admitted,
"thet amt good fer nothin'-an
you're worse" heaping it onto Josiah
mercilessly.
Sometimes / reckon 1t amt wuth
tn candle-all this fussin' an stewin'
an packin' an plannin'," he walled.
wiping the blood from his hickory
shirt and looking dazed. Folks would
be better off, reckon, If they stayed
home whar they wuz comfortable"
AN never seein' nothin' at all!''
agreed Mrs. Stubbins, turning the
wash bench right side up and pouring
liberal helping Of water into the
basin. Wash yerself. 1t looks like a
murder"
Josiah went out to the barn, feeling
ruefully of his nose. 1t was evident
that htese were perilous days In the
Stubbins cycle. Getting ready to go
travelling was sadly interrupting the
even tenor of life on the farm. Half
the countryside knew of the proposed
trip by this time, for the local CORE
spondent of the Advocate had chron-
icled the news weeks ago.
AS the gala day approached, Pa and
Ma Stubbins packed and unpacked, in
creasing the tension until neither OF
them slept at night for apprehending
train wrecks. The train was due at
$40 in the morning, but, In their
anxiety not to be late, the couple ar
rived at the depot before 7, fustered
and fidgety.
Better to be little airly," com.
mented Melvina, futtering into seat
in the big, barn-like station, where
the drum stove valiantly gave out its
redolent coal-smoke odors.
Josiah took up his stand before the
closed ticket window and waited i'm
patiently. AS the minutes passed and
the agent busted himself beyond its
portals, their nervousness increased
Josiah looked apprehensively at Mel
vina and shifted his big form onto
the other foot.
"Gittin' most time, amt It, pa?
asked Mrs. Stubbins, wiping her
sharp nose with a polka-dot handker.
chief.
Josiah consulted his watch.
T wish this here window would
open up" he complained restlessly
I'VE ain't got more'n As minutes"
Finally Josiah could hold himself no
longer. He stepped determinedly up
to the ticket-shelf and raped loudly
on the window. The sounds from be-
yond stopped. The agent approached
and threw up the sash.
'T-er--could ye wait on us?" Jo-
siah asked apologetically.
(Which way you goin'?" queried the
agent, none too affably.
EAST" replied Josiah. Il wu2
afeared 1t wuz gittin' late"
'Huh!" grunted the railroad man
PLENTY of time! Where TOT"
"How fur is 1t to Harpersville?"
questioned Mr.. Stubbins, looking the
agent in the eye.
Eighteen miles,"
"At two cents q miller"
"Yes."
"All right Gimme two tickets-an'
return" with the air of man about
to take Niagara. "Melvina an me air
goin travelin'!"