Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-06

over before I come in here. What on
earth are you doin'?''
Erwin ,doughnuts. The youngsters
is wild about them They wouldn't
think they was at gran'ma's II there
jams an jeii
Well. ia wait until tomorrow an
let Loretta help or do 1t all. You know
the doctor wanted you to rest up a
bit this summer
This won't hurt me. love to have
things nice for EN- she protested.
Il do! / do!' she cried fiercely to
herself. after he was gone. Il love
any one O. 'em enough to die for EN-.
I'm hungry to see EN- / want 'em to
come. Butt don't know what's got
into mel don't want to spend all
them hot summer days cookin' and
washing for Loretta's young ones,
must be gettin' old, or somethin'. Any
way. whatever's come over me, feel
jest if l can't stomach it this
oncet.'
Loretta had said nothing about the
children coming in her letter There
was no need. Every year since there
had been a baby to leave she had left
it with it's grandmother. The it had
now changed to ''them'-fve healthy
youngsters. who clamored for their
grandmother whenever vacation time
drew nigh. And she had always given
them a royal welcome, while their par
ents hied themselves to one of the sum-
mer resorts, where they might recu
perate from the tasks of the winter.
II wouldn't to mind il Loretta d
! stay an help me with the work" Mrs.
Johnson thought to herself. Il know
I hadn't ought to mind at all. But il
she'd stay and help Jest oncet. Or "
she'd stay an do it al1-milk an tend
to the youngsters. an chickens an all
! wouldn't grudge a year outen my
life if she'd jest do that, an let me
go away with pa. / can't tell how
I'd admire summer spent like that.
We amt never had. any good times.
pa an me. FIRST. there wasn't money
enough then there was Loretta. Billy
an Bertie-too many young ones 10
lug around an have a good time After
that there was schoolin' an college
! doins. The lad knows there's been .
| somethin' ag'in me an pa gettin' off
| this place ever since we been married.
An ! want to the worst way in the
| world. Pas gettin old: I'm gettin'
old Some day there'll only be one O.
U.S. An what would the other care
| for any good times as could be? What
| good times could there ever be ag'in?'
The tears started and tricl<led down
her face at the very thought. But she
| kept on frying the doughnuts. She
| washed away the traces of tears be-
| fore Mr.. Johnson came in She even
| hummed a little song to make him
think that she was not tired. From
the depths of the big willow rocker he
smiled up at her.
"Why. mother" he said, ct amt heard
you sing Lorena' for ages an ages! 1t
does me good to hear you. We used to
| sing it in singing school, do you re-
memberg
Did she remember The tears were
very near as she thought of that far
| off time. But she answered cheerfully.
Ef'Yes, / remember. pa. Lawsy, amt IT
long time ago? We used to have good
times then
eve had good times all our life. lest
bein' together" he said.
Yes" she answered, I'VE had a happy
| life
why do you say had mother? We're
havin' one right now. The worst o the
| struggle is over: we got our young ones
raised an settled; we got money, so
there amt no bother about that; we
! got good home; an we got health an
strength to enjoy it as long as the good
! Lord let's u.s.
| Presently the doughnuts were all
fried and pies and cookies made. Mr..
Johnson cleared up the muss,' and
/ the old couple retreated to the porch
again.
mo cookin' tonight he said decid-
edly "AN as is goin' to be done is a
cup O coffee made. An I'll do that.
Wen have cold meat an some O. them
Indian pickles. An for dessert Wen
eat doughnuts an pie. I'll bet there's
many a rich man O. my age as would
give some O. his money jest to be able
to tackle pie like I kin
I'VE always had good health an ap-
petites, she agreed absently.
They sat until almost dusk. Then Mr.
Johnson MIXED the COW and made a
cup Of coffee He set out the cold sup
per and ate with a right good will.
But Mrs. johnson did not eat.
Whats the matter, mother" he ask
1 ed. "You amt eatin' a bite. Did you
get too tired to eat? I told you that
you hadn't ought to do all that bakin'
an fryin."
! faint that" she said. Il jest don't
| feel like eatin', that all. Now there
amt thing the matter, pa. You jest
make out a good supper an don't be