The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-04-08
CHAPTER VII.
Cephas Speaks.

WINS Shht Nut StuC
was so beautiful IL seemed as II
no one could be unhappy. how
ever great the cause. That was
what waltstill Baxter thought as she
sat down on the milestone step for a
word with the old Joiner, her best and
most understanding friend in all the
village.
i've come to do my mending here
with you,r she said brightly. as she
took out her well filled basket and
threaded her needle. Isn't II a won
derful morning? Nobody could look
the world in the face and do wrong
thing ON such a day. could they, Uncle
BartT
The meadows were a waving mass Of
golden buttercups; the shallow water
at the rivers edge just below the shop
was blue with spikes Of arrow weed;
a bunch Of fragrant water lilies, gath
cred from the mill ponds upper levels,
lay beside Waitstill's mending basket,
and every foot Of roadside and field
within sight was swaying with long
stemmed white and gold daisies. The
June grass, the friendly, humble, COM
panionable grass. that no one ever
praises as they do the flowers, was a
rich emerald green, a velvet carpet fit
for the feet Of the angels themselves.
And the elms and naples. Was there
ever such a year for richness OF foil
age? And the sky, was 1t ever so blue
or so clear, so far away, or so COM
pletely like heaven, as you looked at
its reflection In the CLASSY surface Of
the river?
"Yes, it's a pretty good day" allowed
Uncle Bart judicialiy as he took a
sQuint at his T-square. IL don't
knows should want to start out an
try to beat 1t. The Lord can make a
good many kinds o. weather In the
course Of a year, but when he puts
his mind on to II an kind o. gives him
self a free hand he can turn out a
June mornin' that must make the dew
II sick TO his stomach with envy! All
the same Waity, my COW amt be-
havin' herself any better'n usual
She's been rampagin' since sun up.
I've seen mother chasin' her out O.
Mis- Days garden patch twice already!
1t seems real good an honey to see
you settin' there SEWN while I'm
workin' at the bench. Cephas is down
to the store. so | s'pose your fathers
of somewheresT
Perhaps the June grass was a little
greener, the buttercups yellower, the
foliage more lacey. the sky bluer. be-
cause Deacon Baxter had taken his
luncheon I'm pail under the wagon
seat and departed ON an unwilling
journey to Moderation. his object be-
ing to press the collection Of some
accounts too long overdue. There was
something tragic in the fact, Waitstill
thought, that whenever her father left
the village for whole day, life at
once grew brighter, easier, more hope
full. One could breathe freely. speak
ones heart out, believe in the future,
when father was away.
The girls had harbOred many delight
full plans at early breakfast As it was
Saturday, Patty could catch little Rod
BOynton II he came to the bridge on
errands as usual. and II Ivory could
spare him for an hour at noon they
would take their luncheon and eat II
together on the river bank as Patty
had promised him. At the last mo-
ment, however, Deacon Baxter had
turned around In the wagon and said:
Patience, you go down to the store |
and have a regular housecleanin' in !
the stockroom. Cit Cephas to lift what |
you can't lift yourself, move every |
thing In the place, sweep and dust II, |
scrub the floor. wash the winder and |
make room for the new stun that |
they'll bring up from Midtown bout
noon. IL you have any time left over
put new papers on the shelves out |
front and clean up and fix the show |
winder. Don't stand round gabbin'
with Cephas, and sect he don't waste
time that's paid for by me. Tell him
he might clean up the terbaccer stains |
round the stove, black II aud cover II |
up for the summer II he amt too busy !
servin' cust'mers."
"fhe whole day spoied!' walled PAD
ty. fiinging herself down In the kitch-
en- rocker. Fathers powers OF inven-
ton beat anything | ever saw! That |
stockroom could have been cleaned any
time this month. and it's too heavy
work for me anyway; II spells my
hands grubbing around those nasty, |
sticky, splintery boxes and barrels. In
stead OF being out Of doors I've got 20
be shut up In that smelly. rummy. to-
baeeoy, salt-hshy, pepperminty place
with Cephas Cole! lie won't have a
pleasant morning. / can tell you! l