The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-02-15

ndf GU OtliSl IlolIGIS DdDlCS IlFSSy
doctored colts, calves, pigs, hived
bees. etc, will not say SO very much
about my keeping house, but the old
man never seemed to want a divorce
SO it must not nave been very bad. 1t
might have been cooking that saved
the day. There is another worry so
many other women have to contend
with | escaped, that was punctuality
at meals and those strictly on time.
This is good place to tell another
secret how to keep young and that is
TO avoid nagging at every little thing
your husband does, that habit will
make 80 wrinkles a year if kept up.
Of life passed through there was
another blessed thing that kept my
heart young even after gray hairs
and buniOns came, was the liking !
had for young folks company and |
still enjoy young people. So many
old people get cranky and cross
much said about Nt th sfe and tner en
joyments and pleasures someone told
US we were the youngest old folks
they ever saw, was not that a nice
compliment. So if any of you do not
want to grow old it is easy to stay
young if you do not worry, work off
least it kept me from feeling old and
made my way pleasant along life's
Journey SO far. Another thing that
kept my heart young was the conf
dental talks l had with young peo-
pie as lovers and otherwise. l always
tried to tell them the best thing to
some came to me in after years and
told me how glad they were they had
followed my advice. l think it was
the Fountain of Youth in my heart
that never went dry through all the
tribulations and trials have passed
through so laugh and grow young in
stead of fat, is my advice to you and
at least l have found it SO more OF
less. Someone has said whatever
poet, orator or sage may say of 1t
old age is still old age, it is the wan
ing not the crescent moon, it is the
dusk of evening, not the glare of the
moon,
have told you what stubborn
desire had to live to a ripe old age,
but my hold on life nearly ceased
years ago. Most of you remember
the last time l was near death the
doctors said there was no hope. I
asked my daughter what they said,
s sven she Sose % Why sad hey
was resurrected once more. have
never been sorry that am still able
to have jolly good time with you
all twice a month. OF course my
memory. cells do not open or respond
as quickly as in my youthful days
and you may think l am growing old
and had better retire from the club
after hearing this spontaneous sketch
so l will simply close this discussion
by cautiOning you not to worry, for
worry always makes a drudge; do
not worry over such little things as
sand and dirt for soap and water Will
remove that, but not the nasty
merry, jolly, loving and kind to nus
band and children. Laugh and the
world laughs with you; remember it.
l know l have tried your patience
and told you nothing to speak of but
il would take Rip VanWinkle OF
twilight sleep to figure out how J
have kept young as all you. people
written tells the whole story.
mist write little more and not stop
on the thirteenth page as that might
bring i'll luck on me so have little
| more patience.
The first summer after was mar
ried Mr.: Strong was blowing corn q
| half mile away. l thought I would
do the Samaritan act and take him a
| nice cool drink of water. He was at
the other end of the row of corn
when | got there, his coat was lying
or the grass. | sat down on it to
rest and sat there minute or two
and felt something moving under me.
Thinks /, | have sat down on a toad.
] jumped up Immediately but was
afra id to look then, he came and
tclA him there was toad under hi;
coat He picked it up and revealed
quite a large rattlesnake. Well,
, wasn't quite scared to death. The
, November following | was picking I'D
wild crab apples for winter use |
put my hand down beside another
big RATHER coiled up ready to strike,
bit he was too chilled and frozen to
uncoii as they have to do before
striking. Well this is a little over
half of the escapes ! have had, to say
nothing about the ghost stories |
could relate Of my own actual ex-
perience, but not even these turned
my hair gray.
Well, | will close this youth and
old age history which is no dream
but actual facts. and ] sincerely hope
when the last curtain drops it may
softly fold over me like the ripening
of autumn leaves or the petals OF a
rose falling, falling, falling.
KATE STRONG.