Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-09-12

quest OF Jane. A1Iusion to this prefer
fence for q lighter task was made by
Genesis, who was erecting trellis on
the border Of the little garden.
"Pappy white all day." he chuckled.
'Whittle all night too. Pappy, thought
you 'uz goin' to git at long bed all
spade up fer me by noon. Amt at
what you tole me?'
You let him alone, Genesis" said
Jane, who sat by the old mans side,
deeply fascinated. There's goin' to
be great deal Of rain in the next few
days, maybe. an hat to have this
boat ready
The aged darby lifted his streaky
and diminished eyes to the FURNISHED
sky and laughed. Rain come some
day, anyways" he said. 1--WE git de
boat ready TO she fall; dat sho." His
glance wandered to William and rest
ed upon him with feeble curiosity.
Dat ain yo' pappy, is it?' he asked
Jane.
IT should say it isn't!' she exclaimed.
Its Willie. He was only seventeen
about two or three months ago, Mr.
Genesis" This was not the old mans
name, but Jane had evolved it, inspired
by respect for one so aged and SO kind
about whiting. He was the father Of
Genesis, and the latter, neither to her
knowledge nor to her imagination, pos
sessed surname.
The old man continued his whit
thing in a craftsmanlike manner, which
brought praise from Jane.
"You can see to whirtle, Mr.. Gene
SIS" she said. you white better
than anybody in the world"
81 speck so, mebbe," Mr. Genesis
returned, with little complacency.
How ole yo' pappyT
"Oh, he's oldr' Jane explained.
William deigned to correct her. Hes
not old; he's middle aged
I "Well, subj" said Mr.. Genesis, Il had
three chullum TO l 'uz twenty. l had
two when I w eighteen"
William showed sudden interest
You did, he exclaimed. How old
were you when you had the first one?
II 'uz jes' yo' age" said the old man;
II 'uz seventeen"
by George!' cried William.
Jane seemed much less impressed
than William, seventeen being long
way from ten, though, of course, Il
seventeen itself hardly any informa
ton could be imagined as more inter
esting than that conveyed by the words
| of the aged Mr.. Genesis.
Genesis he de youngis' one said
the old man. Genesis he 'uz bawn
when 'uz siXty-one."
William moved closer. What be-
came of the one that was born when
you were seventeen" he asked.
"Well. suh," said Mr.. Genesis. 81 new
did know,
At this James interest equaled VIII
liam's. After little pause of awe she
inquired:
WAS it Il boy or girl?'
The old Etan deliberated within him
self. Seem like it mus been a boy"
Did it die:" Jane asked softly.
II reckon it mus be dead by now,
he returned musingly. Good many OF
'em dead. What l knows is dead
Yes'm, l reckon So"
How old were you when you were
married?" William asked, with man
ner Of peculiar earnestness.
ME? Well. sub. dat pens" He
seemed to search his memory. Il rick
alect 'uz ma led once in Looavle,' he
said.
James interest still followed the frs
child. "Was that where it was born
Mr.. Genesis?' she asked.
He looked puzzled and paused in hi
whiting to rub his deeply corrugated
forehead. "Well, sub, mus been some
bawn in Looavle Genesis" he called
to his Industrious son, "whaih 'uz you
bawn."
Right n is town." laughed Genesis
You fergit a good deal, pappy, but
notice you don fergit come to meals. >
The old man grunted, resuming his
whiting busily.
William found the conversation OF
Mr. Genesis attractive. He seated him
self upon an upturned bucket near the
wheelbarrow and reverted to former
theme. "Well, 1 have heard Of people
getting married even younger'n you
were," he said. "You take India, fol
instance. Why, they get married in
India when they're twelve and even
seven and eight years old"
'.rhey do not" said Jane promptly
Their mothers and fathers wouldn't
let 'em, an they wouldn't want to-
anyway"
II suppose you been to India and
know all about itv' William retorted
For the matter O. that, there was a
young couple got married in Pennsyl
vania the other day. The girl was
only fifteen, and the man was sixteen
1t was in the papers, and their par
ents consented and said it was good
thing. Then there was case in Fall
River, Mass, where young man eight
cen years old married a woman forty
one years old. 1t was in the papers
too. And heard Of another case some
where in Iowa-a boy began shaving
when he was thirteen and shaved ev'
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