Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-05-02

II suppose 1t is" he answered iAtn
er sharply. 81 don't have much time
to get around, I have to work.
There's some people seem to be able
to git along without 1t. / see you've
got one o. these newfangled stoves"
he added as he looked 1t over. "Huhi
Rich folks can have anything they
want" 2. --... -.
Uncle Peabody had sat splinterins
the long stick Of yellow birch. | OBJ
served that the jackknife trembled In
his hand. His tone had a touch Vt
unnaturalness. proceeding no doubt
from his fear of the man before him,
as he said: 4ia t,a i,!s id.t 81
when l bought that stove felt
richer than / do now. / had almost
enough to settle with you up to date.
but 1 signed a note for a friend and
had to pay it" Asa WI
"Ayuhl i suppose So" Grimshaw
answered In tone of bitter irony
which cut me like knife-blade, young
as j was. "What business have you
signin' notes an givin' away money
which ein't yours to give-Fd like to
know? What business have you actin
like rich man when you can't pay
yer honest debts2 I'd like to know
| that, too2"
IF rye ever acted like rich man
it's been when want lookin'." said
Uncle Peabody. e.A.n pAt a.
what business have you to go en-
In nfn ~ Co, -fal nrnfhoP
mouth to feed and another body to
spin forf That costs money. l want
to tell you one thing. Baynes. you've
got to pay up or git out O. here"
He raised his cane and shook 1t In
the air as he spoke. "
"Oh, l amt no doubt o. that" said
Uncle Peabody. "You'll have to have
yer money-that's sure; an you will
have IT IL l live, every cent of 1t.
This boy Is goin' to be a great help
to me--you don't know, what a good
boy he Is and what comfort he's
been to us
These words of my beloved uncle
uncovered my emotions so that 1 put
my elbow on the wood-box and leaned
my head upon 1t and sobbed. /.
Il amt goin' to be hard on ye.
Baynes," said Mr.. Grimshaw as he
rose from his chair; "rll give ye
three months to see what you can do.
wouldn't wonder If the boy would
turn out all right. He's big an cordy
Of his age and purity likely boy, they
tell me-" W 3s-H fi" .'s'ih
Mr.. Grimshaw opened the door and
stood for a moment looking at US and
| added in milder tone: you've got
one O. the best farms in this town an
II We work hard an use common
4 sense We ought to. be ont o. debt In
FIVE years-mebbe less" ,..4t.-
He closed the door and went away
Neither Of us moved or spoke as we
listened to his footsteps on the gravel
path that went down to the road and
to the sound of his buggy as he drove
away. Then Uncle Peabody broke
the silence by saying:
"He's the dam'dest-"
i He stopped. set the half-splintered
stick aside, closed his jackknife and
went to the WATERFALL to cool hia
emotions with drink.
Aunt Deel took UP the subject where
he had dropped it, as If no-half-exs
pressed sentiment would satisfy her.
saying: ...s45 t.as8...,
old skinflint that ever lived in
this world. ayesl 1 amt goin' to
hold my opinion o. that man No
longer ayesl ! can't. Its too pow
erful-ayesl"
Having recovered my composure !
| repeated that should like to give uu
school and stay at home and work.
/ Aunt Deel interrupted me by say
ing: a 4A4 aAoa A A4-
II have an idee that SHE Wright
will help us-ayes! He's comm hons
an you better go down an see him
Iayesi Hadn't ye7" 80
Bart an I'll go down to-morrer.s
said Uncle Peabody. t.ssA
Some fourteen months before that
day my uncle had taken me to Pots
dam and traded grain and salts foF
what he called Trip roarin' fine suia
o. clothes" with boots and cap and
shirt and collar and necktie to match
l having earned them by saving and
cording wood at three shillings d
cord. How often we looked back to
those better daysl The clothes had
been too big for me and / had had to
watt until my growth had taken up
the slack" in my coat and trousers
before could venture out Of the
neighborfOod. / mad tried them on
every week or SO for long time. Now
my statue filed them Handsomely
and they filed me with pride and
satisfaction which had never known
before. ~
il Snow may the Lord help We to be