The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-12-18
GRANDMA DIXON
BY HELEN PATTERSON.

the moist earth around the roots ut her
famous lnrkspur. shook the Particles
of dirt from the trowel and hcfolp
standing erect. touched the ten,cr
shoots lovingly with her fingers.
The larkspur meant more than tail
blue flowers to her. II meant memo
ries Of the past; memories Of the
morning when a young soldier In a
faded blue uniform had found her re-
Joicing over their first blossom. There
Ind been four weary Yeas Of war and
this, their first meeting. the larkspur
the flower had occupied u place of
honor in her garden.
"Want any help, grandmaf' asked n
young man looking over the fence.
"You know. Tm great on digging"
"Bless you. Dick. OF course know
IT, when I look at this garden. but
there Is nothing to do this morning
Thank you. Come here and tell me
about your work"
"rll come over, but there is nothing
to tell. haven't any yet"
do you mean to say. Richard Haw-
kins. that you are not going back to
your old work. asked grandma, ms
the young man vaultei the low fence
and stood beside her.
That's just IL. grandma. Your hum
BILE servant has to lind n new job. You
know, the girls are doing our work so
well that many firms are keeping
them"
"But the girls will certainly resign
when they know you are home again"
said grandma. II remember when Alb.
ner came home from the Civil war.
gave up his school had been teaching
and we were married"
"I'll bet you did" answered Richard.
"but whose coming through the
gute?"
why, bless me. II 1t isn't Betty"
said grandma. hurrying to meet u
young girl dressed in n stylish suit aad
a very becoming small hat. Come on
Dick. you know Betty. Why. you used
To play with her when she was "a tiny
girl You remember. she is the onl.i
grnndchild have"
Nothing loath. Richard followed
Grandma Dixon down the garden path
and was reintroduced TO Betty. For n
moment n mir of laughing blue eyes.
the color of the larksprr. looked into
his while they uttered N few common
Mace remarks. and then Betty fol
lowed grandma into the house. IL was
nor until Richard had walked the
length Of the garden that he rpmem.
bered. with oueer feeling. that he
had seen those same blue eyes In the
girl that occupI.J his desk MT Bolton
A Mnson's office.
In the meantime. Betty In the house
had cnsually asked grandma "Wben
had Richards people moved back to
the old bonesteadY"
"They haven't moved back" rn-
swered grandma. -Richard is spend
ing the week with me TRYING To ~
cuperate from his work Of the last two
wears"
Gyms he In all OF the war;" asked
Rettv.
"AIost OF H." replled grnndma. al
though it's lhtle he talks about IL.
Just now he's all upset over not get
ding his old work hack
"But grandma" protested Betty,
-perhaps the girl needs ths'money she
Is earning as much as he does. know
some of the girls in our office are TAX
ing care of their mothers and younger
brothers and sisters"
cit may be all right for those girls
10 keep our returned soldiers out Of n
lob, but what about the girls like you.
Betty Dixon. that don't really need 10
work." Indignantly asked grandma.
"Why-grandma-y know we
girls took up their work ~ the boys
could 90 and fight, and we have all
bought Liberty bonds and worked for
the Red Cross" stnmmered Betty as
she Thought of the young man she had
casually glanced at at the cement
works Yesterday.
"Yes. YOU all did your best while the
war was being fought and won. hut
now that it's over. show your graft
tude to the boys in more subslan-