The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-08-16
CHAp1 Err xlV--Continued.
So saying ne handed me this letter !:
Canterbury, VT,

Canterbury, VT,
June 1.
Dear Sir.-I am interested in the
boy Barton Baynes. Good words about
him kave been flying around like
pigeons. When school is out / would
like to hear from you, what is the rec
ord? What do you think Of the soul
In him? What kind of work is best
for it? If you will let me maybe I
can help the plans Of God little. That
is my business and yours. Thanking
you for reading this, 1 am, as ever,
"God's humble servant,
KATE FULLERTON"
'Why, this is the writing of the ST.
lent Woman" said before had read
the letter half through.
"Rovin' Kate2"
Rowing Kate; I never knew her 9TH
err name, but I saw her handwriting
long ago."
But look-thls is neatly written,
well-worded letter an the sheet is as
white and clean as the new snow. IN
canny woman! They say she carries
the power O God in he right hand.
So do all the wronged."
81 wonder why Kate is asking about
me-" said.
"Never mind the reason. She is your
friend and let US thank God for it.
Think how she came to yer help in the
old barn an say thousand prayers
my lad"
Having come to the first flight OF
the uplands, he left me with many q
kind word-how much they mean tC
q boy who is choosing his way with q
growing sense of loneliness!
I reached the warm welcome of oul
little home just in time for dinner
They were expecting me and it was &
regular company dinner-chicken pie
and strawberry shortcake.
How well I remember that hour witt
the doors open and the sun shining
brightly on the blossoming fields ant
the joy of man and bird and beast IL
the return Of summer and the tall
about the late visit of Alma Jones ant
MIR. and Mrs. Lincoln!
While we were eating I told then
about the letter of old Kate.
''Fullerton" Aunt Deel exclaimed
"Are We sure that was the name, Bart?
eyes"
Goodness gracious sakes alive!"
She and Uncle Peabody gave eacl
other looks of surprised inquiry.
DO you know anybody by tina
name?" asked.
eve used to-" said Aunt Deel as sh
resumed her eating. Cant be She
one O. the Sam Fullertons, c'n it?
"Oh, prob'ly not" said Uncle Pea
body. Back East they's more Fuller
tons than We could shake stick at"
A week later we had our raising
Uncle Peabody did not want a publ
raising. but Aunt Deel had had ne
way. We had hewed and mortised an
Bored the timbers for our new home
The neighbors came with pixies an
helped to raise and stay and cove
them. A great amount Of human kint
ness went into the beams and rafter
of that home and of others like it.
knew that The Thing was still ally
in the neighborhood, but even tha
could not paralyZe the helpful hands
those people. Indeed, what was sal
of my Uncle Peabody was nothin
more or less than a kind of conversi
tional frewood. / cannot think tht
any one really believed it.
We had a cheerful day. A barrel {
hard cider had been set up in the doc
yard, and remember that some dran
1t too freely. The he-o-hee Of the me
as they lifted on the pixies and tt
sound Of the hammer and beetle raj
in the air from morning until nigh
Mrs. Rodney Barnes and Mrs. Dorotf
came to help Aunt Deel with the coo
Ing and great dinner was served {
an imprOvised table in the dooryar
where the stove was set up. II
shingles and sheathes and clapbCal
were on before the day ended.
Uncle Peabody and I put in Il
floors and stairway and partition
More than once in the days we we
working together tried to tell hi
what Sally had told me, but my cou
age failed.
The day came, shortly, when l hi
to speak out, and / took the straig
way of my duty as the needle of Il
compass pointed. 1t was the end
Il summer day and we had watched t
dusk fill the valley and come creepil
up the slant, sinking the powders al
thorn tops in its flood, one by one. !
we sat looking out Of the open do
that evening I told them what Sal
z had told me of the evil report viii
had Travelled through the two towns.
Damn, little souled, narrer co
tracted-" Uncle Peabody, speaking
low, sad tone. but with deep feelin
cut oft this highly promising opini'
before it was half expressed, and 70
and went to the water pail and dram
"As long as we're honest we dor
care what they say" he remarked
he returned to his chair.
IF they won't believe us, we Dug
to show 'em the paDerS---ayes," Sa