The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-01-30

got one O. these newfangled stoves"
he added as ne looked II over. Huh |!
Rich folks can have anything they
want"
Uncle Peabody had sat splintering
the long stick of yellow birch. l OBJ
served that the jackknife trembled In
his hand. His tone had touch OF
unnaturalness, proceeding no doubt
from his fear of the man before him,
as he said:
"When / bought that stove / felt
richer than / do now. 1 had almost
enough to settle with you up to date,
but signed note for friend and
had to pay it."
| "Ayuhl 1 suppose So" Grimshaw
answered in tone Of bitter irony
which cut me like a knife-blade, young
as was. "What business have you
signin' notes an givin' away money
which amt yours to give-Pd like to
know? What business have you actin
| like a rich man when you can't pay
yer honest debts? I'd like to know
that, tOoT
L
it's been when 1 want lOokin'," said
Uncle Peabody.
what business have you to go en-.
largin' yer family-takin' another
mouth to feed and another body to
spin for? That costs money. want
to tell you one thing, Baynes, you've
got to pay up or git out o. here"
He raised his cane and shook it In
the air as he spoke.
"Oh, i amt no doubt o. that" said
Uncle Peabody. you'll have to have
yer monev-that's sure; an you will
have II If 1 live, every cent of it.
This boy is goin' to be great help
to me-yuu don't know what a good
boy he is and what q comfort he's
been to us!"
These words Of my beloved uncle
uncovered ny emotions SO that / put
my elbow on the woOd-bOx and leaned
my head upon 1t and sobbed.
II amt goin' to be hard on We,
Baypes," said Mr.. Grimshaw as he
rose from his chair; "Pll give We
three months to see what you can do.
l 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-"
Mr.. Grimshaw opened the door and
stood for moment looking at us ant
added in a milder tone: "Youye got
one o. the best farms in this town an
If We work hard an use common
sense We ought to be out o. debt iL
five years-mebbe less"
He closed the door and went away,
Neither of us moved or spoke as we
listened to his footsteps on the grave
path that went down to the road ant
tes, g sound OF his buggy as ho drove
away. Then Uncle Peabody broke
the silence by saying:
'TIe's the dam'dest-"
He stopped, set the half-splintered
stick aside, closed his jackknife and
went to the WATERFALL to cool his
emotions with a drink.
Aunt Deel took up the subject where
he had dropped it, as If no-half'ex.
pressed sentiment would satisfy her
saying:
old skinfiint that ever lived IL
this world, ayes! l amt goin' to
hold my opinion o. that man nc
longer, ayes! / can't. It's too pow
erful--ayes!"
Having recovered my composure
repeated that should like to give ur
school and stay at home and work.
I Aunt Dee' interrupted me by say
ing:
II have an idee that Sile Wright
will help us-ayes! He's comm home
an you better 60 down an see him
ayes! Hadn't YEP"
Bart an I'll 60 down to-morrer,r
said Uncle Peabody.
Some fourteen months before that
day my uncle had taken me to Pots.
dam and traded grain and salts for
what he called "trip roarin' fine suit
o. clothes" with boots and cap and
shirt and collar and necktie to match,
having earned them by saving and
cording wood at three shillings a
cord. How often we looked back to
those better days! The clothes had
been too big for me and had had to
wait until my growth had taken up
the "slack" in my coat and trousers
before could venture out of the
neighbour God. 1 had tried them on
every week or so for long time. Now
iny statue filled them handsomely
and they filed me with pride and
satisfaction which / had never known
before.
snow may the Lord help We to be
careful-awful, terrible careful o.
them clothes, every minute o. this
day." Aunt Deel cautioned as she
looked at me. "Don't git no horse
sweat nor wagon grease on EN-"