The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-02-22

Rich folks can have anything they
want"
Uncle Peabody had sat Splintering
the long stick of yellow birch. | oh
served that the jackknife trembled III
his hand. His tone had a touch "t
proceeding no doubt
from his fear of the man before him.
as he said:
when | bought that stove | felt
richer than / do now. | had almost
enough to settle with you up To date.
but | signed note for friend ana
had to pay it,"
"Ayuh. l suppose So" Grimshaw
answered in tone of bitter irony
which cut me like a knife-hlade. young
as | was. What business have you
signin notes an givin' away money
which amt yours tn give-Id like to
know? What business have You actin
like a rich man when YOU can't pay
yer honest dents? I'd like to know
that. tout'
IF I've ever acted like a rich man
its been when | want lOOkin'." said
Uncle Peabody.
What business have you To 90 en-
largin' yer family-takin' another
mouth to feed and another body 10
spin for? That costs money. l want
to tell you one thing. Baynes, you've
got to pay up or git out q here.
He raised his cane and shook 1t in
the .air as he spoke.
"Oh, | amt no doubt q that" said
Uncle Peabody. You'll have to have
yer mOney-that'S sure; an you Will
have II If | live, every cent OF II.
This boy is gOin' to be Il great help
to mp-yuu don't know what GOOD
boy he is and what comfort he's
been to u.s.
These words of my beloved uncle
uncovered ny emotions so that l put
my elbow Oh the wOOd-bOX and leaned
my head .pOn it and sobbed.
Il amt goin' to be hard on We,
Bayres," said Mr.. Grimshaw as he
rose from his chair; "Tll give We
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-"
Mr.. GrimShaw opened the door and
stood for moment looking at us ana
added in a mlder tone: You've 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 IN
| 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 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:
Hes the dam'dest-"
He stopped, set the half-splintered
| stick aside, closed his jackknife ana
; 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 skinflint that ever lived in
this world, ayes! | amt goin' to
hold my opinion o that man no
longer. ayes! l can't. It's too pow
erful-ayes
Having recovered my cOmposure
repeated that / should like to give up
school and stay at home and work.
Aunt Dee interrupted me by say,
:ng:
Il have an idee that Sile Wright
will help us-ayes! He's comm home
an you better go down an see him
ayes. Hadn't ye?"
Bart an I'll 90 down tO-mOrrer,'
said Uncle Peabody.
Some fourteen months before that
day my uncle had taken Inc to Pots.
dam and traded grain and salts fOr
what he called a rip 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 q
cord. How often we looked back tC
those better days! The clothes haC
been too big for me and | had had tC
wait until my growth had taken W
the slack" in my coat and trousers
before | could venture out of the
neighbour God. | had tried them OF
every week or so for long time. Now
lay statue filed them handsomely
and they filled me with a pride ant
SaiSfa, tioL which i had never known
before.
NOW may the Lord help We to bt
careful-awful, terrible careful o
them clothes every minute o. thi.
day" Aunt Deel cautioned as sh'
looked at me. Don't GIT no hors,
sweat nor wagon grease on EN-"