Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-03-06

20 get around. I have to work.
There's some people seem 70 be able
to git along without II. eco you've
got one o. these newfangled stoves"
he added % he iooAed It over. Huh!
Rich folks can have anything the5
want"
Uncle Peabody had sat splinterins
the long stick Of yellow birch. OBJ
served that the jackknife trembled In
his hand. His tone had q touch Of
unnaturalness. proceeding no doubt
from his fear Of the man before him,
as he said:
"when I bought that stove I felt
richer than I do now. had almost
enough to settle with you up to date,
but signed note for . friend and
had to pay It"
"Ayuhl I suppose 60" Grimshaw
answered in tone Of bitter irony
which cut me like knife-blade, young
as l was. "What business have you
signin' notes an givin' away money
which amt yours to give-I'd like to
know3 What business have you actin
like rich man when you can't pay
yer honest debts1 I'd like to know
that, tool"
IF I've ever acted like a rich man
it's been when I want lookin'," said
Uncle Peabody.
"What business have you to 60 en-.
largin' yer family-takin' another
mouth to feed and another body to
spin fort 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 1t in
the air as he spoke.
| "Oh, I amt no doubt o. that" said
Uncle Peabody. you'll have to have
yer money-that's sure; an yor will
have II II I live, every cent Of 1t.
This boy is goin' to be a great help
to me-you don't know what good
boy he Is and what a comfort he's
been to usln
These words Of my beloved uncle
uncovered my emotions so that I 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; "I'il give ye
three months to see what you can do.
I wouldn't wonder IL the boy would
turn out all right. He's big an cordy
Of his age and a purity likely boy, they
tell me-"
Mr.. Grimshaw opened the door and
stood for q moment looking at us and
added in milder tone: you've got
one o. the best farms In this town an
II ye work hard an use common
sense re 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:
"He's the dam'dest-"
f. He stopped. set the half-splintered
stick aside, closed his jackknife and
went to the WATERFALL to cool his
emotions with drink.
Aunt Deel took up the subject where
he had dropped 1t, as II no-half.ex-
pressed sentiment would satisfy hea.
saying:
odd skinflint that ever lived IN
this world. ayes! I amt goin' to
hold my opinion o. that man no
longer, ayesl I 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.
E Aunt Dee! interrupted me by say.
ing:
II have an idee that Sile Wright
win help us-ayesl He's comm home
an you better 60 down an see him
ayes! Hadn't YEP
"Bart an I'll go down to-morrer;"
said Uncle Peabody.
Some fourteen months before tnat
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
shtrt 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 I could venture out Of the
neighborhood. had tried them on
every week OF SO for long time. Now
my statue filed them handsomely
and tLey filed me with q pride and
Satisfaction which had never known
before.
show may the Lord help ye to be
careful-awful, terrible careful o.
them clothes every minute O. this
day" Aunt Deel cautioned az she
looked at me. 'Don't ct no horse
sweat nor wagon grease on 'em."
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