The Yale expositor., 1919-01-30


There's some people seem to be able
to git along without 1t. see you've
got one o. these newfangled stoves"
he added as ne looked IL over. "Huh
Rich folks can have anything they
| want"
Uncle Peabody had sat splintering
the long stick of yellow birch. 1 OBJ
served that the jackknife trembled In
his hand His tone had a touch of
unnaturalness, proceeding no doubt
from his fear of the man before him,
as he said:
"When / bought that stove / felt
richer than i do now. / had almost
enough to settle with you up to date.
but i signed a note for friend and
had to pay it,"
"Ayuhl / suppose So" Grimshaw
answered in a tone of bitter irony
which cut me like a knife-blade, young
as l 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, too?"
"If I've ever acted like a rich man
it's been when / 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. l 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, amt no doubt o. that" said
Uncle Peabody. you'll have to have
yer money-that's sure; an you will
have N II l live, every cent of it,
This boy is goin' to be a great help
to me-yJu don't know what a good
boy he Is and what a comfort he's
been to u.s."
These words Of my beloved uncle
uncovered ny emotions so that / put
my elbow on the wood-box and leaned
my head dpon it and sobbed.
II ain't goin' to be hard on ye,
BayDes," said Mr.. Grimshaw as he
rose from his chair; "I'll give ye
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 anc
stood for a moment looking at us and
| aI In Xnt1,x mot
one o. the best farms in this town an
if We work hard an use common
sense We ought to be out o. debt ir
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 anc
to tie sound of his buggy as he drovs
away. Then Uncle Peabody broke
the silence by saying:
Hes the dam'dest-"
He stopped. set the half-splintered
stick aside, closed his jackknife and
went to the water-pail to cool hi,
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 tnat ever lived ir
this world, ayesl l amt goin' tc
hold my opinion o. that man nc
longer, ayesl 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.
Aunt Deel interrupted me by say.
ing:
II have an idee that Sile Wright
will help us-ayesl He's comm home
an you better go down an see him
ayes Hadn't yep
"Bart an I'll go down to-morrer,"
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 rip roarin' fine suit
o. clothes" with boots and cap and
shirt and collar and necktie to match,
1 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 l had had to
wait until my growth had taken up
the "slack" in my coat and trousers
before / could venture out of the
neighborrOod. / mad tried them on
every week or so for long time. Now
my statue filed them handsomely
and they filed pe with pride and
satisfaction which 1 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 'em."
iii Barton gets new inspiration