Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-24
al5e Light
In the
airing
a Tsls Of the North
Country In the Time
~ Sllss Wright
IRVING sAcaELLEa
tce,y',sA. ls,s, lrv.as B..Aell.s,
AssAo. u "Ebsn Hsllsa.~ sD1r SD
xssDia6 W with LissiAs Ne. BE.

A week later we had our raising.
Uncle Peabody did not wan4 public
raising. but Aunt Deel had had her
way. We had hewed and mortised and
bored the timbers for our new home
The neighbors came with pixies and
helped to raise and stay and cover
them. A great amount Of human kind
ness went into the beams and rafters
Of that home and Of others like It.. I
knew that Tho Thing was still alive
In the neishborhood. but even that
could not paralyxe the helpful hands Of
those people. Indeed. what was said
Of my Uncle Peabody was nothing
more or less than kind Of converse
tional nrewood. I cannot think that
any one really believed 1t.
We had a cheerful day. A barrel of
hard cider had been set up In the door.
yard. and remember that some drank
1t too freely. The he-o-hee Of the men
as they lifted on the pixies and the
sound Of the hammer and beetle rang
in the air from morning until night.
Mrs. Rodney Barnes and Mrs. Dorothy
came to help Aunt Deel with the cook
ing and a great dinner was served on
an improvised table In the dooryard,
where the stove was set up. The
shingles and sheathes and clapboard
were on before the day ended.
Uncle Peabody and I put Ia the
floors and stairway and partitions.
More than once In the days We were
working together tried to tell him
what Sally had told me, but my cour-
age failed.
Tho day came, shortly, when I had
to speak out, and took the straight
way Of my duty a. tho needle Of the
compass pointed. It was the end of
a summer day and we had watched the
dusk oil the valley and come creeping
up the slant, sinking the powders and
thorn tops in its flood. one BY one. A
we sat looking out Of the open door
that evening told them what Sally
had told me Of the evil report which
had travelled through the two towns.
Damn. little souled. narrer con-
tracted-" Uncle Peabody. speaking In
low. sad tone, but with deep feeling.
cut OF this highly promising opinion
before 1t was half expressed. and rose
and went to the water pail and drank.
'As long a. we're honest We don't
care what they say" he remarked ~
he returned to his chair.
IL they, won't believe n. W osght
to show 'em the papers-ayes," said
Aunt 1Dsel.
Thunder an Jehui wouldn't 90
round the town tryin' to prove that !
amt thief" said Uncle Peabody. ut
wouldn't make nc difHer'nce. They've
got to have somethin' to play with.
II they want to use my nams for .
bean bag let 'em as long as they do 1t
when I amt lookin'. wouldn't won.
der II they got sore hands by an BY"
Inever heard him speak Of It again.
Indeed, although knew the topic was
often in our thoughts 1t was never
mentioned in our home but once after
that. to my knowledge.
We sat for long dime thinking ~
the night came on.
That week letter came to me from
the senator. announcing the day Of
Mrs. Wright's arrival In Canton and
asking me to meet and assist her In
getting the house to rights. did so.
She was pleasant-faced, amiable
woman and most enterprlsing house