American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-31

he added as he looked 1t 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 tom had a touch OF
un~naturalness, proceeding no doubt
from his fear of the man before him,
as he said:
"When / bought that stove / felt
richer than / do o ! had almost
| enough to settle with you up to date,
but / signed a note for a friend and
had to pay it."
"Ayuhl / suppose So" Grilnshaw
answered In a tone of bitter irony
which cut me like a knife-blade, young
az 1 was. "What business have you
slgnin' 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, toof'
"If I've ever acted like a rich man
It's been when | want ~loolin'," said
Uncle Peabody.
"What business have you to go en-
largin' yer family-takin' another
mouth to feed and another body to
spin for2 That costs money. 1 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 ne spoke.
"Oh, i amt no doubt o. that" said
Uncle Peabody. you'll have to have
yer m~oney-that's sure; In you will
This boy Is goin' to be a great help
to me-you don't know what a good
boy he Is and what a comfort he's
been to usl"
These words Of my beloved uncle
uncovered Eay emotions 50 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 ye
three months to see what you can do.
| wouldn't wonder if the boy would
sirn out all right. He's big an cordy
Of his age and & purity likely boy, they
tell me-
Mr.. Grlmshaw opened the door and
stood for Il moment looking at us and
added In a mllder tone: you've got
one o. the best farms in this town an
II 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 and
went to the WATERFALL to cool his
emotions with a drink.
Aunt Deel took up the subject where
he had dropped 1t, as If no-half-ex-
pressed sentiment would satisfy her,
saying;
"-old skinalnt that ever lived in
this world. ayesi 1 amt goin' to
hold my opinion o. that man nc
longer, ayesl i can't. It's too pow
erful-ayesl"
Having recovered my composure ]
repeated that l should like to give up
school and stay at home and work.
Aunt Dee' 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
ayesl 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 fot
what he called a "trip roarin' fine suit
o. clothes with boots and cap and
shirt ind collar and necktie to match,
| having earned them by saving and
cording wood at three shlllings a
cord. How often we looked back to
those better daysl The clothes had
been too big for me and l had had to
wait until my growth had taken M
the "slack" In my coat aud trousers
before l could venture out of the
neighbour God. | mad tried them on
every week or so for a long time, Now
lay statue filled them handsomely
and they filled me with a pride and
saisfa, tioh which l had never known
before.
NOW may the Lord help We to be
careful-awful, terrible careful o
then clothes every minute o. this
day" Aunt Deel cautioned as she
looked Mt me. "Don't GIT no horse
sweat nor wagon grease on EN-"