The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-02-26
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OF Scripture; adages, rather than prom
ises: GIVE never know what day may
bring forth -. The Lord gave, and
the Lord taketh away -. All flesh is as
grass"
| "Aint that her son-inlaw's car comin'?"
Mrs. Lewis inquired, her soft mold slowly
settling forward. She spoke delicately, in
allusion instead of plain query.
eyes. That's Horace driving" Laury
spoke out in a sort of relief. She was
aching to set her hands to something; but
ethics prescribed course of absolute In
action. She could hear the women in the
kitchen. She thought. duly; II shouldn't
wonder but therell be bread enough.
Nobody but them'll feel to eat"
The car drew up to the curbing. The
stout Fife, who had been leaning dis
tractedly out half way up the block, de-
scended almost before the car had stopped.
whats the matter? Is Ma took?"
Mrs. Lewis never ceased the mournful
tanning. "It's your pore Pa, Fife"
"Well, what about Pa 2"
The young Harvey who had returned,
true to form, to where there was like
lihood of things happening, began with
never waning enthusiasm, the recital: 81
seen it all. 1 was right there. l was"
Harvey, you keep still. Your Pa was
run over, Fife. Run over by a train of
cars"
Efis's great blowsy face showed, not
grief, but only blank amazement and a
sort of growing anger. 1t was Mrs. Lewis
face which registered a sudden, terrible
anguish of surprise. "a
81 wasn't nuther run over by no cars!"
protested old Mr.. Allen, from the auto,
in testy voice of chagrin; 81 like to
know who said I wuz!"
pal thought thought-you was
kilt"
"There-now don't take on so, Ma:
There was throwed-off car, and l come
nigh not SEEM it. But they was plenty
that did. guess there was bout dozen
drug me back. l leggo my pail, they
skeered me So"
"Where's you git that bucket? Did
you 60 up town and git bucket and go
back all that ways?" scolded Laury.
| Spinster though she was-a strange ma
ternity of the spirit had come to be hers.
These two bent old people were the only
children she was destined to have.
"When go on an grant, 1 go!" aft
6rmed old Mr.. Allen sulkily.
"What's pals that?" shrilled old Mrs.
Allen; "You gone an bought new pail,
Pa? I'd he'd that pail ten years. You
don't git no such tin nowadays. just
guess it's the last time I send one of my
good pals with you'll"
mo use a-cryin' over split milk pals"
growled old Mr.. Allen with sort of
testy waggishness. whats all this
pother, anyways-s'prise party?"
| All the neighbors regarded old Mr..
Allen with sort of resentful sheepish-
ness. 81 guess the s'prise is on the ones
that come to it," deposed Mrs. Lewis
with an indulgent glance round. A cork
like elasticity of temperament enabled her
to ride triumphantly every wave of
chance. The first to mourn, she was now
the foremost to offer her neighborly con-
CALCULATIONS. Mrs. Lewis, and not old
Mr.. Allen, seemed the dominant figure.
In the midst of it all, old Mr.. Allen
brushed rudely through the concourse. He
felt shook up and trembly. He wanted
cool and quiet and dark and silence; not
jabbering of women's tongues.
Laury followed him in: Spa, you'd
ought to lay down spell on the cot. Here
let me plump y'r piller."
81 spose you wunt be satisfied tel l do"
he grumbled. 1t was like heaven to let
himself down. "When do we eat?"
,"pd say eat!" scolded Laury. "You lay"
She had to scold to keep her voice
firm. Just as he had to grumble to keep
the CULVER out of his. At heart he was
| Just an old child that had been bad. She
was like mother-all forgiveness under
the discipline. He mumbled: 81 wisht
you'd shoe 'em of-they'll wear Ma out"
Fife hustled in. "Well-here you are.
Pa person'd think you'd said suthin
when we picked you up on MAN,"
"Nothin' to say"
"Come on out n let him rest!" ordered
the shrill little wife.
| He muttered: "Who wants to rest? I'm
| Just a-waitin' tel dinners ready"
He lay on his cot drawn up to the
window, which was greenly curtained by
slender growth of vine. Old Mr.. Allen
was a good old man. He had dealt
Justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly
all his days; and the exercise of these
modest virtues had wrought in him a
sort of zest. He liked getting up in the
early morning He enjoyed his break
fast and doing his chores. The inn