The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-27
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY e. HOUSE.
(From Philadelphia Public Ledser.)
A Tbrenody of Minor Chords.

a Threnouy Oh MINOR OnoruS-
There comes into the life of a man
no influence more depressing than the
realization that he is no longer young.
The consciousness of youth is ever an
anchor to the windward. And yet, to
those of US who have reached the top
of the hill and are looking down the
gentle slope of time into oblivion there
are no topics OF discussion more en-
crossing than the shrines of the yes
terdays To this wanderer one of
these was grandmother's house.
Tho years have elapsed. he holds no
1 memory more vivid than that OF the
| last visit he paid to 1.-THE first and
the last since grandmother died. For
fifteen years the smooth waters of
| grandmother's house was his port of
refuge. 1t was one place where one
were always sure of hearty welcome,
| rest, quiet, comfort and the coddling
dear to masculine heart.
The world changed a great deal
during those fifteen years ard he cav
1t from many angles. But neither the
face nor the atmosphere of that
| roomy, old-fashioned, two-storied
! farm house set down between two hills
ever altered. 1t was always restful
and quiet there and the sound of 3
football could be heard anyW here in
the house. One could st on the front
porch ana hear the big clock ticking
in the dining room. The note of the
whippoorwili in the swamp or the
sharp, staccato notes of lonely dos
sounding taps to the countryside were
the only sounds that broke the silence
of the night.
Up in the attic of the old farmhouse
there was most wonderful array OF
curious things. A chest of drawer.
that had come over aheed OF Corn.
wallis stood in the half-lIght under
the north window. In one of the draw
ers was bundle of faded. yellow let
tiers written home to North Carelins
oy captain in Cen George Washing
ton army. In another drawer wer,
a lot OF daguerreotypes of curious
looking people dressed In fantasia,
garb. An old hair trunk sat Nndei
the south window and over II hung
sword that had followed Zachar.
folded carefully atop of a misceliane
Gus collection of other fabrics was al
old blue uniform, one sleeve of which
bore jagged rent and dull red stain
And, like sentinels at ease, there hun,
from the rafters long line OF hoop
skirts derelict and abandoned by girl
who had been country bellies in tn
sixties.
This wanderer did not go often t,
grandmother's house. Often month
elapsed between his vagrant visits
But always it was the high light OIL
the horizon of the years. 1t was :
household in which the mustard
plaster and the red-flannei rag threw
up a redoubt at which pneumonia an,
other Ills were repulsed. 1t rnattere,
not now late one slept. The coffe
pot always simmered gently on tn
back of the kitchen stove and Their
was a pan of hot biscuits In the evel
When one came downstairs 1t mat
tered not that the late frost kille,
the buds upon the cherry trees. Away
there reposed upon a sneH in the eel
! lar a jar of last years fruit put asid
against the chance coming of tn,
wanderer. For, while the world Nigh
forget that he was inordinately fons
or cherry pie, grandmother never did
In the later years of her life grand
tmother never understood the wan
derer. He and she travelled differen
roads. Much that he did seemed fool
lsh and frivolous to her, for he wa
at an age when pleasure was hi
watchword,. and gaudy waistcoats
cravats and shirts were the counter
sign he gave at places to which h
desired entrance. Once she chide,
him for some expensive 'frippery Gu
, to the contour of a garment, ant
when. to prove her case, she pur
chased such garment for two-third
, less in the village store at which sh,
did her trading, he could not disap
point her. And so he put it on anC
wore it as the soldier had worn thu
old blue uniform which lay neatl,
folded in the trunk in the attic.
Once after grandmother had trav
ersed the short journey between thu
home to which she had gone a bride
in 1914 and the little burying ground
on the hillside the wanderer wen
back. He knew that she had gone
but that was the least he had to learn
The landscape had not changed. thS
faces of the people about him were
familiar, and they were kind. Blu
something had gone out of life. Wher
, he walked to the top of the hill over
looking the old house and saw alier
| figures about the place, he turned
upon his heel And he knew. as ht
i. drove away next morning, that hi
Should never come-nor care to come
again. The last link that bound