The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-12-30

Tripl"
read her letter, instead of putting II
IN the stove. you would have known
better"
~ amt interested In anythin' Beu-
lah may have to say, and any other
letters that fall into my hands will
go In the same direction. And what's
more, she's not goln' 10 have visit
from any member OF this family nj
the present time. I'm goin' out west
to take up land, and Allan's going
with me. II amt fair or reasonable
for YOU to try 70 upset our plans by
a notion Of this kind"
1T isn't a notion. John. It's a re-
solve. II you are bound to take up
more land. with more work and more
worry. why go ahead. but remember
It's your own undertaking. I helped
to make one home In the wilderness.
and one homes enough for me-"
Don't be unreasonable" he an
swered. There's a great opportunity
right now TO get land for nothin' that
In few years will be worth as much
or more than this here. I'm ready to
20 through the hardship and the work
for the sake OF what II will do for us.
We can be independently rich In five
years. II we Just stand together"
independent Of whatT" she asked.
"Why. independent of-of every
thing. Nothin more to worry about
and plenty laid up for old age. Amt
that worth sacrifice?"
John" she said. turning and raising
her eyes TO his face. Answer me a
straight question. What was the hap
piest time In your life? Wasn't II when
we lived In the one-roomed sod shanty,
with scarcely cent 10 bless ourselves?
We worked hard then, too, but we had
time for long walks together across the
prairies-time to sit In the dusk by
the water and plan our lives together.
We have done well; we have land.
horses, machinery. money. But have
we the happiness we knew when we
had none OF these? On the contrary
are you not worried morning. noon
and night over your work and your
property? Don't you complain about
the kind Of help the farmers have to
hire nowadays. and the wages they
have to pay? And II you get more land
proportloni John. sit down and think
this thing over. We don't need more
property; what we need Is a chance to
enjoy the property we already have.
We have all the chance TO choose now
between life and land; won't you think
II all over again and lei us seek that
which Is really worth whiler
"Now ! know where Beulah got her
nonsense" he retorted. "All this talk
about real life is very fine, hut you
don't get much life. real or any other
kind. unless you have the cash 10 pay
down for II. We've done pretty well
here. as you say. but It's only begin
min 10 what we can do. II we set about
u. and DOM wait until the cheap land
Is all gone. | don't see why you should
go back on me AT this time o. life.
Mary. We've stood together for a
long while and ! kinda figured could
count on You"
$50 you can. John: so You can 10
the very last. for anything that is for
your own good hut when you set yodr
heart on something that means more
trouble and hardship and won't add
one iota 10 your happiness, | think u
Is my duty 20 persuade you II ! can
We've been drifting apart lately; why
not lei us both go back to the begin
ming and start over again, and by kind
ness. and fairness. and liberality. and
and sympathy, try TO recover some
thing OF what we have lostr'
II have always thought ! had been
liberal enough" he said. "Didnt
build you good house and buy furni-
ture for II. and do ! stint you in what
You spend. either on the table or your
self? More than that didn't | put the
title 10 the homestead In your namei
And amt ! ready To do the same with
the new homestead. II that's the stick
err"
II never thought of such thing.
she protested. "And you shouldn't
claim too much credit for putting the
homestead quarter In my name. You
know when you bought the first rail-
road lapd you were none TOO sure how
things would come out and you
thought Il might be wise precaution
TO have the old farm stand In your
wife's name"
"rhat's all fha thanks | get he said