The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-03-18

young had fed from the irksome tasks
which had roughened the hands and
bent the backs Of their parents. That
briefly, accounts for the fewness and
the stiffness above referred to-
Early in 1917. the village was
shaken by alarming and astonishing
news. True, the sinking OF the Lusi-
tanIa and our own enlistment in the
World war and the German successes
on the Russian frontier had. In way.
prepared the heart and intellect OF
Bingyille for shocking events. SIN.
these disasters had been remote. The
fact that the Giligan sisters had left
the CroOlers and accepted an offer of
one hundred and fifty dollars "A month
from the wealthy NixOns of Hazel
mead was an event close TO the foot
| lights. so TO speak. II caused the news
of battles 10 take IT'S rightful place IL
the distant background. Men talked
OF this event in stores and on the
street corners; II was the subject of
conversation in sewing circles and the
Philomnthian Literary club. That
day. the Bings whispered about It at
the dinner table between courses until
Susan Crowder sent in summons by
Martha Featherstraw with the apple
pie. She would be glad 70 see Mrs. !.
Patterson Bing in the Kitchen imme-
diately after dinner. There was mo-
ment of silence in the midst of which
Mr.. Bing winked knowingly at his
wife, who turned pale as she put down
her PIE fork with look of determine
ton and rose and went into the kitch-
en-. Mrs. Crowder regretted that she
and Martha would have to look for
another family unless their wages
were raised from one hundred TO one
hundred and fifty dollars a month.
2 But, Susan, we all made an agree
ment for year" said Mrs. Bling
Mrs. Crowder was sorry, but she
and Martha could not make ont on the
wages they were getting-everything
cost so much. If Mary GiIllgan. who
couldn't cook, was worth a hundred
dollars a month Mrs. Crowder consid-
cred herself cheap at twice that figure.
Mrs. Bing. in her anger. was in
cllned to revolt, but Mr.. Bling settled
the matter by submitting to the tyr
amy Of Susan. With Phyllis and
three of her young friends coming
from school and party in prospect, |
there was nothing else to do.
Maggie Collins. who was too old |
and too firmly rooted in the village to |
leave it. was satisfied with a raise
of ten dollars a month. Even then she |
received third of the minister's sal |
airy. His wife being swell Teddy |
who had no time for wurruk. sure the
boy was no sooner married than he
yelled for help" as Maggie was wont
to say.
All this had a decided effect on the
economic life of the village. Indeed,
Hiram Blenkinsop, the village drunk
ard, who attended to the lawns and
gardens for number of people, de
handed an increase of dollar a day |
In his wages on account Of the high
cost Of living, although one would say |
that its effect upon him could not have
been serious. For years the historic
figure of Blenkinsop had been the des-
tinatlon and repository of the cast-off
clothing and the worn and shapeless
shoes of the leading citizens. For
decade, the venerable derby hat, which
once belonged to Judge Croker, had
survived all the Incidents of his adj
venturous career. He was. indeed, as
replete with suggestive memories as
the graveyard to which he was wont to
repair for rest and recuperation in
summer weather. There, in the shade
of locust tree hard by the wall, he
was often discovered with his faithful
dog Christmas yellow, mongrel
cur-lying beside him,
and the historic derby hat in his hand.
He had persevering pride in that
hat. Mr. Blenkinsop showed sur
prising and commendable industry I'M
der the stimulation of increased pay.
He worked hard for month, then
celebrated his prosperity with night
of such noisy, riotous joy that he
landed in the lookup with a black eye
and broken nose and an empty pock-
ct. AS usual, the dogsChristmas went
with him.
When there. was loud yell in the
streets at night Judge Croker used
to say. IT'S Hiram again. The poor
fellow is out a-Hiraming."
william Snodgrass. the carpenter,
gave much thought and reflection TO
he good fortune of the Gilligan girls :
4 hired girl could earn twenty-five
dollars a week and her board, skilled
mechanic. who had TO board him !
;elf. ought TO earn at least fifty. So 1
he put up his prices. Israel Sneed, !
he plumber raised his scale to cOrre- .
pond with that of the carpenter. The Q
,rices of the butcher and grocer kept S
ace with the rise of wages. A period s
f unexampled prosperity set in. t
Some time before, the Old Spirit Of d
slngville had received notice that its a
ervices would no longer be required. t
{ had been an industrious and faith
III Old Spirit. The new generation did ?
Tot intend to be hard on ii. They p
we're willing TO give IL comfortable a