The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-04
GRAND-DAD REMINISCES.
BY Mrs. Gladys T. Pray.
Dy MI ~ VHtiUJo 4 NA"If
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn


Copyright, 1922, by wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc.)
1t is a common thing for middle
aged people to forget their youth
and to condemn all the thoughts
and acts of youth as folly. Some
times, as these people pass middle
age and reach the point where they
see that even the history Of families
truly repeats itself, their judgment
mellows and their sympathy with
youth returns. This would have
been brought home very forcibly
to any person listening to the dis
cussion that took place in the Arm
strong farmhouse kitchen on
sunny morning last fall. l had it on
the best authority, that of Grand
dad Armstrong himself.
OF course, there was a long in
PRODUCTION to his story, including
history of the Marshbanks family,
how they used to spell the name
Majorbanks and were always
thought by the neighbors to be
sort of high-falutin' how little
Anne had turned out to be beau
ty, and the practical member of the
family withal Then he rambled
on to how he had the time and op
portunity to observe how things
were going between Anne and his
grandson and namesake, William
Armstrong.
Finally he reached the point
where my story begins, the morn
ing after the dance over at Rose
dale, when William came down,
sleepy-eyed and yaWning, 70 find
his father engaged with his favor
tie topic, the worthlessness of the
present genera ton, especially on
the farm, and his determination
that his son must give up Tally
gaggin" round with that ere Anne
Marshbanks and get down to brass
tacks" AS is usual with mothers,
Mary Armstrong was trying to
smooth things over, but was not
succeeding very we'll
AS William reached the kitchen
door his father was just delivering
his ultimatun.
Il tell you, Mary, there's no use
arguin'; l tod the boy only last
week he'd have to give it up, else
he could get out and shift for him
self and just find out how easy he'd
find it to support himself, let alone
two"
Here William spoke for himself
"And 1 told you, pa, what 1 tell
you now. I'd get out and glad to.
except for mother. You've no call
to make such fuss over me takih'
Anne to a dance now and again. /
work hard for you all day, harder
than any hired hand you ever had,
and"
Hush, Williei" from the mother.
your father has worked hard for
years that you might have this
place clear of debt when you grew
up"
Yes, and small thanks I get for
it, too"
Now, don't you get to thinkin'
I'm sidin' with you, pa, for I'm not:
/ do think you ask too much of the
boy; but at the same time l like
him to give you your due, and
though you are a bit harsh, it's the
hard farm life made you So" Then !
a little wistfully, II can remember |
when you were different" |
Anyway, as pa says, there's no !
use arguing about it, and as long
as he feels the way he does the |
sooner l clear out and get a start .
for myself the better. I'll take just |
what I need in the suitcase and |
catch the 500 from the Center. |
I'm glad saved the money grand
lad gave me for my birthday. That !
will start me, anyway" |
Yes, and once that's gone, You'll !.
lind that trees in city parks don't
ear greenba cks. me lad"