The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-06-07
PAS UMBRELLA
BY MARJORIE GATES

q, lSEz py hcSlute Ne"spep7E SS"N'
"Now, pa, don't you lose that um
brella, whatever you do" quoth Ma
Hanley, with touch Of aggressive
ness as she gave the tie under her
better half's ear q twitch around to
plumb and ascertalned that a handker
chief lay in his back pocket. Don't
forget an leave 1t anywheres, cause
umbrellas Is dreadful expensive this
year an. besides, we've got the back
of the barn to shinge this spring and
we might jest as well be a-savln' OF
umbrellas as anything else!"
Pa submitted meekly to a resound
ing kiss on his chin and departed with
the Importance Of the rain-sheddei
firmly implanted In his mind and the
actually lightly crooked over the ell
bow Of his left arm.
Ma was generally right and pa
knew it, but he was nevertheless
aware that there was something
wrong--vaguely amiss-with that UNI
brella.
II believe I'll Jest drop into Abe
Finley's on my way downtown" he
thought. perhaps can put this pesky
petticOat behind his door or leave II
on his yellow piazzy or somewheres.'
Pa shuddered at the thought of q
pea-green umbrella on yellow YER
anda. "Sakes alivel Folks I'D think
the circus was a.comin to town Nope
| Jest can't do that. III have to leave
1t behind his kitchen door,"
But luck wasn't with him. His
guardian angel had Joined the union,
and never worked overtime. Abe Fin
ley was not at home.
"Oh, / know I'll go in here and
see Mis- Smith minute" he decided,
as he neared very neat white house
under the rise Of the next hill. III
Jest stop around an see how 'Bijah is
this mOrnin' an inquire after 'Tildys
husband. But, land alive, she's neatei
than wax, an she'll see this here an
noyance afore ever l get out of sight
: over the hill"
Quite so! No sooner had pa sur
vived Almeda Smiths tale of troub
lous times and departed minus UNI
brella and worry than Almeda spied
the cause of his shame and. grabbing
It in determined hand, rushed to the
front door.
"Urlah :" she shrieked, "Uriah Han
ley! Here's your umbrella" Pas back
was non-c0mmlttal, and he feined
temporary deafness. Again cnme the
shrIll cry: "Urlah U-ri-a-h Hanley
You left your umbrell-a!"
With resigned sigh pa turned ant
went back Almeda was smiling from
eur to ear. "Landl But Mis-
Hanley 'ud be mad If you lost thai
umbrella" she said. "It's dretful han
some an you can't buy silk like tina
is nowadays"
Thanks said pa. eyes, yes" an(
went on. Could he never dispose o.
that awful green umbrella! Would h
always have to carry 1t Aha Jus
then he spied barrel setting near Jo'
Shows barn, and promptly acting upoi
Impulse, he thrust the umbrella In ant
well out OF sight. Then care free ant
llght.hearted, he set out at mucl
brlsker pace for town. II his consclenc,
troubled him at all. nobody knew /
and all the loafers at the Grocery ant
Provisions Store" declared, with crack
or barrels for firm foundation, tina
"Old man Hanley is a-gittin' younge
every year"
On the homeward journey, lader
down with his recent purchases an
lost in thoughts OF cedar shingles an'
staging, pa had little time to motto
the darkllng skies and leaden clouds
Only when falr.siZed hallston
bounced Off his nose did he realize tn
sAte OF the weather. He began 4
hurry rs fast as his tired old fee
would take him toward Joe Snow
barrel and the despIsed umbrella. Hor
ror OF horrors The barrel was gone
And there upon the ground lay th
remnant of violent green umbrella
the yellowlsh ivory handle showing tn
unmlstakable marks of puppy
teeth. the ribs pointing hlther an,
, thlther and tatters OF green silk hyln
} toward the four winds of heaven
, Abstractedly pa raised the wrec
over his head and walked the mile an
n half more home.
And then there was an unmlstaI
able, II slight, twinkle In his eye a
he entered his wlfe's kitchen-th
corpse OF the pride Of her soul stl
, raised above his head and drlppin
streams OF water through It's counties
, rents. "Well, ma, me and the un
h brella be home"
r Ma Hanley looked at him a momen
e and then sank weakly into u chall
MY land !" Quoth she-and that wa
all.
Sam told that on his next trip t
= town pa bought two rather strange al
ticles that were commented on by tn
!. grocery store loafers. One was yer
! quiet black umbrella with a plain har
die and the other was collar for Ill
c tie Sammy Shows pup.
Y