The Yale expositor., 1922-10-12
The Man About the
House
By MYRA c. LANE

Snow for goodness sake take Polly
out for a walk and give me chance
to get things cleaned up" said
mother
Father smoothed back his gray hair
and rose He laid down the Sunday
paper. His wife was already beginning
her Homework. She had taken up the
rugs to shake, she was moving the
furniture about the room In an aim
less sort Of way, and there was wor-
ried look upon her face.
"Come along, Polly girl" said
father.
He took his little daughters hand,
slapped on his hat, and they went out.
The house was exactly like three
dozen other houses along the street, a
small, wooden structure with a tiny
hall and seven rooms. There was the
same strip of draggled lawn in front
Of each.
But in the distance were fields and
hills, crowned with green. The wild
country was all about them. They
strobe down the street together.
Father, | don't like Sundays be-
cause mothers always cleaning" said
Polly wistfully.
"Cleaning? Oh, well, she's got to
clean, | suppose" said father. He was
thinking of a girl he had known be-
fore he was married, who was rather
untldy, and would never have both
cred about cleaning more than two
or three times a year. What good
times they had had together! 1t was
strange how wildly her face came
back to him after ten years of mar
rage.
How'd you like us to run away
Polly?" asked father.
"Really?" inquired Polly, clutching
his hand more tightly.
Really, Polly. Run away some
where where there's never any clean
ing" He tried not to show his bit
terness. Just you and me, wandering
along the roads. Or maybe"-a train
whistled in the distance-"we'l take
train somewhere and never come
back. Wen go and see foreign parts,
where the palm trees grow, and big
birds. all blue G1d green and yellow
and red fly through the branches"
"Oh, that'll be splendid" said
Polly clapping her hands.
cor maybe we'll take a ship to Italy,
and see all the ruins and the picture
galleries. Then We'll go on to Egypt
and see the desert, and the camels
going by with packs Of rugs on their
backs What d'you say to that?"
ooh, wouldn't 1t be nicer said
Polly.
They had begun to ascend the hill
behind the town. They toiled mp and
stood looking down The houses
seemed Isolated in vast forest.
Maybe well Just walk on and on
TIL the forests all about us. And then
well camp in the woods and light a
| fire, and catch some trout and cook
them for dinner And sleep under the
stars How about that?'
wonderful" said Polly. but sup
pose it came on to rain, father3"
1.-THE leaves will be so thick that
not a drop of rain can come through
Besides, who cares for little raini
Not we. Anyway, It's nicer than stay
ing at home where there's cleaning
going on, isn't itf'
Much Nicer" said Polly.
Maybe I'm taking you too far
You're tired, dearT'
"a little bit" said Polly. "Oh, faith
or, what a pity"
whats pity3'
did YOU know mother has duck
and green peas for dinner"
"Duck and green peas? What do We
cure for duck and green peasY
"N-nothing." said Polly, n little
wistfully.
Maybe we had better be getting
back and start next Sunday instead,
suggested father. at is little late
Isn't 1t, Poll :"
"A little, father" answered Polly.
They started back, very slowly ant
wistfully, but as they neared thu
house they went faster and faster
Such a delicious smell came from thC
dining room. And there stood mother
at the door.
"Well, you have been for a lonl
walk" said mother, smiling. "AnC
you're just In time, for dinners OF
the table"
They went in. The interior was a!
spick and span as a new pin. ThC
odors that came from beneath tn,
dish cover were simply indescribable
Duck is nice with green peas, ism
1t, father?" suggested Polly.
"You mothers pretty good cook
answered father.
Mother smiled She knew all abou