The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-10-06
"reminiscences
BY GLADIs r. PRAY

1t is common thing for middle
( aged people to forget their youth an(
I to condemn all the thoughts and act.
OF youth as folly. Sometimes, 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 sym.
pathy with youth returns. This would
have been brought home very forcibly
to any person listening to the discus
sion that took place in the Armstrong
farmhouse kitchen on sunny morn
Ing last fall. l had it on the best au-
thority, that of Granddad Armstrong
himself
OF course, there was a long intro
duction to his story. 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 morning after the
dance over at Rosedale, when William
came down, sleepy-eyed and yawning,
to find his father engaged with his
favorite topic, the worthlessness Of
the present generation, especially on
the farm, and his determination that
MS son must give up "lally-gaggin'
round with that ere Anne Marsh
banks and get down to brass tacks."
AS Is usual with mothers, Mary Arm
strong was trying to smooth things
over, but was not succeeding very well.
AS William reached the kitchen door
his father was just delivering his ulti-
matum.
Il tell you, Mary, there's no use ar !
gum; | told the boy only last week
he'd have to give it up, else he could
get out and shift for himself and Just /
find out how easy he'd find 1t to sup
port himself, let alone two
Here William spoke for himself.
"And told you. pa, what 1 tell you
now. I'd get out and glad to, except
Tor mother. You've no call to make
such a fuss over me takin Anne to
lance now and again. 1 work hard
Tor you all day, harder than any hired
land you ever had, and"
Hush, Williel" from the mother.
Your father has worked hard for
ears that you might have this place
lear Of debt when you grow up" *
Yes, and small thanks 1 get for It, !
co."
Now, don't you get to thinkin' I'm {
ldin' with you, pa, for I'm not" inter :,
osed Mrs. Armstrong.
Anyway, as pa says, there's no use I
rguing about 1t, and as long as he
eels the way he does the sooner l
ear out and get a start for myself a
lie better" said Willie. 'I'u take just =
hat I need In the suitcase and catch
he 1929 from the Center I'm glad / +;
wed the money grand-dad gave me
II my birthday. That will start me, l
!
Yes and once that's gone, you'll
ID that trees in city parks don't bear m
eenbacks. me lad" II
A low chuckle broke In from the
rner, where granddad, who had 81
fled pacidly Ola his ancient pipe dur -
: the debate, now raised his veneer
lie head and regarded his son with b,
izzical air
mo, indeedy, money don't grow en- y
bushes in city parks, William, and 81
one knows that better than your
her. Now. I wonder, did he ever tell W
i how he learned that? Maybe 1t fir
be a bit hard for him to tell you
there's your mother knows all ne
'ut 1t, and could say deal If she bo
It. No? can see by their faces -.
y never did tell. Well, old people L i
forgetful, so praps I'd best re- r,
Id tnem ~
Now, John, don't intrupt your IA ed
r nor you, Mary. You know, VIII
o, once on n time 1 thought your r.
had summa1. better to do than to pa
squirin' a certain good-lookin' girl :.
dances, but he Didn't think so. VIZ
5sy, no! We had some words about WI
nd he packed his buds and started
for Boston. on SOM. money his Do
ldma give him. He was goin' to IN
his dad what he could do. Yes, he
we'd me all rightly, with an appre- Tor
We grin. He resky'd fair lady +be
ouble on the Boston train. and she
va his wallet so the money trees 81
Soston Conwo didn't bloom for
that year" eOi
granddad subsided John rather Gre
dshly glanced at his wife, who
emily needed something In the pam 1~
Then he cleared his throat, made
uple Of ia 1se starts, and finally
d out: Vi
ell gran'idad, you would have rem
say, but [ hope you'll forget that use
a ~. = NJ agree 20 say no more couR
out ruiIahl' his health more than nas