Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-05-04

With apprehenSive eyes upon the little
old man in the rocking chair.
How be We, dearie? Yer hain't
wanted fer nOthin, now, have YEP she
asked.
"Not a thing, Harriet" he returned
cheerily. "Tm feelin' real pert, too.
Was there lots there? An did Parson
Drew say a heap O fine things?"
Mrs. Clayton dropped into chair
and pulled listlessly at the black
strings of her bonnet.
"Twas a beautiful fun'ral, Thad-
deus-a beautiful fun'ral. II most
wished it was mine"
Harriet !"
She gave a shamed-faced laugh.
"Well, 1 did-then Jehiel and Han
nah Jane would "a come, an l could
"a seen EN-"
The Mortified look on the old mans
face gave way to broad smile.
"Oh Harriet-Harriet! !" he chuck
led, chow could We seen 'em if you
was dead?"
Huh? Well, I-Thaddeus"-h
voice rose sharply in the silent room
every single one of them Perkins boys
was there, and Annabel, too. Only
| think what poor Mis- Perkins would "a
given ter seen 'em fore she went
But they waited-waited, Thaddeus,
jest as everybody does, till their folks
Is dead"
But, Harriet" demurred the old
man, surely you'd "a had them boys
come ter their own mothers fun'ral 7"
Come! I'd "a feasted Ter eyes on
'em. Thaddeus"-N1rs. Clay ton rose to
her feet and stretched out two gaunt
hands Observation-Disclosures, l get so
hungry sometimes for Jehie and Han
nah Jane, seems as though l jest
couldn't stand it!'
Il know know, dearie," Quavered
the old man, vigorously polishing his
glasses.
Fifty years ago my first baby came, -
resumed the woman in tremulous
tones; then another came, Iand an
other, till I'd six. I loved em an
tended 'em, an cared for em, an didn't
have a thought but was fer them
babies. Four died"-her voice broke,
then went on with renewed strength
but I've got Jehiel and Hannah Jane
left; at least, I've got two bits 'of paper
that comes mebbe once a MONTH, an
one Of ems signed your duttful son.
Jehiel, an the other, from YOUR loving
daughter, Hannah Jane"
well, Harriet, they-they re pretty
good ter write letters" venthred Mr.
Clayton.
'Letters!' walled his wife. ~ can't
hug an kiss letters, though l try to,
sometimes.
"Well, well, wife, mebbe they'll come
-mebbe they'll come this summer
who knows?"
she shook her head diSm ally.
you've said that ev'ry Wear for the
last fifteen summers, an they hain't
come yet. Jehiel went West more than
twenty years ago, an he's; never been
home since. Why, Thadde'us, we've got
grandson most eighteen. that we
hain't even seen! Hannah James been
home jest once since she was married
but that was nigh on ter sixteen years
ago. She's always writtn Of her Tom
my and Nellie, but-I want ter see
'em, Thaddeus; want ter see emf
eyes, yes; well, We'll ask 'em, Har
riet, again-we'll ask 'em real urgent
like, an mebbe that'll fetch EN-" com
forted the old man. "We'll ask ZEN
ter be here the Fourth; that's eight
weeks off yet, an l shall be real smar
by then"
Two letters that were certainly cur
gent-like" left the New England farm
house the next morning. One was adj
dressed to a thriving western city, the
other to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In course Of time the answers came
Hannah James appeared first, and wa,
opened with shaking fingers.
Dear Mother Tread Mrs. Clayton aloud
Your letter came two or three days ago
and l have hurried round to answer it
for you seemed to be so anxious to hear
j m real SOffyp Out QOn see now w
can get away this summer Nathan /
real busy at the store; and, some way,
can't seem to get up energy enough t.
even think of fixing up the children t.
take them so far Thank you for the in
yitation, though and we should enio
the visit very much; but | guess we can
go just yet. or course, If anything seriou
should come up that made it necessary
why, that would be different; but | knoy
you are sensible, and will understand hoy
1t is with US
Nathan is we'll but business has bee
pretty brisk, and he Is in the store earl
and late. AS long as he's making money
he don't mind but l tell him | think h
might rest a little sometimes, and lie
some one else do the things he does
Tom is big boy now, smart in hi
studies and with a good head for figures
Nellie loves her books, too; and, for
little girl of eleven, does pretty we'll, W
think.
/ must close now. We all send Low,
and hope you are getting along all RICH
Was glad to hear father was gaining s
fast
Your loving daughter
HANNAH JANE
The letter dropped from Mrs Cha!
toms fingers and lay unheeded on tn