Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1922-05-19
"REMINISCENCES
BY cLADls F. PRAY


aged people to forget their youth an,
to condemn all the thoughts and act.
Of youth as folly Sometimes, as Ties,
people pass middle age and reach III /
point where they see that even tn,
history of families truly repeats itself |
their judgment mellows and their sym |
pathy with youth returns. This wo,lt /
have been brought home very torcibi> /
to any person listening to the dis us
sion that took place in tie Armsucn. /
farmhouse Kitchen on sunny morn
ing last fall. | had it on the best au /
thority, that Of Granddad Armstroni
himself
OF course, there was long intro
duction to his story. Then he ramble,
on to how he had the time ana np
pOrtunity to observe how things were
going betN cen Anne ard 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 /
the present generation, especially on
the farm, and his determination that /
his son must give up "lally-gaggn /
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 |
ooh. IrTE 4.
his father was just delivering his ulti- /
matum.
II tell you, Mary, there's no use ar
gum; | told the boy only last week
he'd have to give 1t up else he could
get out and shift for himself and just
find out how easy he'd find it to sup
port himself, let alone two"
Here William spoke for himself
And l told you, pa, what l tell you
now. I'd get out and glad to, except
for mother. You've no call to make
such a fuss over me takin' Anne to
dance now and again. l work hard
for you all day, harder than any hired
hand you ever had, and"
Hush, Willle!" from the mother.
your father has worked hard for
years that you might have this place
clear Of debt when you grow up"
yes, and small thanks I get for it,
too"
Now. don't you get to thlnkln' I'm
sidin' with you, pa, for I'm not" inter-
posed Mrs. Armstrong.
Anyway, as pa says, there's no use
arguing about 1t, and as long as he
feels the way he does the sooner I
clear out and get a start for myself
the better" said Willie. "I'll take Just
what l need In the suitcase and catch
the 9 100 from the Center. I'm glad
saved the money grand-dad gave me
for my birthday. That Will start me,
anyway"
Eyes. and once that's gone, you1l
find that trees in city parks don't bear
greenbacks. me lad"
A low chuckle broke In from the
corner where grunddud. who had
pulled placidIy on his ancient pipe dur
ing the debate now raised his veneer
able head and regarded his son with
quizzlCal air.
mo, lndeedy, money don't grow on
the bushes In city parks. William. and
no one knows that better than your
father Now, l wonder, did he ever tell
you how he learned that? Maybe 1t
'ud be a bit hard for him to tell you,
but there's your mother knows all
about 1t, and could say deal if she
dast. No? l can see by their faces
they never did tell. Well, old people
are forgetful, so p'r'aps I'd best re-
mind them.
Nov, John, don't int'rupt your IA
ther, nor you, Mary. You know, VIII
liam, once on a time l thought your
pa had summat better to do than to
be squirin' certain gOOd-lOOkin girl
to dances, but he didn't think So
Lawsy, no! We had some words about
1t, and he packed his buds and started
Off for Boston on some money his
grandma give him. He was goln' to
show his dad what he could do. Yes, he
showed me all rightly" with an appre-
clative grin. HE resky'd a fair lady
In trouble on the Boston train, and she
resky'd his wallet, so the money trees
on Boston Common didn't bloom for
him that year"
AS granddad subsidized John rather
sheepishly glanced Mt his wife, who
/ suddenly needed something in the pan
/ try. Then he cleared his throat, made
/ q couple of false starts, and finally
/ jerked out:
We'll, granddad, you would have
/ your say, but hope you'll forget that
old yarn, If we agree to say no more
about the party. II Billy promises not
/ to be out rulnln his health more than
/ two nights a week, I guess the old
farm won't go to rack an ruin yet
awhie-that is, If ne makes the best
Of his chance :; as did, and persuades
the girl 10 come and live where he
won't have to be chasln out nights.