The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-04-07
"REMINISCENCES
BY GLADIs r. PRAY


1t is a common thing for middle
aged people to forget their youth and
to condemn all the thoughts and acts
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 / had it on the best au-
thority, that of Granddad Armstrong
himself.
OF course, there was long intro
duction to his story. Then he rambled
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
his 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.
II tell you, Mary, there's no use ar.
gum; 1 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 it to sup
port himself, let alone two"
Here William spoke for himself.
"And told you, pa, what tell you
now. I'd get out and glad to, except
for mother. You've no call to make
such fuss over me takin' Anne to a
dance now and again. l work hard
for you all day, harder than any hired
hand you ever had, and"
flush. Willie!" 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 1 get for it,
too
NOW, don't you get to thinkin' I'm
sidin' with you, pa, for I'm not" inter-
posed Mrs. Armstrong.
Anyway, as pa says, there's no use
arguing about it, and as long as he
feels the way he does the sooner /
clear out and get start for myself
the better" said Willie. '1'll take just
what need in the suitcase and catch
the 6 30 from the Center. I'm glad 1
saved the money grand-dad gave me
for my birthday. That will start me,
anyway"
Yes, and once that's gone, you'll
find that trees in city parks don't bear
greenbacks, me lad"
A low chuckle broke in from the
corner, where granddad, who had
pulled placidly on his ancient pipe dur
ing the debate, now raised his vener-
able head and regarded his son with a
quizzical air.
mo, indeedy, money don't grow on
the bushes in city parks, William, and
no one knows that better than your
father. Now, wonder, did he ever tell
you how he learned that? Maybe it
'ud be bit hard for him to tell you,
but there's your mother knows all
about it, and could say deal if she
dast. No? 1 can see by their faces
they never did tell. Well, old people
are forgetful, so p'r'aps I'd best re-
mind them.
snow, John, don't intrupt your ia
ther, nor you, Mary. You know, VIII
liam, once on a time / thought your
pa had summat better to do than to
be squirin' a certain good-lookin' girl
to dances, but he didn't think so.
Lawsy, no! We had some words about
it, and he packed his buds and started
off for Boston on some money his
grandma give him. He was goin' to
show his dad what he could do. Yes, he
showed me all rightly" with an appre-
ciative 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 at his wife, who
suddenly needed something in the pam
try. Then he cleared his throat made
couple of false starts, and finally
jerked out:
well, granddad, you would have
your say, but 1 hope you'll forget that
old yarn, If we agree to say no more
about the party If Billy promises not
to be out ruinin' his health more than
two nights a week, guess the old
farm won't go to rack an ruin yet
awhile-that is, If he makes the best
of his chances, as / did. and persuades
the girl to come and live where he
won't have to be ehasin. out nights.
What do you say to that, Mary?"
Mary only smiled, but her husband
did not notice the lack of an articulate