The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-02

"Elmer and Lloyd, and then there was Muriel. and another baby?" ,ulia asked.
 ''Muriel and Geraldine. and then the baby, Regina
 Has Aunt May seven children?" Julia asked, awed.
 Mrs. Cox delayed the brewing of a pot of tea while she counted them with a bony knotted hand. Then she nodded. Julia digested the fact in frowning silence.
 Grandma" said she presently, did you ever have enough money?"
 Mrs. Cox. now drinking her tea from g. saucer. smiled toothlessly.
 ''Oh. sure," said she. with a cack1e immediately the sorry joke lost favor, The old woman sighed, and tassS Ser wrinkled face and filmed eyes there came her usual look of patient and <1intelligent endurance. I've never had a dollar that didn't have to do two dollars work said she. suddenly, in a mighty voice, staring across the kitchen. and lift an oath. i've never laid down at night when I wasn't so tired my back was splitting. I've never had no thanks and no ease-the sixty pie meant to be rich, Julia, and some that1l be poor the longest day of
 faeir lives. and that's all there Is to it!"
 .I know-but it don't seem fair" Julia unused. She presently went on an errand for her grandmother, and came back with sausages and fresh pulpy bread and large spongy crullers windy summer twilight was closing in, and the homegoing laborers and factory hands were filing home through the dirty streets. Julia found h i1cy 1rlT. II 1+ 1I7 kitchen, Evelyn rather heavy and coarse looking. Marguerite reedy and thin, both wearing an unwholesome palor. They made & little event of her coming, and the three girls chat icy gay1y enough throughout the meal which was eaten at the kitchen table and washed down with strong tea.
 man in a laborer's rough clothes, who rocked of whfskey, mumbled his meal in silence, and afterward went into the room known as the parlor, must come in and light his lamp. Julia went in with Evelyn to the rather pttiful room: a red rug was on the floor. and there were two tides the big chair in which the old man settled himself
 '.Ain't he going out. Grandma" said Evelyn. returning to the kitchen, and exchanging a rueful look with
 ''Wen. I thought he wasl" Mrs. Cox made pilgrimage to the parlor door, and returned confident Hen go outi" she said reassurtng1y.
 "Comp'ny coming?" Julia asked snilingly. The other girls gtggled and looked at each other.
 Well, why couldn't Grandpa sit in a better light out here!''
 Catch him doing anything de- cent" Evelyn said. and Marguerite added: And. Ju. he'll sit there sometimes just to be mean. and he'll take his shoes off. and put his socks up"
 And nights he knows we want the l parlor he'll stay in on purpose" Evelyn supplemented eagerly
 ''I wouldn't stand for it," Julia as- | serted.
 Pas awtuly cranky" Mrs. COX said resignediy. 'rHe's always been that way! You cook edm corn beef chops: sometines @ he'li Arsq snap your your head off if you speak. and others he'll | ask you why you sit around like a ! mute and don't talk. Sometimes if hand in his pocket real willing, and | other times for weeks he won't give | you a cent!"
 T wouldn't put up with it." said | Julia again. What does he do with |
 
 "Oh, he treats the boys. and some times, when he's drunk, they'll bor- row it off him. said his wife. Pas always open-handed with the boys!"
 Evelyn, who had washed her coarse, handsome face at the kitchen sink, began now to arrange her hair with small comb that had been wedged into the sinkboard Mar suer1te, having completed similar operations, offered to walk with Ju- lia to the Mission street car.
 t'The worst of Grandpa is this" said Marguerite. on the way, and Julia glanctng sideways under a street lamp surprised an earnest and most expression on her cousins plain. pale face, "he don't give Grandma any money, d'you ee?- and that means that Ev and I have to give her pretty much what we get, and so We can't help Mamma, ! and that makes me awfully blue"
 But but Uncle Eds working, Rfta?"
 (Continued Tomorrow