The Little River news., 1922-12-13
The Man About the
 House
By MIRA C. LANE

co. 1922, by Western Newspaper Union.)
 "Now for goodness sake take Polly out for walk and give me chance to get things cleaned up," said mother.
 Father smoothed back his gray hair and rose. He laid down the Sunday paper. His wife was already beginning her housework. She had taken up the rugs to shake she was moving the furniture about the room in an aim- less sort of way, and there was a wor- ried look upon her face.
 Come along, Polly girl" said father.
 He took his little daughters hand, slapped on his hat, and they went out. The house was exactly like three dozen other houses along the street, & small, wooden structure with a tiny hall and seven rooms. There was the same strip of draggled lawn in front of each.
 But in the distance were fields and hilh, crowned with green. The wild country was all about them. They strode down the street together.
 ''Father, I don't like Sundays, be- cause mothers always cleaning" said Polly wistfully.
 Cleaning? Oh, we'll, she's got to clean, suppose" said father. He was thinking of a girl he had known be- fore he was married, who was rather untidy, and would never have both- cred about cleaning more than two or three times year. What good times they had had together! It was strange how wildly her face came back to him after ten years of mar riage.
 How'd you like us to run away, Polly?" asked father.
 "Really?" inquired Polly, clutching his hand more tightly.
 Really, Polly. Run away some where where there's never any clean ing" He tried not to show his bit terness. "Just you and me, wandering along the roads. Or maybe"-a train whistIed in the distance-"weIl take train somewhere and never come ] back. We'll go and see foreign parts where the palm trees grow, and big birds, all blue and green and yellow and red fly through the branches" "Oh, that'll be splendid" said Polly, clapping her hands. "Or maybe we'll take ship to Italy and see all the ruins and the picture galleries. Then we'll go on to Egypt and see the desert, and the camels l going by with packs of rugs on theil backs. What d'you say to tlrat?" I "Oh, wouldn't it be nice!" sait Polly.
 They had begun to ascend the hil behind the town. They toiled up ant stood looking down. The houses seemed isolated in vast forest. Maybe we'll just walk on and or till the forests all about us. And ther we'll camp in the woods and light g fire, and catch some trout and cook them for dinner. And sleep under the stars. How about that?" "Wonderful," said Polly. "But sup pose 1t came on to rain, father?" "The leaves will be so thick that not a drop of rain can come through Besides, who cares for little raini Not we. Anyway, it's nicer than stay ing at home where there's cleaning going on, isn't it?'
 ''Much nicer," said Polly.
 Maybe I'm taking you too far You're tired, dear?"
 "A little bit," said Polly. "Oh, fath er what a pity" What's pity?"
 "Did you know mother has duck and green peas for dinnerY Duck and green peas? What do we care for duck and green peas?'
 "N-nothing," said Polly, little wistfully.
 Maybe we had better be getting back and start next Sunday instead, suggested father. Ut is little late isn't it, Poll!"
 "A little, father" answered Polly.
 They started back, very slowly and wistfully, but as they neared the house they went faster and faster Such delicious smell came from the dining room. And there stood mother at the door.
 "Well, you have been for a long walk" said mother, smiling. "And you're just in time, for dinners on the table,
 They went in. The interior was as spick and span as new pin. The odors that came from beneath the dish cover were simply indescribable
 Duck is nice with green peas, isn't it, father?" suggested Polly. "You mothers pretty good cook, ,' answered father. Mother smiled. She knew all about the man about the house.