The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-05-06


asked.
mot thing, Harriet" he returned
eheerily. I'm feelin' renl pert, too
Was there lots there2 An did Parson
Drew say heap o fine thingsT
Mrs. Clayton dropped into a chair
and pulled listlessly at the black
strings of her bonnet
"'Twas beautiful fun'ral, Thad-
deus-a beautiful fun'ral. IL most
wished 1t was mine"
"Harrietr
She gave shamed-faced laugh
"Well, | did-then Jehiel and Han
nah Jane would n come, an I could
a. seen en-
The Mortified look on the old mans
face gave way to n broad smile.
ooh, Harriet-Harriet! I" he chuck.
led, "how could We seen 'em IL you
was dead?'
"Huh7 Well. I-Thaddeus"-her
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 wnited-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 !"
Come! I'd "a Toasted her eyes on
EN-. Thaddeus"-Mrs. Clayton rose to
her feet and stretched out two gaunt
hands Observation-Disclosures / get 40
hungry sometimes for Jehiel and Han.
nah Jane, seems as though / lest
couldn't stand itr'
Il knOw-I 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, and an
other, till I'd six. / loved 'em an
tended EN-, an cared for 'em, an didn't
have 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 month, an
one Of ems signed your dutiful son,
Jehiel. an the other, from your loving
daughter, Hannah Jane"
well, Harriet, they-they're pretty
good ter write letters" ventured Mr..
Clayton.
"Letters" walled his wife. II 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 dismally.
you've said that ev'ry year 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, Thaddeus, we've got
"a grandson most eighteen, that we
haint even seen! Hannah James been
home jest once since she was married.
but that was nigh on ter sixteen years
ago. She's always writin' Of her Tom
my and Nellie, butt want ter see
EN-, Thaddeus; want ter see 'eml"
Yes, yes; well, we'll ask 'em. Har- |
net, again-we'll ask 'em real urgent
like, an mebbe that'll fetch EN- com.
fOrted the old man. "Well ask 'em |
ter be here the Fourth; that's eight |
weeks of yet, an shall be real smart |
BY them"
Two letters that were certainly eur
igent-like" left the New England farm
house the next morning. One was adj
dressed to thriving western city. the
other to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In course of time the answers came.
Hannah james appeared first, and was
opened with shaking fingers.
Dear Mother Tread Mrs Clayton aloud:
Tour letter came two or three days ago.
and have hurried round to answer 1t.
Tor you seemed to be 30 anxious to hear.
I'm real sorry, but / don't see how we
can get away this summer. Nathan Is
real busy at the store; and, some way, /
can't seem to get up energy enough to
even think of fixing up the children to
Mke them so far. Thank you for the In
''t~tioh, tnOuEH, ana We snOulu ENJOY |
the visit very much; but guess we cant
90 lust yet. or course. II anything serious
snould come up that made It necessary
Nny, that would be different; but I know
you are sensible, and will understand how
u Il with US.
Nathan is well, but business has been
pretty brisk. and he liz In the store early
ana late As long as he's making money.
ne don't mind. but I tell him I think he
might rest little sometimes. and let
some one else do the things he does.
Tom Is big boy now, smart in his
guides and with good head for figures.
Nellie loves her books, too: and. for
think.
must close now. We all send love,
s N hope you are getting along all right
Was glad to hear father was gaining 20
last.
Your loving daughter,
HANNAH JANE.
The letter dropped from Mrs. Clay
IONS fingers and lay UNDECIDED on the
moor. The woman covered her face
with her hands and rocked her body
back and forth.
There. there, dearie." soothed the
90 mar huskily; "mebbe Jehiel's will
Oe dlnrent. There. there! Don't take
~ SO. Harriet Don't! just know
sehielll come"