The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-09-21
The Man About the
House
by MYRA c. LANE

60. isss b. Western Newspaper uaioaD
snow for g"pdncss' sake take Poll,
out Tor a walk aud give me a chanc,
20 gct things cleaned up" sal,
mot her
Father smooihed back his gray hall
and rose. lie laid down the Sunday
paper. Ills wife was already bcginnlns
her housework. She had taken up the
rugs 10 shake. she was moving IN.
furniture about tho room Ia an aim
less sort u 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 cut
The house was exactly like three
dozen other houses along the street. u
small. wooden structure with - tiny
hall and seven rooms There was III.
same strip of draggied lawn In front
OF each.
But In the distance were fields and
hills. crowned with green. The wild
country was all about them. They
strode down the street together.
Father don't like sundays. he.
cause mothers always cleaning" said
Polly wistfully.
-Cleanlngl oh. well. she's 20, t.
clean. ! suppose" said father lie was
thinking 81 u girl be- had known be-.
fore be- was married. who was rather
untidy. and would never have both.
or three times q year. What good
times they had had together u was
strange how wildly her face came
back TO him after ten years Of mar
rIagc.
How'd you like us 20 run away
Pollyr asked father
Really inquired Polly. clutchine
his hand more tightly.
REALLY. Polly. Run away some
where where there's never any clean
ine" H. tried not 20 show his hit
terness. Just you and me. wandering
al"ng the roads. or maybe train
whisiled In the dlstance-"well take
q train somewhern and never come
back Wei 90 and see foreign parts
where the palm trees grow. and biz
birds all blue and green and yellow
and rel fly through the branches"
oh that'll b. splendid" said
Polly. clappins her hands.
''Or maybe well take n ship to Italy.
and see all the ruins and the picture
galleries. Then well 60 on To- Egypt
and see the desert. and the cameis
going by with packs of rugs On their
backs What d'you say To- thntf"
"oh. wouldn't II be nice" said
Polly
They had begun to ascend the hill
behind the town. They toiled up and
stood looking down. The houses
seemed isolated In vast forest
MAYBE wen just walk on and on
I'LL the forests all about Us. And then
We'll camp la the woods and light n
fire. aud catch some trout and cook
them for dinner And sleep under tn.
stars. How about thatf'
Wonderful" said Polly. "Bu, sup
pos. u came on To- rain. fath.rf''
"The leaves will be- so thick tina,
not drop 81 rain can come through
Besides. who cares for q little rainf
Not We. Anyway. It's nicer than stay.
Ing at home where there's cleaning
going on. isn't ltr'
Much nicer" said Polly
Maybe I'm taking you too far
You're tired. dearf'
~ little bIt." said Polly. ooh. faith
er. what pity"
whats a pityf"
did you know mother has duck
and green peas for dlnnerT'
"Duck aud green Ieas' What do we
care for duck and green psasy
~ nothing" said Polly. little
wls'fully
MAYBE We had better be- getting
back and start next sunday Instead"
suggested father. 1t II a li,t. late.
isn't H. Poll 80
a little father" answered Polly.
They started back. very slowly and
wistfully. but as they near.i the
house they went faster and faster.
Such a delicious smell came from the
dining room. And there stood mother
40 the door
"Well. you have been for n long
walk" said mother. smiling. And
you're lust IN time. for dinners On
the table"
They went In. The Interior was NJ
splck and span n new pin. The
odors that came from beneath ia.
dish cover were simply Understandable.
Duck Is nice with green peas. isn't
H. fatheri" suggested Polly.
"You mothers a pretty good cook. -
answered father.
Mother smiled she knew all about
the man about the house.