Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-05-04
Copyright BY Eleanor H. Porte,


AVA softly into the room and looket
with apprehensive eyes upon the littl,
odd man in the rocking chair.
"How be We, dearie? Yer hahn
wanted fer nothin', now, have YET" sh,
asked.
mot thing, Harriet" he returned
!cheerily. I'm feelin' real pert, too
Was there lots there? An did Parsor
Drew say heap o. fine things"
Mrs. Clayton dropped into a chail
and pulled listlessly at the blacl
strings of her bonnet.
"Twas beautiful fun'ral, Thad
!deus-a beautiful fun'ral. IL mos,
wished it was NINE"
"Harrietw
She gave shamed-faced laugh.
"Well, did-then Jehiel and Han
nah Jane would a. come, an could
"a seen EN-"
The Mortified look on the old mans
face gave way to broad smile.
"Oh! Harriet-Harrietl he chuck
led. 'how could We seen 'em IL Won
was dead7"
"Huh7 Well, LThaddeus"-he,
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 waited-waited. Thaddeus
Jest as everybody does, till their folks
lis dead"
but, Harriet" demurred the old
imam. surely you'd "a had them boys
come ter their own mothers fun'ral ~
Come! I'd "a Toasted her eyes on
Fem. Thaddeus''-Mrs. Clayton rose tc
her feet and stretched out two Raunt
hands Observation-Disclosures get so
hungry sometimes for Jehiel and Han.
nah Jane. seems as though Jest
couldn't stand It'll"
Il know-1 know, dearie," quavereu
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 a month, an
lone 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 try to,
sometimes.
swell, we'll, 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
hain't 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
'em. Thaddeus; want ter see 'em!"
"Yes, yes; well, we'll ask 'em, Har.
tfet. again-we'll ask 'em real urgent.
like, an mebbe thatll fetch EN-" com.
forted the old man. well ask 'em
ter be here the Fourth; that's eight
weeks on yet, an shall be real smart
by then"
Two letters that were certainly eur.
xent-like" left the New England farm.
house the next morning. One was ad.
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:
Your letter came two or three days 40.
and have hurried round to answer 1t.
for you seemed to DO % anxious to hear.
I'm real sorry. but don't see how We
can got away this summer Nathan ID
real busy at the store: and. some way,
can't seem to get up energy enough to
sAAun VI NAlu8 InV CHllQTeu 10
take them 30 far. Thank you for the In.
:Ntation. though. and We should enjoy
the visit very much; but I guess we can't
90 Just yet. OF course. IT. anything serious
should come up that made 1t necessary
why. that would be different: but know
you are sensible. and will understand how
IT Is with us.
Nathan is we'll. but business has been
pretty brisk. and he is in the store early
ana late. IS. long as he's making money,
he don't mind: but tell him I think ne
might rest a little sometimes. ana let
some one else do the things he does.
Tom u big boy now, smart IA his
studies and with good head for figures.
Nellie loves her books, too; and. for a
little girl Of eleven. does pretty well we
think -,
must close now. We all send love
ana hope you are getting along all risht
Was glad to hear father was gaining 90
], fast. Is 49,. - -
Your loving daughter,
p. ss HANNAH JANE.
The letter dropped from Mrs. Clay.
tons fingers and lay unheeded. on the
floor. The woman covered her face
with her hands and rocked her body
back and forth.