The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-04-21
"REMINISCENCES
BY eLApls F. PRAY

y
TO condemn all the thoughts and acts
Of youth as folly. Sometimes, as these
people pass middle age and reach the
point where they see that even the
history Of families truly repeats Itself,
their judgment mellows and their sym
patty with youth returns. This would
have been brought home very forcibly
to any person listening to the discus
sion that took place in the Armstrong
farmhouse kitchen on sunny morn
Ing last fall. ! had it on the best au-
thority, that Of Granddad Armstrong
himself
OF course, there was long intro
duction to his story. Then he rambed
on to how he had the time and OPP
portunity to observe how things were
going between Anne and his grandson
and namesake, William Armstrong.
Finally he reached the point where
my story begins, the morning after the
dance over at Rosedale, when William
came down, sleepy-eyed and gawnIng,
to find his father engaged with his
fayorite topic, the worthlessness Of
the present generation, especially on
the farm, and his determination that
his son must give up "1alIy-gaggn'
round with that ere Anne Marsh
banks and get down to brass lacks"
AS IS usual with mothers, Mary Arm
strong was trying to smooth things
over, but was not succeeding very well.
AS William reached the kitchen door
his father was just delivering his ulti-
matum.
81 tell you, Mary. there's no use ar
guln' told the boy only last week
he'd have to give it up, else he could
get out and shift for himself and just
find out how easy he'd find 1t to sup
port himself, let alone two"
Here William spoke for himself.
'And told you, pa, what l tell you
now. I'd get out and glad to, except
for mother. You've no call to make
such fuss over me takln' Anne to a
dance now and again. l work hard
for you all day. harder than any hired
hand you ever had, and"
Hush, Willew from the mother.
"Your father has worked hard for
years that you might have this place
clear Of debt when you grow up"
Yes, and small thanks l get for it,
too
Now, don't you get to thinkln' I'm
sldln' with you. pa, for I'm not" inter-
posed Mrs. Armstrong.
Anyway. as pa says, there's no use
arguing about It, and as long as he
feels the way he does the sooner
clear out and get start for myself
the better" said Willie I'm take just
what / need In the suitcase and catch
the 500 from the Center. I'm glad l
saved the money grand-dad gave me
for my birthday. That will start me,
anyway"
"Yes. and once that's gone, you'll
find that trees In city parks don't bear
greenbacks, me lad"
A low chuckle broke In from the
corner where granddad, who had
puffed placldly on his ancient pipe dur
Ing the debate, now raised his veneer
able head and regarded his son with q
Qulzzlcal air.
mo, lndeedy, money don't grow on
the bushes in city parks, William, and
no one knows that better than your
father. Now. wonder, did he ever tel
I you how he learned that2 Maybe II
'ud be a bit hard for him to tell you
hut there's your mother knows al
about It, and could say deal II she
! dast. No? l can see by their faces
they never did tell. Web, old people
are forgetful, SO p'raps I'd best re
mind them.
NOW, John, don't int'rupt your IN
ther, nor you, Mary. You know, VIII
{ liam, once on n time l thought YOU
pa had summat better TO do than L
be squlrln' a certain good,lookn' cir
to dances, but he didn't think so
Lawsy, mol We had some words abou
It, and he packed his buds and started
off for Boston on some money hi
grandma give him. He was goln' t,
show his dad what he could do. Yes, h,
showed me all rightly" with an appre
ciative grin. HE resky'd fair lad,
In trouble on the Boston train, and sh,
resliy'd his wallet, so the money tree
on Boston Common didn't bloom TO
him that year."
As granddad subsidized John rathe
sheepishly glanced ut his wife, VIII,
suddenly needed something In the pan
try. Then he cleared his throat mad
couple OF false starts, and lnall,
jerked out:
well, granddad, you would hav
your say, but I hope you'll forget tina
old yarn, II we agree to say no NOR
about the party. II Billy promises no
to be out rulnin' his health more thai
two nights week, ] guess the oil
farm won't go to rack an ruin We
awhile-that Is, II he makes the hes
OF his chances, as did, and persuade
the girl to come and I've where h
won't have to be chasln' out nights
, what do you say to that MaryT
Mary only smiled, but her husban
4 H.. I,.a 90 ~ a. Lon u