The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-05-12

with apprehensiye eyes upon the little
old man In the rocking chair.
''How be We. deariei Yer hain'i
wanted fer nothin'. now. have ye?" She
asked.
Not a thing. Harriet" he returned
cheerily. I'm feelin' real pert. too
Was there lots there7 An did Parson
Drew say heap o. fine thingsi"
Mrs. Clayton dropped into chair
and pulled lIstlessly at the black
strings Of her bonnet.
"rrwas beautiful fun'ral. Thad-
deus-a beautiful fun'ral. IL most
wished II was mine"
Harriet"
She gave shamed-faced laugh.
"Well, l did--fhen Jehiel and Han
nah Jane would a come, an l could
"a seen EN-"
The Mortified look on the old mans
face gave way TO broad smile.
''oh! Harriet-Harriet!" he chuck
led, "how could ye seen 'em II you
was deadT
"HuhY Well. I--Thadleus"--he
voice rose sharply In the silent room
every single one Of them Perkins boys
was there, and AnnabeI. too. Only
think what poor Mis- Perkins would m
given ter seen 'em fore she went !,
But they waited-waited, Thaddens,
Jest as everybody does, till their folks
Is dead"
'But. Harriet" demurred the ole
man. surely you'd "a had them boys
come ter their own mothers fun'ral !"
Come! I'd "a feasted her eyes on
'em. Thaddeus Clayton rose 10
her feet and stretched out two gaunt
hnnds Observation-Disclosures. get SO
hungry sometimes for Jehiel and Han.
nah Jane. seems as though / Jest
couldn't stand itl'
Il know 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 'em. 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 dutlful son.
Jehiel. an the other, from your loving
Hannah Jane"
well, Harriet, they--they're pretty
good ter write letters" ventured Mr..
Clayton.
Letters - walled his wife. aI can't
hug an kiss letters. though try to,
sometimes.
"well, well, wife, mebhe they'll come
-mebbe they'll come this summer;
who knowsf'
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
EN-, Thaddeus; l want ter see 'emw
Yes. yes: well, Wen ask EN-, bar.
riet, again-well ask 'em real urgent.
like, an mebbe thatll fetch EN-" COM
forted the old man. "We1l ask 'em
ter be here the Fourth: that's eight
weeks of yet, an l shall be real smart
by then"
Two letters that were certainly "ur.
gent-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 Motner tread MIS-. Clayton aloud.
Your letter came two or three days ago.
and ! have hurried round to answer II.
for you seemed to be 20 anxious to hear.
I'm real sorry. but I don't see how we
can get away this summer. Nathan 10
real busy at the store. and. some way, l
can't seem to set up energy enough to
even think Of fixing up the children to
take them 90 far. Thank you for the in
vitation. though. and we should enjoy
the visit very muchs but guess we can't
30 Just yet OF course. II anything serious
Dhould come UP that made Il necessary
why. that would b. different: but I know
you are sensible. and will understand how
L II with us-
Nathan is well. but business has been !
pretty brisk, and he fs In the store early
And late. A. long ~ he's making money,
he don't mind: but tell him l think he
might rest q little sometimes, ana let
rome one else do the things he does.
Tom v big boy now. smart IN his |
studies and with . good head for figures.
Nellie loves her books. too, and. for a
little siri OF eleven. does pretty well. we
think.
must close now. We all send love. |
Ind 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. |
'on's fingers and lay UNDECIDED on the
1oor. The woman covered her face
With her hands and rocked her body |
,ack and forth.
There. there, dearie.' soothed the |
I'D man huskily; "mebbe Jehiel's viii |
y diTrent. There. there! Don't take |