The Glenwood post., 1923-07-26
Uncle Jerry turned toward the sink

smarter when they grow up"
mot If they don't have some mental
exercise along the way" retorted Mrs.
Penfeld mildly. n f1gger that lot
Of parents practically embalm their
children's brains by doing all the
thinking for the family. That's one
mistake don't intend to make"
Uncle Jerry reached for the soap.
tits all the same to me-" he grinned.
Bonnie Geraldine's the one that's
got the kick"
Nonsense! I'll risk Bonnie Ger
aldine. Crink knows as much about
boards and nails as do, and II he
and Lettie can't study up some kind
Of shelter for one hen. I'll be 'shamed
Of 'em. 1t may take 'em few days,
but they'll be days well put in" She
set the pan on the stove and poured
in boiling water, stirring briskly as
she talked.
Uncle Jerry wiped his hands
thoughtfully. II wasn't critlcizing,
Car'line. Great Scott, If you've got
the courage to take in kids that you
might leave running loose in the
world, you'd oughter have the privi-
lege of managing 'em any way you
darn please. All is, l wasn't going to
hand out any hints If twas contrary
to rules, so I was asking
you're a DEAR" acknowledged Mrs.
Penfield, smiling. II am dead set on
this one point, cause Eve been bored
half to death by so many folks that
couldn't think an original thought II
It'd bring 'em q million dollars. tell
you what, Uncle Jerry. there's more
folks'n there ought to be whose minds
amt nothing but cold-storage plants.
Course you don't always know where
the material came from-and some
times you can trace 1t easy. I knew
woman once who never said any.
thing 'cept what her minister'd handed
out to her. She was a sort of charity
case, but I'll bet she wasn't the only
one IN the congregation. Monday and
Tuesday she was real int'rusting !;
Wednesday she was just $3.50; Thurs
day she was on the decline; and by
Friday she'd run down entirely. Fri.
day and Saturday she was pretty
fair listener" Mrs. Penfield laughed
BLESSED If I didn't always call on
that woman long the first of the week
sometime"
you're mighty encouraging to q
feller that's had hit-or-miss life
Car'line. I'd always wished some.
bodyd worked out a few things for
me. Oh, by the way" he added, as
he smoothed his hair before the small
mirror that hung by the cupboard, J
ordered sack Of sweet potatoes this
morning. They'll come sometime to.
day. got 'em turrible cheap, cause
they're whales--too big for fancy
trade. But I thought mebbe you
could use EN-"
"Oh, just grand" cried Mrs. Pen.
field. I'D as soon have outsize pota.
toes as any other kind. and they're
what we need most. You be sure to
come round to supper tonight, Uncle
Jerry. Well have sweet potatoes
with salt on 'em, and cauliflower
that Crink brought yesterday. It'll
be grand spread"
"Yes," acknowledged Jerry Winston
gravely, "I'll stake my life you'll make
them youngsters blieve it's Thanks
giving, but"
"Plenty to eat is always Thanks
giving" she interrupted placidly
Were awful lucky to be well nour
ished all the time
Jerry Winston said nothing. He
took up his hat and whirled 1t alb.
sently round and round. The habit
ual twinkle had died out of his eyes.
leaving them gloomy. During several
moments Of silence he watched Mrs
Penfleld sprlnkllng clothes and rolling
them into tight compass with final
slap from her palm to encourage
capillarity.
Finally he reused and opened the
kitchen door. II wish I had a settled
income" he muttered. He jammed on
his hat and went out.
poor man, wish he had |" thought
Mrs. Penfield. Its hard on him to
cut loose and not get tied to some
thing again. Land, got to be careful
not to feel hurt cause he can't talk
1t over with his own niece; but trying
to force feller's confidence Is bout
like prying a cocoon open with a knife.
I amt going to care; I'm going to
expect-and I'm an awful good eY.
pecter. Besides, 1 got a heap of won
derful things to think about"
1t was true that several high points
had recently been reached by the Pen.
fields. For one thing. Crink had been
promoted in the grocery business, be-
ing paid now in small amount OF
cold cash for his two-hour service In
the late afternoon. He was also still
on the inside ring In regard to bar
| gains in vegetables, groceries and
meat bones, and continued to bring
in supplies that represented sharp
saving to the family. Crink had
visions Of being able to support the
household before many years, and
already he was swinging In and out
of The Custard Cup with an engaging
mir nf hosta md raapon Sihilitv