The Glenwood post., 1923-08-30

entire adequacy. Wnat 1 was lnlnk-
ing of was last year and the swell feed
I got. l had some moldy bread and a
piece of bologny that l fished outa-"
"Oh, Lettie, Letter broke in Mrs.
Penfeld compassionately. "Tll never
be thankful enough that Crink found
} you"
, "Neither'll 1 be, you bet your front
doormat Jimmy, It's great to live
grand like this
The next morning the sky was full
of clouds. It was degrees colder, and
the wind sent the ragged leaves of the
pepper tree swirling around the drive
way. Mrs. Pentield reflected that 1t
was fortunate she had just laid In
| supply of coal. Cornstalks and drift
| wood might serve as klndlings, but
they made little impression on heating
the house and that generous portion of
out-of-doors which swept IN through
cracks and knot-holes.
| 1t was a week of rain. Clothes could
not be dried in the yard, so Crink car
ried them up to the loft as in the pre-
vious winter, except that the ascent
| WIS tdSlGE DtNouSc VI shNiN 'SiiN
stepladder Certainly washings could
not wait for fair weather, because i'm
mediate revenue was required. Crink
had asked for weeks pay in ad-
vance, to finish the payment on the
| coal; therefore the family were de-
| pendent on the current income. Mrs.
Penfield had never planned so closely
before. but It had seemed safe.
The first time that Crink returned
without the money for the laundry
which he had just delivered, she was
! disappointed the second time, she
was alarmed. In each case the family
had gone out of town to spend the hol
iday week; Crinll had encountered a
maid who Informed him carelessly
that he would get his pay the follow
ing week.
Now, children, we just got to plan"
said Mrs. Penfleld, cheerfully.
Consequently they planned. Mrs.
Penfield took no further account of
possible income during the week, and
apportioned the supplies on hand to
tide them through till the day after
New Years. She was reasonably sure
that on that date she could depend
upon a payment from Mrs. Weather
| stone.
Mrs. Penfield was that commercial
outcast, the cash customer. who re-
ceives only the most fleetlng cOnsidera-
: ton from the storekeeper, whereas
! the customer who keeps him waiting
| for his money is the object OF his
earnest solicltude and accommodation
1t seems that the less money one has,
the more promptly one pays. II was
! probable that Mrs. Penfeld might have
opened an account at Mr. brakes
but it was contrary to her prudent
policy, and also distasteful to Crink's
ideas of Independence.
Land, I'm glad I've read all them
diet books" she said to herself. "I
know now that If you go without food
for a few days, you amt starving
you're fasting. And It's turrlble styl-
ish, too. Resides, water Is awful fill
Ing"
She drank two glasses before every
meal. To her astonishment, she dis
covered that Lettie knew this trick as
well as she did, having learned it by a
far more narrowing means-not by
reading, but by necessltous expert
ence.
It looked as II she would be able to
steer her household craft safely
through the shallow waters. without
appealing In any direction; but there
was one thing which she had not
counted on, and that was the cumula-
tive power of hunger. Ravenous
stomachs accept the limited ration for
time; then rise In gathered rebellion
and demand their full need, totally un,
like their apathy under fasting.
It was not until New Years dny
that this happened Lunch consisted
Of small allowance of cornbread.
Cant I have some more, PenzieY
wheedled Thad.
Mrs Penflelds eyes filed with the
tears that had been close to the sur
face every time she had looked at her
brave brood.
Lettie sprang to her feet. "You lit
tie dummy" she said atfectionntely
"taln't cornbread you want; It's wa
ter III get you some"
She brought him another tumhler OF
water. He drank a few swallow
obedlently. He always did what Lettle
told him to.
"Oh,' he objected, making WY
face, "it's got somep'n In it. Tastes
like salty"
"You bet it's got somep'n In IT," re
Joined Lottie. "It'll make you wan
some more water-and then som,
more. You're going to get full for'
I'm through with you. And after yo,
got full feeling, you can't tell whn
gave 1t to you"
"Oh. children" began Mrs. Penfleld
quickly, tonight We'll have n gr-grar
=" Her voice broke. With swif