The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-10-25

IL
they haven't learned to work out their
own problemsf"
Uncle Jerry turned toward the sink
to wash his hands. They'll be
smarter when they grow up"
mot II they don't have some mental
exercise along the way" retorted Mrs.
Penfield mildly. 81 figger that lot
of parents practically embalm their
childrens brains by doing all the
thinking for the family. That's one
mistake / don't intend to make"
Uncle Jerry reached for the soap.
ITS oil 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 I do, and If he
and Lettie can't study up some kind
| Of shelter for one hen. I'll be 'shamed
Of 'em. 1t may take 'em a 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 criticizing.
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. wasn't going to
hand out any hints IL twas contrary
to rules. so was asking"
you're a DEAR" acknowledged Mrs.
Penfeld. smiling. II am dead set on
this one point, cause I've been bored
half to death by SO many folks that
couldn't think an original thought If
It'd bring 'em 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. / knew
woman once who never said any
thing 'cept what her minlster'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 a pretty
fair listener" Mrs. Penfield laughed
blessed IL 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
Carline. I'd always wished some
body'd worked out few things fol
me. oh, by the way" he added, as
he smoothed his hair before the small
mirror that hung by the cupboard, "I
ordered sack of sweet potatoes thi!
morning. They'll come sometime to
day. I got 'em turrible cheap, 'caus,
they're whales-too big for fame!
trade. But l thought mebbe yo,
could use EN-"
"Oh. just grand" cried Mrs. Pen
, field. "Td as soon have outsIze pota
toes as any other kind, and they'r
what we need most. You be sure t,
, come round to supper tonight, Uncl
Jerry Well have sweet potatoe
with salt on 'em, and a caulif1owe
, that Crink brought yesterday. It'll
be grand spread"
"Yes." acknowledged Jerry Winston
: gravely, "I'l stake my life you'll max
them youngsters b'ieve it's Thanks
} giving. but"
"Plenty to eat is always Thanks
/. giving" she interrupted placidly
, "We're awful lucky to be well noul
Z ished all the time"
. Jerry Winston said nothing. Fl
e took up his hat and whirled 1t al
h sently round and round. The habit
ual twinkle had died out of his eye!
9 leaving them gloomy. During severl
e moments of silence he watched Mr.!
i Penfield sprinkling clothes and rollin
S them into tight compass with a fina
y slap from her palm to encourag
a capillarity.
a Finally he reused and opened tn
= kitchen door. II wish had settle
It income" he muttered. He jammed o
Q his hat and went out
:, "Poor man, wish he had !" though
d Mrs. Penfield. Its hard on him I
d cut loose and not get tied to som'
!. thing again. Land, got to be carefr
't not to feel hurt cause he can't tai
1t over with his own niece; but tryin
Q to force q feller's confidence is bot
like prying a cocoon open with knif
g amt going to care; I'm going I
T. expect-and I'm an awful good e.
pecter. Besides, got heap of woI
e derful things to think about"
1t was true that several high poinl
IT had recently been reached by the Pei
e fields. For one thing, Crink had bee
q promoted in the grocery business, b,
e ing paid now in a small amount {
cold cash for his two-hour service
l the late afternoon. He was also sti
on the inside ring In regard to ha
" gains in vegetables, groceries an
H. meat bones, and continued to brir
in supplies that represented a shaI
saving to the family. Crink hs
- visions of being able to support II