The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-06-15

itself would be house-warming. Witt
her usual forethought Mrs. Penfels
had told the members Of her fsmil,
that 1t would be a fine spread-thii
time with supplementary details tina
added overwhelmingly to the weigh
of her statement. There were to bt
mullins and honey for the nrst course
and for the second, q tapioca pudding
1t was only the middle Of the after
noon. but preparations were already
under way. Crink had been dis
| patched to the store to get the
honey. Mrs. PenfieId was setting
the table In the dinlng-room. From
the window she could catch a glimpse
Of the hills, kissed green by the recent
rains. Last week 1t had been winter
today 1t was spring. With the charm
ing caprice that is Callfornia's, Janu-
airy had said: II was trying to give
you some winter, but 1 couldn't hold
to It,"
Mrs. Penfield's heart was full Of
thankfulness as she set out the dishes
and placed the silver. She even ar
ranged a centerpiece. small vase
containing tea rose from bush that
Mrs. Sanders had raised. At last the
ings that help to nurture the home
feeling, feeling which persists If
Ii is Incorporated In ones childhood,
but which is never built up In exactly
the same way If that childhood passes
without 1t. Thoughts of other days,
thoughts OF the other home that this
one called up. knocked persistently
against Mrs. Peo6eld's brain, but she
refused to let them enter. Like Miss
Hapgood. she womb live in the
present.
The pudding was made. Lettie was
beating the white Of the egg for the
frosting.
Jimmy, amt this funi" she ex-
claimed. 1--WE always wondered how
1t felt to beat an egg. could keep
at 1t till kingdom come"
Crink burst in at the kitchen door,
ooh, Penzie," he cried, "ev'rybody's so
excited down to the storei l got to
go right back, but had to bring the
here's the honey-and tell you quick"
Mrs. Penfeld took down the can OF
sugar from the shelf above the sink.
'What is 1t, CrLnk? What's hap
pened?"
He stood In front of her, breathing |
hard, his eyes shining with eagerness, |
tur
and the father and mother were |
killed, but the baby wasn't and"
"Crink, what are you talking a5outT'
demanded Mrs. Penfield in dismay.
''Why, Penzie. the baby. Ev'ry-
)ody's talking bout it to the store.
Il hain't got nobody left-not nobody.
It's folks wasn't related to any other
'oIks. And everybody that comes in
s talking bout It," Crink gasped for
,reath, but jef1ked out his statements
With wild gesticulations. "Ev'rybody's
aging what1l become of the baby,
md It'll have to go to sutton, and
o / thought mebbe-"
Lettfe reluctantly relinquished the
ggbeater, but zealousiy advocated the
nfant- 20 Penzie, let'sl It'd be such
un Golly, I'd love to have a"
Mrs Benfeid stirred sugar into the
eaten white and spread the frosting
yer the pudding. What's your idea,
rink p she asked. as she slid the dish
ito the. oven for the final browning.
wen. L thought mebbe we could
hnf NJ wOf !
ably now-Thad's growing up 50 fast
nd I'd like"
"Oh, can't we have h, please, Pen
e," begged Eettie. "A baby's Just
hat we. need. There'd be q heap
lore variety it,
Eyes, it'd be n good WAY to COT
ariety,"" agreed Mrs. Penfiefd, look
IL from. one eager face to the other.
expect you're right. Fact Is, been
md o. worried all the afternoon,
linking how fine we got ev'rything,
nd how much we got to do with, and
ow easy It's going to be- Why, i
amt got a thing to do now but keep
Ie house and do the washings and
ok after you three children; I don't
I'VE - watch The Custard Cup 7 all
~ more. know 1 amt going to feel
ght If ev'rything's so easy"
ION, then you will Oh, Penzie,
ont you hurry and get there fore
lybody else. wants itT
Land, Crink, there amt never such
5ush as that. But IN change my
.ess right now and Wen go down
herever Il is. by goodness. l can't
ait myself to ges hold Of that blessed
by"
Everybody says it's fine one" put
Crink enthusiastically. "It's healthy,
"a knOw-and ev'rything."
"Oh. wen have such fun raising itw
id Mrs. Penfield briskly. II just
low it's going TO work out grand"
1.-THE END
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