The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-03-26
Like the Fallen
Leaves
lCopyright.)
MARTHA STACY picked up the fat
AVA white anyplono where II shame
BY VIVA S. ELDRIDCE

MARTHA STACY picked up the fat
~ white envelope where 1t shame
facedly lay on the table.
Martha pulled ii out and read II
over, then dropped it into the fire.
Weary and unsatisfied, Martha went
TO the window to rest her tired eyes
on the row of trees bordering the
river Their vivid leaves fiuttered
beckoningly in the autumn wind, and
Martha went to wander under their
branches
She found the ground covered with
dry brown leaves; leaves that blew
hither and yon, stirred by every va
grant breeze, but lifeless, dull. Like
the words in her story, Martha thought.
Fluttering down from the branches OF
the maple overhead came brilliant
red leaf. Martha caught and held 1t.
1t was glowing now, and filled with
the sap Of life A few short days
would find it lifeless, dulls because it's
contact with that which gave 1t life
was gone. Martha wondered If this
were not the matter with her stories;
her contact with life-the life of the
multitude-was too refhote; she could
not give her stories reality.
Farther on she came to smeared
looking. paint-lacking. three decker.
1t was the usual kind; she had seen II
many times before. But today IL
seemed TO take on new quality. 1t
sheltered three families. From the
open door came the delightful smell
OF picking and preserving. At this
moment a woman came out Of the side
door to hang up dish towels.
Seeing Martha standing there the
woman called:
"You want somethingT
MOO" Martha found 1t was not
easy TO break through a lifetime of
reserve and interest herself in
strangers. But, seeing the woman about
TO enter the house, she remembered
her intention and called:
Please. will you tell me what kind
OF pickles you are making?"
you come and see, lady" the WON
an was eagerly hospitable.
Half reluctant Martha followed her
into the house
"My name is Mrs. Stacy" Martha
ventured. at loss how to, begin this
acquaintance.
The woman nodded. Then, MY hus-
bands name, it TezasakariZa, rolling
off the name with ease but his boss.
he no can say. he call him Yak"
sUrhar chal roll won AIrS Zak
shall I? What is it that You are cook
ing, Mrs Yak? 1t smells delicious"
"Oh, that?" stirring the contents of
the big blue kettle Tomato, pepper,
caulifiower, onion. You try?" reaching
for another big spoon.
Then, watching Martha sample it.
You like?"
Very much, Mrs Yak. VIII you
give me the recipeT
"Recipe-reci-pe- you mean so
much this-so much thatr'
Yes" smiled Martha
Mrs Zak produced set of strange
bowls. This much tomato" indicat-
ing the largest bowl This much cauli-
fio,'" pointing to the next in size and
thus the recipe was given.
Delightful" thought Martha, III in
accurate
Aloud she said These bowls, Mrs.
Zak, where can | get them?"
The woman shook her head. mo
can get here. Ny grandmother. In
Greece, she make all her-all her
recipe by them" smiling proudly at
the new word she had learned Next
week / give them to my daughter; she
be married then"
How old is your daughter Mrs
Zak?" inquired Martha
"Oh, she old; she seventeen Mrs
Zak answered
But Mrs. Yak" expostnlated Mar
tha, that is much too youn- u =.