Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-09-23
kitchen. Her father was washing his
hands at the sink. &

Patience. and it was apparent again
as she greeted the man at the sink.
He turned toward her.
"Well. young woman. It's about
time you got home" he said Baby
| all right?'
Lydia nodded and turned toward
the litter of dishes and paper parcels
| on the kitchen table. Amos Dudley
at this time was about forty years
old--a thin man of medium weight,
his brown hair already gray at the
temples. Lydia evidently got from
him the blue Of her eyes and the
white of her teeth. He began to peel
off pair of brown overalls.
whats for support" he asked.
"Round steak" said Lydia.
"For heavens sake. don't let Liz
touch It."
II won't" said the child. piling up
dishes deftly.
'T'm going to give baby her cupful
Of milk, and then I'll fix it In my pat
ent way"
Amos nodded You're natural
cook, like your mother" He paused,
one leg Of his overafls off. disclosing
his shiny black trousers. Lydia car
ried the cupful of milk toward the
dining room. From where he sat he
could see her kneel before little Pa
tience. and hold the cup, while the
baby. drank thirstily. Little notes of
thn 1inh he fvrzr
curly golden heads. He looked from
the children toward the dusty kitchen
table.
What HI Of mess Liz does
keep going" he muttered. Patience
would break her heart, If she knew.
Oh! Patience. Patience ="
Lydia came back with the empty
cup. Nov for the steak" she ex-
claimed. "Gosh, what a fire"
She attacked the greasy stove with
enthusiasm and in a short time sa-
worry smell of steak filed the house.
Amos went into the dining room and
sat in rocking chair with little Pa
tence and the balloon in his lap
"Where'd she get the balloon?'
asked Amos as Lydia brought in the
platter Of meat
"Margery gave it to her." answered
the child. "Supper's ready"
"Got it at the circus, suppose.
wish could "a let you go, Lydia, but
at a dollar and half day. 1 swan
To
II didn't want to co." returned
Lydia, setting the baby in her high
chair. "Im getting too big for cir
cuses.'
"Too big for q circus!" Her father
looked at her with understanding
eyes. Il guess heaven is paved with
lies like yours, Lydia. John Levine
will be over tonight. Get some of the
mess dug out Of the parlor, will you,
Lizzie?"
"Sure," said Lizzie, good-naturedly.
Lydia sat opposite her father and
poured tea. The ancient maid Of all
work sat beside Patience and dis
pensed the currant sauce and the
cake. 81 go II - aas. $50
The baby was half asleep before
the meal was ended. "She didn't fin
ish her nap this afternoon" said
Lydia. "I1l take her VI to bed now
and finish my cake afterward."
The little sisters slept together in a
slant-ceilinged bedroom. Here again
was dust and disorder, the floor COW
cred with clothing and toys, the bed
unmade, the old-fashioned mahogany
bureau piled high with books, brushes,
and soiled teacups that had held the
baby's milk.
There was still light enough to see
by. Lydia stood Patience on the bed
and got her into her nightdress after
gently persuading the baby to let her
fasten the balloon to the foot of the
bed. Then she carried her to the lit
tie rocker by the window and with a
look that was the very essence Of moth
erhood began to rock the two-year-old
to sleep. Presently there foated down
to Amos, smoking his pipe on the
front step. Lydia's childish. throaty
contralto:
I've reached the land Of corn and wine
With all itsrriches surely mine;
rye reached that beauteous shining
shore.
Ny heaven. my home. forevermore.
The GOODNESS of the August wind
touched Amos face, ooh! Patience.
Patience" he murmured.
Lydia sat for moment or two with
the sleeping baby in her arms, look
ing down on her with curious gen.
tie intentness. Then she rose care
fully, and as carefully deposited little
Patience on the bed. This done, she
united the balloon and carried 1t out
with her to the little landing. There
was window here into which the
August moon was, beginning to shine.
Lydia sat down with the balloon and
felt of it carefully.
.Aren't balloons the most wonder
ful things, almost as wonderful as
bubbles" she murmured. II love the
smell of them. Think what they can
do, how they can float. better than
birds! How you want to squeeze
them but you don't dast I'd rather
have gone to the circus than to
heaven"