Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-09-30

IuCy VIC SOS uISt IlSuS eO&<tA4S lduu.
THE man that can make best use
Of the lands got first right to it." In
sisted Amos. That's what my an
cestors believed two hundred and If
ty years ago when they settled In
New Hampshire and put loopholes
under the caves of their houses. Our
farmhouse had loopholes like that.
Snow used to sift in through 'em on
my bed when I was a kid"
Lydia, lying on her stomach on the
couch. turning the leaves Of 'TOm
Sawyer" looked up with sudden In
terest.
Daddy, let's 60 back there to live.
I'd love to live In house with loop
holes.''
The two men laughed. "You should
have been boy, Lydia" said Amos.
IA boy" shifted Levine, "and whe'd
have mothered little Patience If she'd
been boy?"
That's right-yet, look at that lit
ter on the desk in the parlor."
Both the men smiled while Lydia
bIushed.
"What are you going to do with
that doll furniture, Lydia?" asked
John Levine.
T'm going to make doll house for
little Patience, for Christmas" Lydia
gave an uncomfortable wriggle.
"Don't talk about me 80 much"
you're working long way ahead"
commented Amos. 'That was your
mothers trait. / wish I'd had 1t.
Though how / could look ahead on a
dollar-and-a-half-a-day - Lydia. it's
bedtime"
Lydia rose reluctantly. her book un-
der her arm.
"Don't read upstairs, child" Amos
went on; "go to bed and to sleep. d.
rectly."
Lydia looked around for safe
place for the book and finally climbed
up on a chair and laid 1t on the top
shelf of the sideboard., Then she
came back to her fathers side and
lifted her face for her goodnight kiss.
Goodnight. my child" said Amos.
11OW dUOuI hCt uShCu LcNIuC.
Haven't you one to spare for lone
" bachelor?"
He pulled Lydia to him and kissed
her gently on the cheek. eff you
were ten years older and l were ten
years younger"
'Then we'd travel" said the child.
with a happy giggls as she ran out
Of the room
There was silence for moment,
then John Levine said TOO bad old
lizzie is such sloh.''
II know it" replied Amos, ''but she
gets no wages, just stayed On after
nursing my wife. l can't afford to
pay for decent help. And after all,
she does the rough work, and she's
honest and fond Of the children"
STILL Lydia ought. to have better
chance. / wish you'd let me" he
hesitated
| "Let you what?" asked Amos.
Nothing She'd better work out
things her own way. She'll be get
ting to notice things around the house
as she grows older"
"It Is the DEVILS own mess here"
admitted Amos "pm going to move
next month. This place has got on
my nerves. I've got to get into a
place where I can have garden. If
we go further out of town we can get
more land for less rent"
''It's good idea to have garden"
said John Levine. 81 tell you, take
that cottage of mine out near the
lake. I'll let you have it for what
you pay for this. If'll be empty the
first of September"
'sI'll 60 you," said Amos. "It's as
pretty place as know Of"
Again silence fell. Then Amos
said, "Jehn, why don't you go to con-
gress! Not today, or tomorrow, but
maybe four or FIVE years from now"
Nice question for one poor man
to put to another" said Levine, with
a short laugh.
"No reason you should always be
poor" replied Amos. There's rich
land lying twenty miles north of here.
owned by nothing but Indians"
Levine scratched his head.
"You- could run for sheriff. said
Amos, 'as q starter"
"By heckw exploded John Levine.
"I'll try for 1t. No reason why real
estate man shouldn't so into politics
as well as some of the shyster law
yers you and know. huh. Amos?"
Upstairs, Lydia stood In a path OF
moonlight pulling Off her clothessslo
~. Having jerked herself into her
nightdress, she knelt by the bedside.
'Oh Cod" she prayed in whisper,
"don't -iet there be any more deaths
in our family and help me to bring
little Patience up right" This was
her regular formula.