Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-13
LET'S LIVE!n. ": q: 2 2. ! !. !.
WM W @n scunsl mssA ASSN INC

back from IN street, appeared 10
have walked nobody. The houses
slept. their stiff muslin curtains flut-
tering out from the second story win
dows.
The long, wide street. lined with
great oaks. naples and elms, ran
straight out from the business sec
ton TO the acre Of green where the
Hamiltons lived. in an old, cream
brick house, under naples, oaks and
a few white pines.
Byrd's heels rang out on the side
walk, r-everberating like the echoes
of an alarm clock. as she tripped ex-
citedly up the broad vcranda and TO
the front door. The door was open,
and she walked through the long
hall. through the dining room. a
large, low. brown room, with its an
cicnt oak furniture. into the kitchen.
Here she found her mother. with
her hands in the Saturday morning
baking.
II declare TO goodness. if IL amt
our Byrd" she cried, raising her
hands. stringy with s~our-smelling
dough, from the soft mass. Land
sakes. what brings you here? Il
something wrong?"
Byrd kissed her mothers check.
Just got honesiek and thought III
run down for a few days. Lsrry's
out of town on business. Didn't have
time to let you know. Where's dad?
asked Byrd.
lies been down at tho bank since
eight o'clock. as you might know
answered Mrs. Hamilton, scrapin-
tho dough from her fingers with =
Kitchen knife.
Finish your baking. MONS said
Byrd. "I1l just take a look around
Byrd ran upstairs TO say hello TO
Minnie. the hired girl. and answered
= hundred questions, evndirg the
repetition of the question. well. how
do sou like married life. anyway"
Byrd had the feelings. a. she van
dercd around down stairs, as II she
was looking through one photo
graphic plate to another, taken a long
time ago. Things looked familiar.
aud yet strange. She was suddenly
conscious or the amount ~ useless
furniture most Of these old houses
in jacksonville contained. and the
endless effort that was necessary to
preserve it."
The big" psrlor and the little
parlor on either side Of tho hall. was
filled with plush furniture, old davcn-
ports covered with horsehair. large,
resisting chairs done in leather.
w~hat-ncts filed with Anticipated brio
a-brac, tables containing waxed flow
ers under glass and framed pictures
of imitation flowers done in human
hair. faded and enlarged photographs
in carved or plus frames covered
the walls. relieved occasionally nv an
oil or pastel done BY some over-zesl-
Gus member or the family.
Byrd went into her fathers study.
a little room back OF the little par
Tor. She looked around the uucom-
fortsble room ut the old roll-topped
desk. al tho books on the shelves.
bound in worn calf. the "Fncyclope-
dia Of Universal knowledge" that
had zone into every bookcase In
Jacksonville during "A summers eri-
demic or book agents. at the terrible
groups of the presidents engraved
between stiff curtains. On the desk
we're the framed photographs n the
three children in various stages Of
growth.
IN spite of Der mothers truly re-
markable gifts a. a housekecper. she
had never made her family comfort
able or happy.
Her mother joined her on the
veranda. Byrd drew up a couple Of
| chairs. but not before her mother
had remembered to whip out a news
paper and spread il carefully over
the seats.
paint" she explained. briefly.
"Your father did them . few days
ago
Although they had 3 hired hand
most of to time. Henristts managed
TO dig ID odd jobs for her father 70
do. just. Byrd decided, to keep him
| uncomfortable.
Her mother directed every single
activity that went on in the house
or around IL. She interrupted their
conversation with constant insiruc-
| lions 70 Minnie. given in = high.
nasal. piercing voice.
She related the major events II
| the summer ~ Byrd. The births.
| III. deaths. the marriages.
"The rolls and cnffercste must 60
| into the oven" She rose hastily
Were expecting thirteen for dim r
tonorrov. Becky and Herb and the